On 13th and 14th April 2026, partners of the DORIAN GRAY project met in Nice for their second in-person meeting, hosted by the European Society of Cardiology at the European Heart House in Nice.

Across two full and fairly intense days, the consortium took stock of progress and worked to better align activities across the project. The agenda moved between strategic conversations and more technical sessions, mirroring the project’s multidisciplinary nature and the ongoing need to keep clinical, technological, and societal aspects connected.

Day one was largely dedicated to the overall state of play. This included coordination and administrative updates, dissemination and exploitation activities, and progress across the main work packages. A significant part of the discussion focused on data-related work, such as access to retrospective datasets and ongoing analyses, as well as developments in AI modelling and integration. Updates on technological progress and prototype demonstrations helped ground the conversation, showing more concretely how the different pieces are starting to come together. Patient engagement and public involvement were also part of the discussion, with a clear emphasis on keeping end users at the centre of the project.

The meeting also provided a chance to welcome Liopep as a new partner. Liopep introduced their innovative exergames, which encourage physical activity through interactive gameplay. During the meeting, participants were able to try the games firsthand, which sparked exciting discussions on how this engaging, movement-based approach could be incorporated into the project. Additionally, a small workshop was set up for ESC staff, giving them the chance to try out the games throughout the day, further immersing them in Liopep’s work and potential contribution to DORIAN GRAY.

On the second day, the focus widened. It opened with a lecture exploring the links between cardiovascular diseases and dementia, followed by sessions on data management, ethics, and legal aspects. Broader socio-economic and regulatory issues were also addressed, including a dedicated workshop on the Medical Device Regulation, highlighting the importance of ensuring that project results can move beyond theory and into real-world application.

Beyond the formal agenda, the meeting created space for open discussion, exchange, and at times constructive disagreement. These moments proved just as valuable, helping to refine ideas, surface challenges, and strengthen collaboration across the consortium.