LS2 Intersection Cardiovascular Biology

Science With a Pulse

Cardiac vascular diseases (CVDs) are and will remain the first cause of mortality in the world accounting for 30% deaths worldwide. 15 million people died in 2015 from ischemic heart diseases and stroke. This number will increase to reach 23.3 million by 2030. CVDs are defined by the world health organization as “a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels”, suggesting that strong interactions exist between the cardiac and vascular fields.

That is why the working group of cardiovascular biology was founded by clinicians and researchers working in cardiology and in the vascular domain. This interaction is the specificity of our group, which is also supported by the Swiss Society of Cardiology.

At origin, the purpose of the working group of cardiovascular biology is:

  • To provide an open forum for cardio-vascular scientists (basic researchers and clinicians)
  • To promote and enhance education for young colleagues
  • To intensify collaborations within Switzerland
  • To provide an annual meeting platform for network programs

If certain aspects of our research are specific to the heart and the vessels, others are common with researchers working on stem cells, regenerative medicine, autophagy, and heart and vessel metabolism. That is why people who are not working in the cardiovascular field can also benefit from the knowledge acquired in the cardiovascular domain.

Therefore, LS2 and Swiss Society of Cardiology founded Cardiovascular Biology Intersection in November 2017 to aid interactions and networking among research groups from different fields.

Section Board

President

Sarah Longnus
University of Bern

Vice-President

Lucio Barile
Università della Svizzera italiana

Past-President

Marie-Luce Bochaton-Piallat
University of Geneva

Board Member

Jan Kucera
University of Bern

Board Member

Nathalie Rosenblatt-Velin
CHUV Lausanne

Board Member

Andrea Banfi
University of Basel

Board Member and delegate for Swiss Society of Cardiology (SGK)

Giovanni G. Camici
University of Zurich

Board Member

Gabriela Kania
University Hospital Zurich

Board Member

Marie-Noelle Giraud
University of Fribourg

Board Member

Carolina Balbi
University of Zurich

How to join the new LS2 intersection Cardiovascular Biology

Existing LS2 members: log in at www.ls2.ch using their member name and password, click on their name at the top right of the page, go to "Account overview" and add/change to the new intersection using the checkbox "Cardiovascular Biology". 

New members:  apply for the LS2 membership here and select "Cardiovascular Biology" in the online application form.

 

Apply to become a member!

News and Events:

Our Symposium at the Annual Meeting 2027!

Advanced Multicellular Models in Cardiac, Vascular and Lung Research

How can multicellular models help us study human cardiovascular and pulmonary biology in systems that are more complex and physiologically relevant than conventional cell cultures? This symposium will showcase advanced in vitro and organ-on-chip approaches spanning cardiac and vascular research. Andreas Dendorfer will present living myocardial slices as a long-term, multicellular model of adult human myocardium, while Olivier Guenat will introduce vascular platforms that recreate different aspects of the human microcirculation, from perfusable capillary networks to arteriole-on-chip models with functional vascular read-outs.

Join us on 11 February 2027, starting from 10:20.

The Cardiovascular Research Meeting 2027

The Cardiovascular Research Meeting 2027, organised by the LS2 Section of Cardiovascular Biology, will take place on 13-14 January 2027 at the University of Bern. The annual meeting brings together more than 100 researchers working in cardiovascular and vascular biology, providing a platform for scientific exchange, discussion and networking within the Swiss research community.

The program features two keynote lectures by Grégoire Courtine (EPFL) and Jocelyne Bloch (CHUV), alongside speakers from Switzerland and Europe. The meeting will also highlight the work of young researchers: as in previous editions, selected submitted abstracts will be invited for short oral presentations, while other abstracts will be presented as posters.

Two flash-presentation sessions will provide an additional opportunity for poster presenters to introduce their work in a single-slide format. Awards will be presented for the best oral and poster presentations.

The meeting will also include a conference dinner on 13 January, offering participants an opportunity to continue scientific discussions in a more informal setting and expand their professional networks.

Abstract submission deadline: 8 November 2026

Registration deadline: 13 December 2026

Affiliations

Swiss Society of Cardiology