For this editorial for the December newsletter, it seems fitting to briefly look back at 2023 and to look forward to what 2024 may hold for the European Working Group (WG) on Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology (EWGCCE).
After the success of the first in-person WG meeting post-COVID in Toledo in 2022, an important decision had to be made for the 2023 WG meeting. Based on the pattern from the last years before COVID, 2023 was originally scheduled to be a year where the annual meeting would be held together with EHRA Congress. However, since this turned out to be impossible, the WG had to decide whether a successful standalone meeting could be organized that would meet all criteria in a time of increasing costs, uncertainty and regulations. Eventually it was decided to try and organize a meeting in beautiful Copenhagen. Thanks to the enormous efforts of the local host, Prof. Morten Thomsen, in collaboration with the ESC WG and Events teams, and with generous support from the co-hosts (University of Copenhagen, Scandinavian Physiological Society, and Danish Cardiovascular Academy), an exciting meeting was organized in June of this year. More than 160 WG members enjoyed 2.5 days of cutting-edge science, including lively poster sessions and an excellent Carmeliet- Coraboeuf-Weidmann Award Lecture by Prof. Dobromir Dobrev from Essen.
2023 was also the 25th anniversary of EP Europace, the official ESC journal linked to the EWGCCE. The new Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Angelo Auricchio from Lugano, organized a special issue showcasing some of the developments in different domains of cardiac electrophysiology. Current and former nucleus members of the EWGCCE affiliated with the journal contributed to an overview of studies on basic and translational research in cardiac electrophysiology, highlighting the significant advances that have been achieved in our field.
Finally, the Nucleus Members of the WG are currently contributing to the new EHRA educational programme by providing recorded webinars on different topics related to basic and translational cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmogenesis, thereby hopefully expanded the awareness and appreciation about the importance of basic science for clinical cardiac electrophysiology.
Together, these initiatives show the continued relevance of - and interest in - basic/translational cardiac (cellular) electrophysiology. These activities would not have been possible without significant efforts from many WG members, for which I am very grateful. This foundation also provides an excellent starting point for 2024, where, among other things, we hope to be able to organize another inspiring WG meeting. More information on this will follow soon!
Wishing everyone a great conclusion to 2023 and an even better start to 2024.
Jordi Heijman
Chairperson of the EWGCCE
Our mission: To reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.