FCVB 2014 to feature cutting edge research in basic cardiovascular science

Record number of abstracts submitted

Cutting edge research in basic cardiovascular science will be presented at Frontiers in CardioVascular Biology (FCVB) 2014, held 4-6 July at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. The meeting is organised by the Council on Basic Cardiovascular Science of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in collaboration with 13 European cardiovascular science societies.

Professor Lina Badimon, FCVB 2014 Chairperson, said: "This is going to be the best, most important and well attended basic cardiovascular research meeting in Europe. Journalists can expect to hear state of the art developments in the most important areas in the field."

Professor Barbara Casadei, Chairperson of the ESC Council on Basic Cardiovascular Science, said: "FCVB provides a glimpse into the future of diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disease. Novel basic science concepts will be presented by high profile international speakers that may revolutionise clinical practice in years to come."

Nearly 700 abstracts have been submitted to FCVB this year, a record high for the event. Delegate numbers are already approaching 900 and more than 50 countries will be represented. Journalists will experience a truly global meeting with the latest research presented by top experts in the field.

Hot topics include the impact of cell death on the evolution of cardiovascular disease. Professor Badimon said: "This is a very novel aspect and is important for regeneration and for reducing lesions in the vasculature that can evolve into atherosclerosis."

Sessions on the microcirculation will investigate its role in the repair of ischaemic heart tissue and how it can produce positive remodelling and reverse remodelling. Adipose tissue around the heart is an emerging subject and experts will discuss its links with atherosclerosis, thrombosis and atrial fibrillation.

Other highlights include tissue factor as a signalling molecule that regulates angiogenesis, metastases and myocardial function; non-coding RNAs; gene therapy using microRNAs; new generation sequencing; the involvement of inflammation in multiple areas of cardiovascular disease such as myocardial infarction and heart failure; and understanding the atheroprotective mechanisms of high density lipoproteins.

Eminent scientists will present emerging concepts in their field, giving journalists plenty of material for news stories. Stephanie Dimmeler (Germany) will give a lecture on non-coding RNAs and cardiovascular ageing while new paradigms in arrhythmias will be presented by Connie Bezzina (Netherlands), who will discuss genetic identification of modifiers in arrhythmias, and Isabelle Baro (France), who will provide up-to-the-minute data on sodium channels and fibrosis in conduction system disease.

Keynote lectures will be given by prominent scientists, providing journalists with all the pertinent and up-to-date information on current topics in basic cardiovascular science. Speakers include:

• Valentin Fuster (US): The two pathways of translational cardiovascular research: the next decade
• Joseph Wu (US): iPSCs for cardiovascular diseases
• Maria Blasco (Spain): Telomeres and disease
• Klaus Ley (US): Protective autoimmunity limits atherosclerosis
• Silvia Priori (Italy): Molecular therapies for inherited arrhythmias.

Professor Casadei said: "FCVB is the ESC's basic science meeting and the hub of European and international cardiovascular basic science. The programme was designed by major stakeholders across Europe and covers the whole spectrum of basic cardiovascular science. It is a one stop shop for journalists wanting to discover what's new in the field."

Professor Badimon said: "FCVB 2014 is set to be the most well attended of all the basic cardiovascular science meetings in Europe. For journalists wanting to hear research results firsthand and find out what's on the horizon, this is the meeting to attend."