Atherosclerosis and its complications remain the primary cause of death in the industrialized world and emerging economies worldwide. Dyslipidemia constitutes a significant 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, and cells involved in adaptive immunity to atherosclerosis-related antigens. Recently, a remarkable heterogeneity of the immune cell compartment in atherosclerotic lesions has been found. 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 remodeling and formation of large thrombogenic necrotic cores resulting from the accumulation of dying cells. Defective repair and weakening of the protective fibrous cap ultimately lead to plaque disruption, which triggers acute thrombosis and vascular occlusion. Because of these complexities, systems approaches are needed to untangle the underlying disease mechanisms of chronic inflammation and atherogenesis.

This meeting aims 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.

Key Sessions

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

• Cellular vessel wall and plaque diversity
• Cellular metabolism, cell death and immunity
• Transcriptional regulation in vascular cells
• Innate immunity and macrophage biology
• Adaptive immune mechanisms and autoimmunity
• Immunometabolism and leukocytes
• Lifestyle factors and vascular inflammation
• Multiomics and systems analyses 
• Human translational studies, drug development and clinical trials

Student Offer

Take advantage of this fantastic opportunity for students! Fully paying ‘single’ or ‘shared’ registrants can bring a student for only $999. Unfortunately, Postdocs are not eligible. Both registration packages include; accommodation for the 04, 05, 06 May 24 (on a shared basis for students) and an all-inclusive food and beverage package for the conference period. Once registered, please contact Amy Johnson to obtain a special registration link for your student.

Confirmed Plenary Speaker

Peter Libby (Brigham and Women’s Hospital)
UPDATE ON TARGETING INNATE IMMUNITY IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Confirmed Invited Speakers

Veronique Angeli (National University of Singapore)
TISSUE RESIDENT MACROPHAGE: THE SECRET TO ARTERIAL HEALTH
Daniela Carnevale (Unversita Di Roma)
NEURAL CIRCUITS REGULATING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Menno De Winther (Amsterdam University Medical Center)
Carlos Fernandez-Hernando (Yale School of Medicine)
MACROPHAGE PHOSPHOLIPID METABOLISM IN VASCULAR INFLAMMATION AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Florent Ginhoux (Singapore Immunology Network)
TISSUE MACROPHAGE HETEROGENEITY
Leigh Goedeke (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)
ROLE OF INTERMEDIARY METABOLISM IN CONTROLLING TRADITIONAL ATHEROSCLEROTIC RISK FACTORS
Gerhard Krönke (University of Erlangen)
METABOLIC CHECKPOINTS CONTROLLING ONSET AND RESOLUTION OF INFLAMMATION
Elvira Mass (University of Bonn)
DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMMING OF KUPFFER CELLS BY MATERNAL OBESITY CAUSES FATTY LIVER DISEASE IN THE OFFSPRING
Musa Mhlanga (Radboud University)
EPIGENETIC REPROGRAMMING OF BONE MARROW PROGENITORS LEADS TO CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Claudia Monaco (University of Oxford)
DECODING MACROPHAGE HETEROGENEITY IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Andrew Murphy (Baker Heart and diabetes Institute)
AMPK ACTIVATION PREVENTS CLONAL HAEMATOPOIESIS OUTGROWTH IN DIABETES
Almudena Ramiro (Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares - CNIC)
THE ANTIBODY RESPONSE IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS: POTENTIAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPEUTIC APPROACHES
Babak Razani (University of Pittsburgh)
LYSOSOMAL LIPID SENSING AND HANDLING BY MACROPHAGES IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS
David Sancho (Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares - CNIC)
A MICROBIAL METABOLITE AS A BIOMARKER AND THERAPEUTIC TARGET FOR ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Konstantinos Stellos (Heidelberg University / Newcastle University)
Filip Swirski (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)
BRAIN-BODY COMMUNICATION IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Ira Tabas (Columbia University)
MACROPHAGE METABOLISM IN INFLAMMATION RESOLUTION AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Soraya Taleb (INSERM)
IMPACT OF GUT MICROBIOTA SHAPED BY THE DIET ON ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Andreas Zirlik (Medical University of Graz)
LEVERAGING SINGLE CELL RNA SEQUENCING FOR CARDIOVASCULAR RISK PREDICTION – THE LURNA TRIAL

Target Audience

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 various backgrounds.

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. They will have the extraordinary opportunity to discuss the latest developments with world-leading experts in an informal and highly conducive setting.

Please note this programme is subject to change.