AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd., in collaboration with STEMI India, has announced the launch of India Coronary Conquest (ICC) 2026, a clinician‑led, national Complex PCI challenge that connects early‑ to mid‑career interventional cardiologists.
In India, one in four people is likely to die of a chronic disease. Driven by a shared ambition to enhance care for people living with cardiovascular, renal and metabolic conditions, AstraZeneca is supporting ICC to advance evidence‑based education in complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Through real‑world case presentations and transparent, peer‑reviewed critique, ICC focuses on intravascular imaging and physiology, guideline‑aligned decision‑making, complication management, and procedural safety to strengthen everyday practice.
“In advancing science, we must also empower the people who deliver it,” said Dr. Sandeep Arora, Director, Medical Affairs, AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd. “By combining real‑world case learning with transparent peer review from leading operators, accelerates the adoption of complex PCI coupled with intravascular imaging and interventional techniques in line with vascular physiology and evidence-based guidelines. It reinforces our belief in integrity‑led, clinician‑owned education and strengthens sustainable capacity building across diverse care settings.”
At the core of ICC is its faculty of 30 Course Principals- distinguished interventional cardiologists who mentor participants and adjudicate cases with scientific independence. The lineup includes Padma Bhushan Dr. A. B. Mehta (Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai), Padma Shri Prof. Dr. D. S. Gambhir (Group Director, Kailash Hospital, Noida), Prof. Dr. Kamal Sharma (Senior Interventional Cardiologist, SAL Hospital, Ahmedabad) as Course Principal and Scientific Lead, among others. The program has already attracted more than 120 complex PCI case submissions from across India, underscoring strong demand for rigorous, case‑based learning.
“ICC is a movement to elevate cardiac care,” said Prof. Dr. Kamal Sharma, Course Principal and Scientific Lead- ICC. “By taking this exchange fully virtual, high‑level expertise in complex PCI becomes accessible nationwide, accelerating evidence adoption and better outcomes.”
Prof. Dr. Akshaya Pradhan added, “By pairing seasoned operators with emerging specialists, we can push the boundaries of cardiovascular care through mentorship and innovation.”
