Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among women globally, yet women’s heart health has historically been under-recognised, under-researched, and under-diagnosed. Differences in biology, hormones, life stages, and symptom presentation mean that cardiovascular conditions often manifest differently in women than in men — with significant consequences for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
This seminar will explore cardiovascular disease through a women’s health lens, addressing sex-specific risk factors, the influence of hormones and life stages such as pregnancy and menopause, and why women are still less likely to receive timely and accurate cardiac diagnoses. We will also examine conditions such as stroke and cardiometabolic disease, where disparities in awareness and clinical pathways remain significant.
By bringing together perspectives from research, clinical practice, and industry, the seminar aims to highlight emerging insights, identify remaining knowledge gaps, and discuss how greater focus on sex-specific cardiovascular health can improve outcomes for women across the life course.
The seminar aims to foster dialogue, collaboration, and innovation across disciplines to advance women’s health in the Medicon Valley region and beyond.
Date: Thursday, 10th September 2026
Time: 14:00 – 18:00
Venue: Copenhagen University, Maersk Tower: Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 København N – Nielsine Nielsen Auditorium
Program
| 14:00 | Registration & networking |
| 14:30 |
Welcome Anette Steenberg, CEO, Medicon Valley Alliance Bente Stallknecht, Dean, University of Copenhagen |
| 14:40 | Title TBA Manisha Nair, Professor of Global Health, University of Copenhagen |
| 15:00 | Title TBA Louise Schierbeck, Cardiologist, Amager and Hvidovre hospital |
| 15:20 | Stroke in women Christine Kremer, Associated Professor and Stroke Neurologist, Skåne University Hospital and Lund University |
| 15:40 | Coffee Break |
| 16:10 | Title TBA Henning Bundgaard, Professor of Cardiology, University of Copenhagen |
| 16:30 | Title TBA Martin Stagmo, Medical Director Nordics & Baltics, Bayer |
| 16:50 | Panel discussion Moderated by Bente Stallknecht, Dean, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen |
| 17:30 | Networking and drinks |
| 18:00 | End of meeting |
Speakers
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Christine Kremer is associated professor for Neurology and a strokeneurologist at Skåne University Hospital in Malmö, Lund University. She completed her studies in medicine in Italy and Germany followed by a postdoc with focus on cerebrovascular ultrasound in Zurich, Switzerland. At Skåne University Hospital she leads the neurovascular outpatient service including ultrasound and serves as senior consultant with special focus on acute stroke treatment and organization of the regional stroke network in southern Sweden. Focus of her research is acute stroke treatment and sex differences in stroke with special interest in stroke in women. She is actively involved in the women for stroke in Europe initiative (WISE) within the European Stroke Organization (ESO) from the start and served as chair. Moreover chairing the guidelines working group “Stroke in women” for the ESO and leads an international research group on sex differences in stroke. She has published numerous articles on sex differences in stroke including meta-analyses and served as PI in many stroke trials including the “Stroke in Pregnancy and Postpartum” (SIPP) study. |
The deadline for registration is 8th September 2026
The MVA Women’s Health network
Joining the MVA Women’s Health Network is free of charge but is limited to Medicon Valley Alliance members. Non-member organizations and companies are welcome to attend one network event to evaluate the relevance of joining the network. For more information, please contact Katrine Brems Olsen at kbo@mva.org
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