Over 100 participants including members of most leading European groups and 52 poster presenters selected from the highest scoring submitted abstracts by independent review attended this highly interactive meeting. The meeting covered topical translational topics (such as Advances in Imaging and Diagnostics, Anti-inflammatory targets in heart failure, and Cardiovascular repair) as well as state-of-the-art basic science aspects (such as genetics and epigenetics, protein quality control in heart failure) and an excellent poster session. Discussions continued over dinner and in social interaction time in the beautiful surroundings of Les Diablerets.
The Young Investigator prize was won by Kanita Salic from the laboratory of Léon de Windt (NL) for a presentation entitled “MicroRNA – 199b promotes cardiac hypertrophy by targeting the nuclear kinase, Dyrk1A” while the joint second prize went to Melanie Hoch from the laboratory of Prof. Helmut Drexler and Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner and Sabrina van Dijk from the laboratory of Jolanda van der Velden.
From left to right: Melanie Hoch, Sabrina van Dijk (second price), Gerd Hasenfuss (Meeting Coordinator), Kanita Salic (winner of the Young Investigator prize) and Barbara Casadei (judge of the YIA Poster Competition)
The keynote Brutsaert Lecture ‘Angiogenesis: A key determinant of heart function and failure’ was given by Dr. Keshet from Israel.
Prof. Keshet (left) and Prof. Brutsaert (right)
The Basic Science Council lecture ‘The adult epicardium: a source of new vessels and muscle following cardiac injury?’was given by Dr. Paul Riley from the UK.
This was another highly successful meeting with a typical comment from a participant being "This was the best translational heart failure meeting that I have been to in the last 12 months".
The next Translational Research Meeting will again be in Les Diabelerets in 2010 - watch out for the abstract submission deadlines in September!
Gerd Hasenfuss and Ajay Shah
Melissa Swinnen and Davy Vanhoutte ,PhD students ,were selected for the second time to present their abstract. Here is a view from the young researchers.
The unique character of this excellent meeting is that both young and established scientists are present and share their data in a highly interactive manner. As a young researcher it is not always that evident to approach established scientists but the meeting provides an extremely stimulating environment resulting in many discussions, an exchange of novel ideas and new interesting collaborations.
Taken together, the Heart Failure Research Wintermeeting offers an exceptional combination of outstanding research with many motivating conversations starting in the meeting room, continuing during lunch, dinner or on the ski-slopes thereby creating an open and inspiring sphere. Looking forward to attend the next meeting for more fascinating dialogues. (Melissa Swinnen)
To my opinion, the ‘HFA Winter Research Meeting of the ESC’ really accomplishes all the goals where it aims for.
For me, as young scientist, it is privilege to be able to be part of such a highly interactive and scientific environment. It not only gives us the opportunity to gain further in-depth knowledge, but it also stimulates our scientific horizon, visions and packs us with loads of novel ideas regarding our own work and the work of others scientists within the field. It is a great opportunity to present and intensely discuss our data in a friendly and socially atmosphere during the ‘poster session’. I am convinced that the combination of several highly scientific session, the scale of the meeting and the close interactions with the very best scientists from within and without Europe, inspires the scientific mind, resulting in new ideas and perspectives, but most of all stimulates and motivates a young scientist as myself.
In conclusion, great science, great environment, great interactions: ‘Great meeting’. (Davy Vanhoutte)