Guest Editor’s Memo

In August 2024, members of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) gathered in Indianapolis for the 2024 International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions. This event brought together patients, caregivers, and medical professionals for a series of presentations dedicated to advancing our understanding and treatment of pulmonary hypertension along the theme “United Toward a Cure.” The varied program included a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in pulmonary hypertension research, from novel therapeutic strategies to emerging diagnostic tools, and important discussions of ongoing challenges in patient care and research.

In this special issue of Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension, we have curated a selection of manuscripts from members of the Scientific Sessions Planning Subcommittee that reflect the breadth of research and patient care developments presented in the Scientific Sessions.

One of the highlights was a session showcasing recent updates from the 7th World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension. Here, we include a roundtable discussion of the key topics presented and the impact of these updates on clinical practice, from the perspective of committee members practicing in different clinical and research disciplines.

We also include a discussion of patient care and quality of life, led by Dr Scott Visovatti, highlighting the importance of the patient experience in both clinical care and clinical trials.

Dr Yuri Matsurov presents an overview of the research presented in the Scientific Sessions regarding pulmonary hypertension associated with parenchymal lung disease, emphasizing how the unique disease and clinical phenotypes impact the approach to patient care.

Dr Sandeep Sahay highlights discussions from the Scientific Sessions focused on the future of clinical research, including use of real-world evidence, clinical trial design, and how we define response to therapy. He reviews how the definition of disease modification impacts the approach to clinical research and regulatory approval of medications.

The early career physicians came together at Conference this year for events fostering community and mentorship. Dr Jacqueline DesJardin calls attention to the many opportunities for early faculty within PHA discussed by this group, including participating in research using the PHA Registry (PHAR), which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.

Lastly, we are pleased to present the collection of abstracts submitted for presentation at Conference that showcase the remarkable work being done in the PHA community.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the Scientific Sessions subcommittee members, speakers, sponsors, and volunteers who contributed to making this conference a success. I hope you enjoy reading this issue and find it as inspiring and thought-provoking as the conference itself.