The first meeting of the EU-METAHEART management committee (MC) took place in Brussels in October 2023, aiming to launch COST Action 22169, dedicated to the highly relevant topic of cardiovascular diseases and heart failure. This exciting meeting included plenary sessions in the morning, followed by “Action Café” dynamics in which small groups gathered in breakout discussions to explore the research aims within each working group and address vital cross-sectional topics, such as stakeholder involvement, grant awarding, training schools, and defining a communication strategy.
In the afternoon, the group reconvened for a debriefing from the breakout sessions. This was followed by elections for key positions, including chair, vice chair, and other essential roles. The meeting concluded with a discussion on the COST Action structure and how to distribute the budget for the first year’s planned activities.