On October 16, 2024, Drs. Graeme Birdsey, Régis Joulia, and Daniela Pirri from Imperial's NHLI held a symposium for the London Vascular Biology Forum.

With over 100 registered attendees, the symposium showcased the latest vascular science research from speakers that included established group leaders, postdocs and PhD students drawn from across the London universities, as well as the Francis Crick Institute and University of Oxford.

The talks covered a wide range of topics, including novel pathways regulating angiogenesis, lymphatic vessel formation and heart regeneration, cardiac remodelling in pulmonary arterial hypertension, the effects of radiation therapy on the endothelium, and the design of novel nanomaterials for haemostatic devices.

The meeting co-organiser, Dr Graeme Birdsey, said,

“The London Vascular Biology Forum is an informal, free-membership network open to all scientists working in London who carry out research in vascular biology. I am delighted that the Imperial BHF Centre of Research Excellence supported this symposium.”

In attendance, Professor Manuel Mayr and Professor Costanza Emanueli, Co-directors of Imperial’s BHF Centre of Research Excellence, commented, “Vascular biology is often underrepresented compared to cardiac research, despite its vital role in many cardiovascular diseases. At Imperial, our BHF Centre strikes a balance between vascular biology and cardiac research. We are delighted to host the London Vascular Biology Forum symposium as it provides an excellent opportunity to encourage students and early career scientists to present their research and foster new collaborations. This aligns perfectly with the mission of the BHF Centre of Research Excellence, and we are pleased to have been able to sponsor the event.”