ESC Communications: How many participants did you have at the German Cardiac Society Congress?
Professor Drexler, FESC: There were 7,500 active participants from 25 countries altogether.
ESC Communications: How many nationalities/countries were represented?
Professor Drexler, FESC: 25 countries
ESC Communications: Can you see a trend, i.e. has participation / international participation increased?
Professor Drexler, FESC: There was only a slight increase in terms of participation.
ESC Communications: Did you collaborate with any other organisations for this congress?
Professor Drexler, FESC: Yes, the ACC, the British Cardiac Society, the ESC - there are additional varying societies every year.
ESC Communications: How many sessions did you have and how many abstracts were presented?
Professor Drexler, FESC: We have had 1,688 lectures and a presentation of 1,408 posters.
ESC Communications: Could you tell us about the sessions that were held in English?
Professor Drexler, FESC: All sessions with foreign speakers are held in English, all slides are presented with English text, even if the talk is in German.
ESC Communications: What were the highlights of the congress scientific programme?
Professor Drexler, FESC: There was for example the international lecture given by E. Olson on the revolution in cardiovascular science by micro RNAs; and several sessions on translational science in CHF ("Chronic Heart Failure").
ESC Communications: Can you tell us about this year’s theme "Chronic Heart Failure"?
Professor Drexler, FESC: Heart failure is a major disease issue worldwide - with high mortality and much networks to manage, and the financial support is limited in contrast to technical interventions. However, major efforts are needed to explore better treatment modalities, therefore, we addressed and discussed the unmet needs in CHF.
ESC Communications: What about political achievements, I heard a lot of talk about the German Heart Research Centre for example?
Professor Drexler, FESC: Most people die of cardiovascular causes. In contrast to cancer, i.e. Germany does not have a national cardiovascular research centre. However, there is an increasing motion that we should create such a centre, possibly together with decentralized institutes focusing on specific topics. There would be a German Cardiovascular institution, funded and controlled by the German Ministry of Research and Education and independent from university medical hospitals / institutes.
ESC Communications: What DGK activities were highlighted at the congress that you think would be of interest to our European readership?
Professor Drexler, FESC: Specific translational science sessions and lectures. Combined sessions on genetics, molecular biology and clinical trials. And sessions in which scientific networks presented their work, i.e. the ESC could include the EU program networks to be presented at the annual ESC Congress.
ESC Communications: You also had activities in Mannheim - there was a marathon I believe. Can you tell us something about that?
Professor Drexler, FESC: We have had a jogging session late in the afternoon, with a party following which was well attended, despite rain in the beginning.
ESC Communications: Can you tell us anything about future planning for this congress?
Professor Drexler, FESC: The main topic is always selected by the president of the congress, who partly puts emphasis on one or more topics. Next year a cardiac surgeon is doing this.