DCB Academy, in collaboration with Fondazione RIC, since 2022 organizes Symposia at major Congresses on interventonal Cardiology.
This activity represents how we are engaged to contribute with the highest quality of education to our scientific world.
Our faculty by early 2026 is represented by top leaders in the field: Jeffrey Moses, Evan Shlofmitz, Ziad Ali, Maciej Lesiak, Grzegorz Sobieszek, Grzegorz Smolka, Rajinikanth Rajagopal, Ludovica Maltese, Jacek Piegza, Jay Khatri, Tuomas Rissanen, Kaldoon Alaswad, Mauro Carlino, Nikita Minhea, Tanveer Rab, Gheorghe Doros, Alexandra Lansky, Tarek Helmy, Alexandre Abizaid, Daniela Benedetto, Fabrizio D’Ascenzo, Pawel Gasior, Dariusz Dudek, Zenon Huczek, Robert J. Gil, Tomasz Pawlowski, Piotr Kwiatkowski, Piotr Wańczura, Michał Hawranek.
DCB Academy Symposium – DCB PL 2026 | Katowice, Poland
We are honored to present a Case Session – Case + Tips and Tricks, organized by DCB Academy in collaboration with Cardio Hub, led by Prof. Bernardo Cortese, alongside our valued members Dr. Wojciech Wańha and Dr. Sylwia Iwańczyk.
Swiss CTO & CHIP Connect 2026 – Advancing Complex PCI Education
Organized by the SWISS CTO & CHIP community in collaboration with DCB Academy and Fondazione RIC, featuring Prof. Bernardo Cortese, the program featured six live cases from international centers alongside expert talks on calcified CTO strategies, DCB in complex PCI, mechanical circulatory support, collateral injury management, and contemporary CTO techniques.
Transforming Complex PCI: Highlights from the DCB Academy Symposium at CRT 2026
What a compelling afternoon at the Spotlight Theater. The DCB Academy Symposium brought together leading experts to bridge the gap between clinical evidence and real-world practice in Complex Coronary Artery Disease.
AI meets DCB angioplasty! Our Golden Hour @JIMGISE Rome 2026
Our truly dynamic Golden Hour session at JIM GISE Rome 2026, where multimodality imaging, meticulous lesion assessment and AI-guided decision support came together to rethink strategy selection in contemporary PCI.
DCB Academy Symposium with NFIC & the Polish Cardiac Society
An expert-led, highly engaging, and scientifically rich symposium delivered in collaboration with NFIC and the Polish Cardiac Society.
DCB Birmingham 2025 – The Premier Course on Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty
This intensive, one-day advanced course at DCB Birmingham 2025, United Kingdom is designed to master Drug-Coated Balloon (DCB) angioplasty across the full spectrum of clinical scenarios, from in-stent restenosis to complex de-novo lesions.
From Music therapy to Stent-Free: DCB Academy at TCT 2025
An inspiring week at TCT 2025 in San Francisco! We were honored to take part in the world’s leading interventional cardiology congress, presenting our research, exchanging ideas with global experts, and celebrating the innovation shaping the future of cardiovascular medicine.
CVI 2025 | USA
A defining moment at CVI 2025 USA! An appraisal on the most recent developments in Drug-Coated Balloons (DCB) for De Novo lesions by Prof. Bernardo Cortese.
A compelling message on safety, efficacy, and innovation in the treatment of native coronary disease, delivered with precision, authority, and vision.
A Key Moment from EuroPCR 2025
Prof. Bernardo Cortese, delivered a pivotal presentation on the MT Coronary Clinical Program: 12-Month Update, showcasing the latest clinical outcomes and innovations shaping the future of drug-coated balloon therapy. This important session, held in Paris, reflects our ongoing commitment to advancing interventional cardiology through data-driven research and real-world clinical impact.
DCB Academy at India Live 2025
DCB Academy was proud to be part of India Live 2025, hosted by the International Cardiology Foundation of India. Our President, Prof. Cortese, led a session as a faculty member, sharing his expertise and insights with fellow cardiology professionals. It was a great opportunity to contribute to the advancement of the field and connect with global leaders.
DCB Academy at the XXIX Warsaw Course on Cardiovascular Interventions
At DCB Academy, we had the privilege of leading a transformative session in collaboration with the Working Group of the Association of Cardiovascular Interventions of the Polish Cardiac Society.
Regenerations: Restorative Personal Oasis
On April 17, 2024, the Fondazione RIC participated in the event “Regenerations: Restorative Personal Oasis.” It was a significant opportunity to discuss, from multiple points of view, the effects of environments designed to support people’s psychophysical well-being. A new pilot study, RIC-greenerate I, was discussed with the aim of evaluating the effects of environments designed according to the principles of biophilia on physiological and psychological parameters in healthy volunteers, with particular attention to cardiovascular ones.
Prof. Bernardo Cortese’s significant participation in major events | NFIC 2023 Poland
Dr. Bernardo Cortese’s speech at NFIC 2023 Poland. Current evidence and future perspectives for the use of DCB for LM and non-LM bifurcation PCI optimization.
DCB (drug-coated balloon) has been proposed as a potential alternative treatment for bifurcation lesions. This method may reduce the number of stents needed, as well as the risks of side branch thrombosis and restenosis. However, the optimal treatment for bifurcation lesions is still under investigation, and the “leaving nothing behind” approach will continue to be the focus of future studies. Recent research has also focused on comparing outcomes between left main (LM) and non-LM bifurcation lesions in the DCB era, with Professor Bernardo Cortese presenting on the current evidence and future perspectives for the use of DCB in optimizing PCI for both types of lesions.
Live case BRIC | Dhaka 2023
This is a live-case example of a complex cardiac operation led by Prof. Bernardo Cortese during the BRIC meeting in Dhaka in September of ’23. The patient in this case had an aneurysm in the middle of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and ostial stenosis of the LAD with a trifurcation. After a thorough evaluation using intravascular imaging, the patient underwent successful stenting to treat these lesions. This live case serves as a testament to the importance of continuous training and innovation in the interventional cardiology field to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients.
India Live 2023
This project focused on showcasing the potential of drug-coated balloon (DCB) technology in India through symposiums and workshops. Notably, Prof. Bernardo Cortese conducted the first ever DCB-Robotic PCI procedure in India, making history in the field. He also presented recent updates and case studies on the use of DCB. One of the highlights of his project was the discussion on how DCB could potentially prevent some drug-eluting stent (DES)-related adverse events. Lastly, he conducted extensive bench testing using various types of Paclitaxel and Sirolimus DCBs, solidifying the effectiveness and potential of this technology.
DCB Academy | Belgrade 2023
Prof. Bernardo Cortese made a significant contribution to Belgrade by conducting important complex angioplasty procedures.
DCB Academy event | Netherlands 2023
The event, led by Prof. Bernardo Cortese, chairman of DCB Academy, focused on the performance of angioplasty procedures and the sharing of his years of experience in this field. The event also involved the organization of a novel scientific partnership to conduct a sub-analysis of Eastbourne in the Netherlands. This partnership will bring together experts and researchers to further advance knowledge and understanding in the field of angioplasty procedures.
DCB Academy proctorship | Spain 2023
In this event, Prof. Bernardo Cortese performed angioplasty procedures and shared years of experience in Spain. The event was a great opportunity for networking and learning from one of the leading experts in the field.
DCB Academy workshop and proctoring tour | Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai 2022
Prof. Bernardo Cortese, DCB Academy chairman, hosted a workshop where he shared his years of experience and proctorship in Malaysia, Singapore, and Dubai. He also performed very complex live cases of angioplasty procedures, providing valuable insights and knowledge to the attendees. This event was a great opportunity for medical professionals to learn and gain hands-on experience.
DCB Academy proctorship in Europe | Summer 2022
During this event, Prof. Bernardo Cortese, chairman of DCB Academy, performed a proctorship in Europe in the summer of 2022. He also managed an emergency case of cardiac arrest using external automatic massage and held a webinar on SCAl. Additionally, he conducted a symposium on drug coated balloons.
DCB Digital School | 2022
During the lesson, DCB Academy provided a thorough overview of the benefits and potential risks associated with using drug-eluting balloons (DEB) in treating small vessel de novo lesions. Through case studies and clinical evidence, the instructor demonstrated that DEB can be a safe and effective alternative to current standard treatment methods, such as stents, in these types of lesions. The lesson also discussed the importance of proper patient selection and technique in achieving successful outcomes with DEB.
A DCB Academy Activity – Diego Maffeo | Bernardo Cortese
At this event, Prof. Bernardo Cortese demonstrated the effectiveness of full DCB revascularization using a novel sirolimus-coated balloon at the GISE Congress in Milano in October 2022. This procedure was carried out in collaboration with Dr. Diego Maffeo at Poliambulanza Brescia.
DCB Academy South East chapter | Summer 2020-2022
The conference was held in Asia and was highly successful, attracting a large number of medical professionals. Attendees were able to observe the first cases of DCB angioplasty in Southeast Asia and participate in a discussion regarding the future of coronary revascularization with Prof. Bernardo Cortese, the chairman of the DCB Academy.


