Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF) and Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute (AHMHI) at Abbott Northwestern Hospital have earned top rankings in the Cardiovascular Research Foundation’s (CRF) 2026 Scientific Excellence Top 10 (SET-10):
- #1 Globally
- #1 U.S.
- #1 Coronary
The SET-10 recognizes leading academic medical institutions for the quality and volume of their scientific contributions to Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT), one of the world’s leading conferences. The groundbreaking research presented at TCT is shaping the future of interventional cardiovascular medicine and focuses on advancing treatments for cardiovascular disease.
These rankings exhibit the strength of a collaborative research partnership focused on advancing cardiovascular care. As an independent research organization, MHIF partners with Allina Health physicians to conduct research that helps shape care for patients locally and around the world.
“Being ranked number one globally and in the United States is an extraordinary milestone for our institute and a powerful validation of the research partnership between Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute and Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation,” said William Katisyiannis, MD, cardiologist, president and chairman of cardiology at Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute. “These rankings reflect the depth, quality and impact of the cardiovascular research our teams are contributing to the global medical community.”
“Being recognized as the top-ranked organization for coronary research globally and in the United States reflects the depth and impact of the scientific work being conducted by our teams,” said Emmanouil Brilakis, MD, PhD, chairman of MHIF’s Center for Coronary Artery Disease. “There are complex challenges in the management of coronary artery disease and advancing how we diagnose and treat these patients requires ongoing innovation, rigorous clinical research and collaboration with investigators around the world. Through this work, we are helping shape the next generation of approaches to coronary care.”
“This recognition reflects the collective efforts of our clinical and research teams as we advance cardiovascular science, innovation, and patient care,” said Yader Sandoval, MD, interventional cardiologist, researcher and co-chair of MHIF’s Center for Coronary Artery Disease. “Credit goes to our entire team of colleagues, fellows, research coordinators, and collaborators whose dedication makes this possible.”
Sharing Research and Expertise on a Global Stage
The No. 1 rankings come as MHIF and AHMHI prepare for a significant presence at TCT 2026, taking place Oct. 31–Nov. 3 in San Diego.
Physicians, researchers, scholars and staff will participate in nearly 60 sessions throughout the conference. Their contributions include more than 20 faculty talks, 15 moderated abstract presentations from scholars and research staff and five challenging case presentations from fellows.
Contributions span coronary and structural heart disease, imaging, physiology, artificial intelligence and other areas of interventional cardiovascular medicine — reflecting the breadth of expertise and collaboration across the teams.
