David Grieve, Barbara McDermott & Emma Robinson
Queen’s University Belfast

Melanie Madhani
University of Birmingham

https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.89.16a

Novel insights into the pathogenesis of cardiac remodelling

3-4 September 2012, Belfast, Northern Ireland

We were pleased to host the first British Society for Cardiovascular Research conference to be held in Northern Ireland for 12 years, in the iconic Lanyon Building of Queen’s University Belfast, which was founded by Queen Victoria in 1849.

Delegates were welcomed by glorious sunshine and lunch within the magnificently panelled walls of The Great Hall. The scientific programme comprised a mix of state-of-the-art presentations from invited international experts and selected talks by young investigators under the general theme of cardiac remodelling.

Specific sessions focused on emerging mechanisms underlying remodelling of three key components: the extracellular matrix (Paul Lijnen, Leuven; Karen Porter, Leeds; Stephane Heymans, Maastricht), cardiomyocyte (Ajay Shah, London; Susan Currie, Glasgow; Thomas Thum, Hannover; Sian Harding, London) and vasculature (Ralf Brandes, Frankfurt; Nicola Smart, Oxford; Tim O’Brien, Galway; Paolo Madeddu, Bristol).

The meeting also hosted the society’s annual Bernard and Joan Marshall Research Prize Lectures, which are supported by a generous bequest specifically intended to encourage, recognise and support the work of young investigators, and to reward established research excellence. The Young Investigator Prize was awarded to Christine Cheung (Cambridge) and the Research Excellence Prize to Derek Hausenloy (London). The Distinguished Investigator Lecture was delivered by Johann Bauersachs (Hannover), who presented his world-leading research on left ventricular healing and remodelling.

Delegates enjoyed a wonderful conference dinner in the magnificent Belfast City Hall. The organisers would like to thank The Physiological Society for their generous support of this extremely successful meeting.