Ms. Chengyu Shi, a PhD student in the Department of Systems Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University (Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Ken Takahashi), has been selected as a participant of the ESC Fund Basic Cardiovascular Science Course 2026, organized by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

This fully funded international training course was established by ESC to nurture the next generation of cardiovascular basic scientists. Up to 50 early-career researchers are selected worldwide on a merit basis, with all tuition, travel, accommodation, and placement costs covered by the ESC Fund and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

The program consists of a one-week intensive onsite training in Nice, France (10–14 June 2026) covering genetics, molecular biology, preclinical models, regenerative medicine, research methodology, mentoring, and regulatory affairs, followed by a two-week hands-on laboratory placement in a leading European research institution between July and December 2026.

Ms. Shi is currently engaged in research on human heart-on-a-chip development using iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. This selection represents, to our knowledge, the first such award to an Okayama University graduate student, and is expected to strengthen the university's international research network in cardiovascular science.