European Society of Cardiology
Skip navigation links
Home
About the ESC
Membership
Communities
Congresses
Education
Guidelines & Surveys
Journals
Initiatives
Welcome to the European Society of Cardiology. Our mission: to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in Europe
 

History

The European Working Group of Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology was founded in 1978 by Prof. E. Coraboeuf (Paris) & Prof. E. Carmeliet (Leuven), and this first nucleus soon also included Prof. S. Weidmann (Bern).

The first meeting took place in Leuven, bringing together all labs of Europe investigating the properties of the cardiac action potential and the underlying ionic currents.
This first meeting was attended by some 100 people, and the major goal was to share scientific information in order to advance research in a quickly developing field.

The passing of one of the founders, Prof. Coraboeuf, in September 1998, was fittingly remembered by a symposium organised by Prof. R. Fischmeister in Paris, in September 1999.
The meeting brought together scientists from all over the world, and demonstrated the immense progress that has been made in the field over the last 25 years.

Some 10 years after its founding, the Working Group became a member of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). 

A list of all past Chairman is shown below

Prof. David A. EISNER, FESC   Manchester, UK          2008-2010
Prof. Barbara CASADEI, FESC 

Oxford, UK     

2006-2008 
Prof. Antonio ZAZA, FESC          Milan, IT      2004-2006 
Dr Sylvain RICHARD  Montpellier, FR  2002-2004 
Prof. Karin SPIDIO, FESC  Leuven, BE  2000-2002 
Prof. Alessandro MUGELLI, FESC        Firenze, IT  1998-2000 
Prof. Ursula RAVENS, FESC  Dresden, DE  1996-1998 
Prof. Guy VASSORT  Montpellier, FR  1994-1996 
Dr Hilary F. BROWN    1992-1994 
Prof. Lennart N. BOUMAN    1990-1992 
Prof. Silvio WEIDMANN  Bern, CH  1998-1990 
Prof. Felix I.M. BONKE    1986-1988 
Dr de HEMPTINNE 1984-1986
Prof. Felix I.M. BONKE 1982-1984