Atherosclerosis and its complications remain the major cause of death in the industrialized world and emerging economies worldwide. Dyslipidemia constitutes a major risk factor for the development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions, but may also lead to systemic disturbances - particularly metabolic dysfunction - that also influence cellular metabolism and function. Atherosclerotic lesions formation is initiated after retention of cholesterol-rich lipoproteins within the arterial wall at sites characterized by low shear stress. Modification of retained lipoproteins and activation of endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells trigger an inflammatory response and provoke a series of cellular events involving complex interactions between vascular cells, innate immune cells (e.g., neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells, mast cells, B1 B lymphocytes, innate lymphoid cells) and cells involved in adaptive immunity to atherosclerosis-related antigens (e.g., Th1, Tregs, B2 lymphocytes). Depending on the balance between pro-inflammatory responses and resolution promoting pathways, lesion development is either delayed or accelerated towards the formation of advanced and complex plaques characterized by chronic unresolved inflammation, extensive matrix remodelling and formation of large thrombogenic necrotic cores. Defective repair and weakening of the protective fibrous cap ultimately leads to plaque disruption, which triggers acute thrombosis and vascular occlusion.

The goal of this meeting is to provide attendees with a comprehensive overview of current research on atherosclerosis with a focus on the latest and most exciting developments in the immuno-metabolic mechanisms that govern disease initiation and progression. There is little doubt that the next most exciting therapy to combat cardiovascular disease will be based on targeting biological pathways that will have been discussed during this conference.

Seven sessions are planned and will highlight the following major research areas:

• vessel wall and endothelial cell biology
• lipids and modified lipids in inflammation
• cellular lipid metabolism and immunity
• lipoproteins and immune regulation
• extracellular vesicles
• innate immunity and metabolic regulation of innate immune functions
• epigenetics and regulation of gene expression in immune cells
• mechanisms involving inflammasome activation of monocyte/macrophages
• trained immunity, pro- and anti-atherogenic mechanisms operated by selective subsets of T and B lymphocytes
• immunometabolism and lymphocytes
• aging and senescence in inflammation, hematopoiesis, and cardiovascular disease
• non coding RNAs in lipid metabolism and inflammation
• existing and validated targets that are now in late-phase clinical trials.

This conference will bring together a restricted but high-level group of scientists from different disciplines and participants from all career levels enabling thorough discussions of the latest research between established and young investigators and trainees, and cross-fertilization among scientists from a variety of backgrounds.

Ziad Mallat, Christoph Binder, and Eicke Latz (Co-Chairs) look forward to welcoming you to the Melia Nassau Beach, Nassau, The Bahamas, from March 1-4, 2020.

Key Sessions

• Vessel wall and endothelial cells
• Lipids and extracellular vesicles
• Innate immunity and inflammasome
• Adaptive immunity
• Aging and senescence
• Genetics and gene regulation
• Microbiome

Student Offer

Take advantage of this fantastic opportunity for students! Any fully paying academic can bring a student for only $850. Unfortunately, Postdocs are not eligible. Both registration packages include; accommodation for the 01, 02, 03 March 2020 (on a shared basis for students) and a 24hour all-inclusive food and beverage package for the conference period. Once registered, please contact Chloe Trundle to obtain a special registration link for your student. 

Confirmed Invited Speakers

Nicolas Bazan (LSU Health New Orleans)
THE NOVEL MEDIATORS ELOVANOIDS (ELVS) MODULATE SENESCENCE PROGRAMMING AND INFLAMMAGING
Peter Carmeliet (VIB)
ANGIOGENESIS REVISITED: ROLE AND (THERAPEUTIC) IMPLICATIONS OF ENDOTHELIAL METABOLISM 
Navdeep Chandel (Northwestern University)
MITOCHONDRIA AS SIGNALING ORGANELLES
Vishwa Deep Dixit (Yale School of Medicine)
IMMUNOMETABOLIC REGULATION OF HEALTHSPAN
Benjamin Ebert (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)
CLONAL HEMATOPOIESIS AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Zahi Fayad (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)
IMMUNO-IMAGING AND IMMUNOTHERAPY IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS 
Carlos Fernandez-Hernando (Yale School of Medicine)
IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIONS OF CHOLESTEROL BIOSYNTHETIC INTERMEDIATES ON MACROPHAGE ACTIVATION DURING ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Chris Glass (University of California, San Diego)
MECHANISMS DRIVING MYELOID CELL DIVERSITY IN IMMUNO-METABOLIC DISEASE
Claudia Kemper (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
THE COMPLOSOME IN THE REGULATION OF T CELL METABOLISM
Klaus Ley (La Jolla Institute for Immunology)
SINGLE BLOOD CELL TRANSCRIPTOMICS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN HUMANS
Peter Libby (Brigham and Women’s Hospital)
CHALLENGE IN MOVING IMMUNOLOGY AND INFLAMMATION IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS TO THE CLINIC
Esther Lutgens (Amsterdam UMC)
CO-STIMULATORY IMMUNE CHECKPOINTS IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Musa Mhlanga (University of Cape Town)
EPIGENETICS OF TRAINED IMMUNITY
Kathryn Moore (NYU School of Medicine)
INNATE IMMUNE REPROGRAMMING IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Mihai Netea (Radboud University)
METABOLIC AND EPIGENETIC REPROGRAMMING IN MYELOID CELLS
Luke O'Neill (Trinity College Dublin)
IMMUNOMETABOLISM AT THE HEART OF INNATE IMMUNITY AND INFLAMMATION
Bill Sessa (Yale School of Medicine)
ENDOTHELIAL CHOLESTEROL UPTAKE AND METABOLISM
Filip Swirski (MGH Harvard)
LIFESTYLE, IMMUNOMETABOLISM, AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Alan Tall (Columbia University)
MECHANISMS OF ATHERO-THROMBOSIS IN CLONAL HEMATOPOIESIS
Clotilde Théry (Institut Curie)
EXOSOMES AND OTHER EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES AS REGULATORS OF MACROPHAGE FUNCTIONS
Jan van Deursen (Mayo Clinic)
HOW SENESCENT CELLS DRIVE ATHEROGENESIS

Target Audience

We encourage young scientists/clinicians to attend and expect broad representation from various disciplines. The conference will especially appeal to scientists, scientists/clinicians in academia, biotech and pharmaceutical companies with interest in Cardiovascular Medicine/Biology, Immunology, Metabolic Diseases, Immuno-Metabolism, Molecular/Cellular Biology and Epigenetics.

Educational Need

Graduate students, postdocs and junior researchers will gain a cutting-edge overview of the field and will have the extraordinary opportunity to discuss the latest developments with world-leading experts in an informal and highly conducive setting.

News

• BHF announces shortlist for £30m research prize - Conference Chair Ziad Mallat and his team make the final four! Read the full article