The ESC Working Group on Cellular Biology of the Heart

A look at the past, present, and future of the ESC Working Group (WG) on Cellular Biology of the Heart and how we are dealing with new endeavours before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Working Groups are powerful driving forces within the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) community, bringing together experts in specific fields, providing education, sharing expertise, and facilitating exchange of the latest advancements in cardiology. Within the general ESC ‘machine’, the WG on Cellular Biology of the Heart represents one of the gears bringing together basic, clinical, and translational cardiovascular science (Figure 1). The founding core of its mission is to deliver knowledge and raise awareness on the basic cellular mechanisms regulating normal heart function, structure, and disease, with a strong translational perspective and the ultimate aim at reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Consistent with this scope, internationally recognized basic scientists as well as clinicians have been traditionally involved in our activities and elected as nucleus members, leading to a highly interactive and stimulating scientific environment. This composition, and the engagement of scientific collaborations with other ESC WGs, Councils, or Associations with stronger clinical orientation, has led to several publications with a solid basic science background and remarkable clinical implications.1–3 Since education has always been a key task for the WG, a special focus has always been made on trainees, including undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and residents in cardiology, with dedicated meetings, webinars, and web talks. In addition, nucleus members have been pleased to be highly engaged in promoting and supporting several ESC activities, including annual congresses, by proposing and grading symposia and abstracts, participating in the ESC Congress Programme Committee, producing and reviewing ESC scientific documents, contributing to the ESC Basic Science Summer School, and co-organizing a biennial meeting in collaboration with the WG on Myocardial Function.