50 Years of the European Working Group on Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology
From Leuven origins to future frontiers
In July 2026, the scientific community of cardiac electrophysiology will gather in Leuven, a symbolic location where five decades earlier a small group of pioneering scientists laid the foundations of what would become one of the most vibrant communities in cardiovascular basic science. The annual meeting of the ESC Working Group on Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology (EWGCCE) this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Working Group, offering an opportunity not only to present cutting-edge discoveries but also to reflect on the intellectual origins and enduring scientific culture of this unique network.
Origins of the Working Group
The roots of the Working Group trace back to 1977, when Edouard Coraboeuf and Edward Carmeliet discussed the idea of organising a European meeting dedicated to cardiac electrophysiology during a pharmacology conference in Paris. Their aim was simple but visionary: to create an informal forum where scientists studying the cardiac action potential and its underlying ionic mechanisms could exchange ideas freely and test emerging hypotheses. Silvio Weidmann soon joined this initiative, forming the first nucleus of the group.
The first meeting took place later that year in Leuven and brought together roughly one hundred investigators from laboratories across Europe. The focus was the cellular basis of cardiac excitability, particularly the ionic currents shaping the cardiac action potential, and discussions were deliberately intense, open, and collegial.
Scientific legacy of the founders
The intellectual foundations of the Working Group were shaped by the scientific trajectories of its founders. The work of Coraboeuf, Carmeliet, and Weidmann helped define modern cardiac electrophysiology.
Weidmann’s pioneering studies clarified fundamental properties of the cardiac action potential and sodium channel behaviour, building on early electrophysiological methods developed in Cambridge. Coraboeuf made major contributions to understanding sodium currents and arrhythmogenic mechanisms such as early afterdepolarizations. Carmeliet’s work expanded the mechanistic understanding of cardiac ion channels, calcium handling, and the ionic determinants of action potential duration and arrhythmias.
Their scientific influence continues to be commemorated through the Carmeliet–Coraboeuf–Weidmann Lecture, awarded annually to an outstanding electrophysiologist at the EWGCCE meeting.
A unique scientific culture
Over the decades, the EWGCCE has retained the distinctive spirit envisioned by its founders. Unlike many large conferences, the meeting remains intentionally focused and interactive. Sessions combine invited lectures with short presentations selected from submitted abstracts, ensuring that early-career researchers present their work and engage directly with leaders in the field.
This format has fostered generations of collaborations, laboratory exchanges, and European research initiatives, helping shape the development of cellular electrophysiology and arrhythmia research.
Fifty years of progress
The field itself has evolved dramatically since the first meeting in Leuven. Early investigations focused on describing ionic currents and action potentials in cardiac cells. Today, the discipline integrates structural biology, genetics, high-resolution imaging, computational modelling, and translational studies linking ion channel dysfunction to arrhythmias and cardiovascular disease.
Throughout this evolution, the Working Group has remained a central forum connecting basic scientists and clinicians interested in the electrical mechanisms of the heart.
Looking forward
As the community returns to Leuven for the 50th anniversary meeting, the event provides a moment to celebrate the remarkable scientific journey initiated by Coraboeuf, Carmeliet, and Weidmann. At the same time, it highlights the continued importance of open scientific dialogue, mentorship, and collaborative research in addressing the complex challenges of cardiovascular disease.
In this spirit, we look forward to meeting again in Leuven to celebrate the past and shape the future of cardiac cellular electrophysiology at the 50th EWGCCE Meeting 2026.
