The Kids Research Institute Australia today welcomed an announcement that the second World Congress on RHD will be hosted in Perth in 2026 by the National Heart Foundation.
“Australian Indigenous children and young people continue to suffer and die from this chronic, preventable condition at world record rates despite living in one of the world’s most prosperous countries,” The Kids Executive Director, Professor Jonathan Carapetis said.
More than 600 global researchers, practitioners, patients, advocates and leaders are expected to attend the Congress, which will focus on equity, research, care and advocacy for RHD.
RHD is damage to heart valves caused by acute rheumatic fever (ARF), which occurs through untreated streptococcal A (Strep A) infections.
In Australia more than 11,000 people are listed on medical registries as living with ARF and RHD. More than 90 per cent of ARF diagnoses are in Indigenous Australians aged between five and 14-years-old. Globally it is the most commonly acquired heart disease in people aged under 25 years and affects more than 55 million people and claims more than 300,000 lives each year.
Professor Carapetis, who has dedicated his life’s work to ending RHD, said the 2026 Congress announcement came just weeks after the Western Australian Government committed $25 million over five years to an inaugural program to improve research, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of RHD.
“A renewed focus on RHD will help to support efforts to eliminate the disease,” he said.
The Kids works with leading experts across Australia and internationally on RHD research programs, including developing the RHD Endgame Strategy – a blueprint for how Australia can eliminate the disease - and is also part of a consortium to develop a Strep A vaccine.
Research at The Kids also focuses on education and awareness programs to promote healthy skin in rural and remote communities and point of care diagnosis of Strep A.
Professor Carapetis thanked the National Heart Foundation, the WA Government, the Leducq Foundation, the American Heart Association, the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand, Business Events Perth and Business Events Australia for helping to bring the World Congress to Perth.
The event will be held from 12-14 November 2026 at the Pan Pacific. The first World Congress on RHD was held in Abu Dhabi in 2023.