Update on Sudden Cardiac Death 2025
28 – 29 NOVEMBER 2025
Campus Charité Mitte
Berlin, Germany
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 847999.
Organized by:
Dear colleagues and friends,
We warmly welcome you to the first edition of the Update on Sudden Cardiac Death, organized by the German Heart Center of the Charité, the European Heart Rhythm Association and the European Society of Cardiology, as part of the PROFID project.
Sudden cardiac death represents one of the greatest challenges in medicine. It is the leading cause of death accounting for around 20% of all deaths in Europe – a fact that highlights the importance of continued research, education, and international collaboration.
On November 28 and 29, 2025, a unique gathering of international key opinion leaders, dedicated professionals, researchers, and clinicians will take place in the heart of Germany’s capital, Berlin. Together, we share the commitment to improve our understanding, prevention, and management of sudden cardiac death.
Through the exchange of cutting-edge knowledge, clinical experience, and emerging research, we aim to foster a meaningful dialogue and promote real progress in improving patients’ care. This meeting offers a unique opportunity to gain insights into the latest clinical trials, innovative strategies, and future directions, driven by our shared mission to translate science into better outcomes for our patients.
Thank you for joining us – we wish you two inspiring days in Berlin!
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Hindricks
(Charité – DHZC, Chief Investigator PROFID EHRA trial)
PD Dr. Nikolaos Dagres
(Charité – DHZC, Chief Investigator PROFID EHRA trial)
Prof. Helmut Pürerfellner
(Ordensklinikum Linz Elisabethinen, National Coordinator PROFID EHRA trial Austria)
Program
Friday, 28.11.2025
13:00 – 13:15
Welcome and Introduction
G. Hindricks / N. Dagres / H. Pürerfellner
13:15 – 14:00
Risk stratification for sudden cardiac death after myocardial infarction: where to go after PROFID?
Chairs: J. Merino, C. Gale
It is futile to keep searching for reliable stratification markers J.C. Nielsen
We must continue, but employing new approaches V. Kutyifa
14:00 – 15:00
Current trials in the field of primary prevention ICD implantation. Potential and challenges
Chairs: B. Merkely, M. Taborsky
PROFID EHRA N. Dagres
CONTEMP ICD E. Behr
SMART-DEF C. de Chillou
DILEMMA S. Boveda
15:00 – 16:00
DISCUSSION ROUND: Challenges in primary prevention ICD trials and how to cope with them.
Moderators: G. Hindricks, B. Merkely
C. de Chillou, N. Dagres, C. Gale, V. Kutyifa, R. Lenarczyk, E. Marijon, J.C. Nielsen, A.
Parwani, M. Taborsky
16:00 – 16:30
COFFEE BREAK
16:30 – 17:30
Novel approaches for risk stratification for sudden cardiac death in structural heart disease
Chairs: J. Tfelt-Hansen, P. Schwartz
Artificial intelligence: is there sufficient evidence? F. Tjong
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: potentials and limitations F. Leyva
Genetics: has the time come? H. Tan
17:30 – 18:30
DISCUSSION ROUND: Do novel risk stratification approaches for sudden cardiac death in structural heart disease have the potential to bring the change?
Moderators: M. Taborsky, S. Boveda
F. Braunschweig, W. Haverkamp, F. Hohendanner, F. Leyva, I. Roca-Luque, H. Tan, J. Tfelt-Hansen, F. Tjong
18:30 – 19:00
Chair: H. Tan
Prediction and prevention of SCD in the general population E. Marijon
Saturday, 29.11.2025
9:00 – 10:30
Novelties and challenges in ventricular tachycardia ablation
Chairs: K. Zeppenfeld, J. Merino
Cryoenergy and pulsed field for VT ablation tba
New mapping tools for VT ablation J. Merino
Challenging epicardial VT ablation A. Arya
VT ablation in terminal heart failure P. Sommer
CMR for guiding VT ablation I. Roca-Luque
10:30 – 11:00
Chair: H. Pürerfellner
Stereotactic radioablation for VT – is it ready for prime time? K. Zeppenfeld
11:00 – 11:30
COFFEE BREAK
11:30 – 12:30
DISCUSSIONROUND: How can we improve outcomes in treatment of ventricular tachycardia in patients with structural heart disease?
Moderators: H. Pürerfellner, H. Thiele
P. Attanasio, L.-H. Boldt, J. H. Gerds-Li, R. Lenarczyk, J. Tfelt-Hansen, R. Tilz, V. Tscholl, K. Vernooy, K. Zeppenfeld
12:30 – 13:00
Chair: G. Hindricks
Ventricular fibrillation without structural substrate M. Haissaguerre
13:00 – 14:00
LUNCH BREAK
14:00 – 14:45
Debated issues in ablation therapy in defibrillator patients
Chairs: R. Tilz, M. Taborsky
Prophylactic ablation in ICD patients after myocardial infarction T. Deneke
Ablation as alternative to ICD in hemodynamically tolerated VT in patients with structural heart disease M. Taborsky
14:45 – 15:15
Chair: J. Merino
Genetic and sudden cardiac death P. Schwartz
15:15 – 15:30
Concluding remarks G. Hindricks / H. Pürerfellner / N. Dagres
The full program flyer „Update on Sudden Cardiac Death 2025“ can be downloaded here.
Registration
Notice: Participation at “Update on Sudden Cardiac Death” is free of charge. Please note that the number of seats is limited. We encourage you to register early. CME points have been applied for.
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Venue
Accomodations
Hotel rooms have been reserved at two hotels conveniently located next to Campus Charité Mitte.