• Personal data

Surname, Name: François Mach

Date of birth: 25.09.1961

Place of birth: New-York, USA

Personal address: Chemin des Crêts de Champel 22, 1206 Genève

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8954-9694

E-mail: francois.mach@hcuge.ch or francois.mach@unige.ch

Professional address: Cardiology Division, Geneva University Hospital,

Rue Gabrielle Perret Gentil 4, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland

 

 

 

• Education from the most recent to the oldest

INSTITUTION	DEGREE	Year	FIELD
University of Geneva, CH	Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS)	2008	Clinical research
University of Geneva, CH	FMH Specialist in Cardiology	2001	Medicine
University of Geneva, CH	FMH Specialist in Internal Medicine	1999	Medicine
University of Geneva, CH	Medical Doctor Thesis	1994	Medicine
University of Geneva, CH	Diploma of Federal Physician	1989	Medicine

 

 

• Past and present positions from the most recent to the oldest

INSTITUTION	POSITION	Months/ Year(s)
Division of Cardiology, Geneva University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine	Full Professor, Head of cardiology	2016 – present
Division of Cardiology, Geneva University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine	Associate Professor	2005 – 2016
Program SCORE A, SNSF, Cardiology Division, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva	SNSF Professor	1995 – 2005
Vascular Medicine and Atherosclerosis Unit, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston USA	Research Fellow	1995 – 1998
Division of Cardiology, Geneva University Hospital	Resident, Cardiology	1993 – 1995
Division of Internal Medicine, Geneva University Hospital	Senior Fellow, Internal Medicine	1992 – 1993
Division of Internal Medicine, Geneva University Hospital	Resident, Internal Medicine	1990 – 1992
Aigle Hospital, Aigle, Switzerland	Resident, Internal Medicine	1989 – 1990

 

 

• Academic age

**Number of years since the first scientific publication 30, Current H-Index 102. Total number of publications in Pubmed: 598.

• Honors and awards

          2020 – 2021          President of the scientific committee of the EAS

          2018 – present      Member of Congress Program Committee of the ESC

          2012 – 2014          President of the Swiss Society of Cardiology

          2006 – 2016          Council member of the Swiss Society of Cardiology

          2006 – present      Member of the Swiss Heart Foundation Research council

          2007                     Max Cloëtta award

          2002                     Swiss Pfizer Research award

          2000                     Leenaards award

          2000                     Swiss Society of Cardiology award

          1999                     Swiss Cardio-vascular-biology award

 

• Language skills

** French: mother tongue; English: very good; German: good.

 

Curriculum vitae

Research

• Self-evaluation

I am an expert in the field of preventive cardiology, in particular with regard to the development and progression of atherosclerosis diseases. After obtaining my MD at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, I studied internal medicine and cardiology at Geneva University Hospital. I then went on to complete a post-doctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Prof. Peter Libby, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston (1995-1999). Following my return to Switzerland in 2000, I became full Professor of cardiology, and in 2006 I was appointed Head of the cardiology division at Geneva University Hospital. Between 2012-2014, I was the President of the Swiss Society of Cardiology. I am the author of more than 500 high impact factor publications.

As director of the atherosclerosis basic science laboratory at the Faculty of Medicine University of Geneva, my research group has developed animal models of atherosclerosis, acute myocardial infarction, chronic myocardial ischemia and ischemic stroke. During the last 20 years, our group has substantially contributed to a better clarification of the inflammatory mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis and its acute dramatic complications, such as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke, both in human cohorts and animal studies. These basic research investigations are supported from SNSF since 1999. I have also obtained several European research grants (“European Vascular Genomic Network” [EVGN] FP6, “Inflammation and Vascular Wall Remodelling in Atherosclerosis” [AtheroRemo] FP7), the Athero-B-Cell FP7 (Targeting and exploiting B cell function for treatment in cardiovascular disease), all funded by the European Community.

For several years now, I have also been strongly implicated in clinical research in the field of prevention, especially lipidology, by contributing to the design and completion of several clinical research projects and multi-center studies focused on lipid lowering agents. In addition, I am responsible of several Swiss cohorts of atherothrombotic patients. Several of these clinical research studies are supported by SNSF. I am one of the 3 co-chairs of the ESC /EAS 2019 Lipid Guidelines that were published in 2019, as well as co-chair of the ESC 2021 Prevention Guidelines that were published in 2021.

 

• Research outputs Cite the 5 most significant publications:

1)   Visseren FLJ, Mach F (co-chair), Smulders YM, Carballo D, Koskinas KC, Bäck M, Benetos A, Biffi A, Boavida JM, Capodanno D, Cosyns B, Crawford C, Davos CH, Desormais I, Di Angelantonio E, Franco OH, Halvorsen S, Hobbs FDR, Hollander M, Jankowska EA, Michal M, Sacco S, Sattar N, Tokgozoglu L, Tonstad S, Tsioufis KP, van Dis I, van Gelder IC, Wanner C, Williams B; 2021 ESC Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. Eur Heart J. 2021 Sep 7;42(34):3227-3337. IF: 29.98

 

2)   Mach F, Baigent C, Catapano AL, Koskinas KC, Casula M, Badimon L, Chapman MJ, De Backer GG, Delgado V, Ference BA, Graham IM, Halliday A, Landmesser U, Mihaylova B, Pedersen TR, Riccardi G, Richter DJ, Sabatine MS, Taskinen MR, Tokgozoglu L, Wiklund O; ESC Scientific Document Group. 2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidemia: lipid modification to reduce cardiovascular risk. Eur Heart J. 2020 Jan 1;41(1):111-188.  IF: 29.98

 

3)   Giugliano RP, Mach F, Zavitz K, Kurtz C, Im K, Kanevsky E, Schneider J, Wang H, Keech A, Pedersen TR, Sabatine MS, Sever PS, Robinson JG, Honarpour N, Wasserman SM, Ott BR; EBBINGHAUS Investigators. Cognitive Function in a Randomized Trial of Evolocumab. N Engl J Med. 2017;377:633-643.  IF: 74.7

 

4)   Steffens S, Veillard NR, Arnaud C, Pelli G, Burger F, Staub C, Karsak M, Zimmer H, Frossard JL, Mach F. Low dose oral cannabinoid therapy reduces progression of atherosclerosis in mice. Nature. 2005;434:782-786.  IF: 42.78

 

5)   Mach F, Schönbeck U, Sukhova GK, Atkinson E, Libby P. Reduction of atherosclerosis in mice by inhibition of CD40 signaling. Nature. 1998;394:200-203.  IF: 42.78

 

Cite up to 5 most significant methods, tools, infrastructures, data, etc. developed as part of research.

1)   As PI I developed of a large cohort of patients with ACS (SPUM-ACS) in Geneva (>2000 patients) and in Switzerland (>8000 patients, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne and Zurich). This database includes a full phenotype of all patients as well as blood samples at different time points, and also blood DNA of more than 4000 of these patients. This gives an opportunity to collaborate with other cardiology university center in Switzerland as well as abroad, and allows many subprojects for young doctors and fellows in Geneva, such the management of statin in the elderly, the eligibility of omega-3 supplementation, the association between alcohol consumption and clinical outcomes, the association between patients’ level of education and clinical outcomes. We also have started to analyze the data for the 5-year follow-up and plan to conduct several subprojects.

2)   Within the last 15 years, our cardiology division has developed a professional, well recognized, cardiovascular rehabilitation program, for both ambulatory and hospitalized patients. Each year our research nurse team, together with physiotherapist propose to these patients a 3-4 days physical exercise trip, which is very well acknowledge by patients (they all want to come next year!), with many press release in newspapers, radio and TV. These programs includes now museum, choral as well as theatre therapies.

3)   In 2017 we have created an ambulatory lipid consultation, open for all patients living in Geneva and around. This allows us to better act on primary and secondary prevention for patients with cardiovascular risk. Many doctors (primary care as well as cardiologists) send us weekly their patients in order to provide the best lipid treatment. In addition, this also allows us to recruit patients for clinical research. For instance, since 2020, all patients hospitalized in our cardiology units, as well as all outpatients have a blood sample test for lipid profile, including Lipoprotein(a).

4)   My basic science research group has developed animal models of acute myocardial infarction, chronic myocardial ischemia and ischemic stroke, as well as several knockout mice in order to investigate the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Results obtained from these investigations have substantially contributed to better clarify the inflammatory mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis and its acute dramatic complications, such myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke, and also help translational research with human cohort. Due to these achievements, our research team can collaborate with other prestigious groups in Switzerland and abroad.

5)   In 2004, together with my predecessor Prof Ulrich Sigwart, I set up the Cardiology Foundation GEcor, which aim to support basic and clinical research within our Faculty and University Hospital. With the help of GEcor, we have now developed a very professional team of clinical research, including around 10 research nurse, as well as a statistician. This clinical research team is involved in many research project, in lipidology, electrophysiology, stimulation (PM/DEF/CRT), acute coronary syndromes, PCI, structural diseases, heart failure, GUCH, as well as preventive cardiology. This help our research collaborators to perform the best science as well as to publish in the best scientific journals. Our cardiology research teams has published more than 170 manuscripts in 2023.

 

Publication indicators specific to the discipline with Scopus.com preview:

H-index: 102

Total number of citations: 70’677

Total number of publications (PubMed): 598; (Research.com): 603

 

• Scientific planning

I aim to continue clinical and basic science research projects in the domains of  atherosclerosis and preventive cardiology thanks to several established local, national and international collaborations.

Continue to supervise young doctors in their scientific projects as well as for applying to national and international competitive grants.

To continue national and international collaborations using data of large cardiovascular clinical trials in the fields of lipid-lowering therapies and acute coronary syndromes, as well as basic science investigations on cellular and molecular pathways leading to atherogenesis.

I will continue to serve as closed collaborator for the guideline activities of the European Society of Cardiology.

 

• Research collaborations

Cite up to 5 collaborative projects specifying your role in the project and the outputs of the collaboration:

1)   SPUM-ACS Cohort (SNSF, Zurich, Geneva, Bern and Lausanne): PI for the Geneva site and member of the steering committee. > 8000 patients with ACS included in the cohort with several publications in peer-review journals.

2)   SPUM-ACS ELIPS 5 years follow-up (SNSF, Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich and Bern) National PI of the project with around 3’500 included at 5 years after their ACS, with full phenotype, as well as samples of plasma and DNA available for analysis. An ongoing project on the safety of low lipoprotein(a) levels with PCSK9 inhibitors is planned as first author, as well as a network meta-analysis with novel anticoagulants.

3)   National PI for multinational randomized clinical trials on lipid-lowering therapies, focusing on Lipoprotein(a).

4)   Basic science research investigation on the role of monocytes and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in controls of vascular smooth muscle cells phenotypic switch in mouse model of atherosclerosis. This project will be under the supervision of Dr Kapka Miteva, PhD, senior group leader of our atherosclerosis research unit.

5)   Basic science research investigation on the relationship between atherogenesis and osteoporosis, together on collaboration with the research group of Prof Serge Ferrari. Our cardiology and bone diseases research groups will carry out this work under the leadership of their respective senior scientists, namely Dr. Kapka Miteva PhD, maître-assistante, for the cardiology lab, and Drs. Cyril Thouverey, PhD and Maude Gerbaix, PhD, former maître-assistants and currently senior scientists in the laboratory of bone diseases.

 

• Research funding and grants

SNSF grants:

Co-applicant of an ongoing SNSF-supported project (IICT, now partner because submission as a main applicant for another trial):

 

32003B_207881 Moderate alcohol consumption and heart function in patients with a recent myocardial infarction: a multicentre randomized controlled trial. 2022-2026

 

SPHN – Swiss Precision Heart Failure Network

 

Staff of a previous SNSF-supported project

2017 – 2022    Role of TGF-ß1-deficient B cells and follicular regulatory T cells in atherosclerosis.

2016 – 2019    Long-term Benefit of the Multi-Center, Multi-Dimensional Secondary Prevention Program in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes.

2014 – 2018    Endothelial Electrical Signaling in a murine model of Atherosclerosis. Identification of potential cannabinoid targets for treatment of the disease.

2011 – 2013    Selective anti-inflammatory treatments to reduce post-infarction heart failure.

2014 – 2015    To reduce carotid plaque formation and vulnerability: participation of inflammatory factors and novel therapies. Swiss-Brazil collaborative project.

2009 – 2015    SPUM-ACS. Inflammation and acute coronary syndromes.

2008 – 2010    Anti-Inflammatory Approaches to Reduce Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury during Acute Myocardial Infarction.

2005 – 2007    Anti-inflammatory treatment to reduce atherosclerosis and acute myocardial ischemia.

2002 – 2004    A new role for HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (Statins) and PPAR activators as potential new anti-inflammatory agents.

1999 – 2001    Role of Vascular Wall Chemokines in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis.

2008 – 2013    AtheroRemo, EU Seventh Framework Program Theme FP7-Health-2007.

2004 – 2008    European Vascular Biology Network EVGN. EU Sixth Framework Program Theme FP6 European Network of Excellence Program.

 

Other Foundations:

Regular recipient of grants from the following:

 

De Reuters Foundation

Swiss Heart Foundation

Gerbex-Bourget Foundation

Novartis Foundation

Schmidheiny Foundation

Gustave Prevost Foundation

 

• Research supervision and mentoring

Geneva University:

Basic science research

 

2018 – present  Supervision of Post-Doc (Dr. Kapka Miteva)

2016 – present  Supervision of Post-Doc (Dr. Karim Brandt)

2007 – 2016      Supervision of Post-Doc (Prof. Fabrizo Montecucco, Genova/Italy)

2002 – 2008      Supervision of Post-Doc (Prof. Sabine Steffens, Munich/Germany)

2002 – 2005      Supervision of Post-Doc (Prof. Claire Arnaud, Genoble/France)

2000 – 2012      Supervision of Post-Doc (Prof. Brenda Kwak-Chanson/Geneva)

2001 – 2004      Supervision of PhD Student (Dr. Nils Veillard)

 

Clinical research:

2013 – present  Supervision of MD fellow (Prof. Baris Gencer)

2016 – present  Supervision of MD fellow (Prof. Georg Ehret)

2018 – present  Supervision of MD fellow (Dr Elena Tessitore)

2013 – present  Supervision of MD fellow (Dr. David Carballo)

2010 – 2016      Supervision of MD fellow (Dr. Pascal Meier)

2004 – 2012      Supervision of MD fellow (Dr. Pierre-Frédéric Keller)

 

Other scientific activities

Abstract reviewer for the annual meetings of the European Society of Cardiology, Swiss Society of Cardiology and European Atherosclerosis Society

Member of Congress Program Committee the of the European Society of Cardiology

Council Member of the European Society of Clinical Investigation

Member of the American Heart Association Scientific Council

Abstract reviewer for the Swiss Heart Foundation research grants awards

Abstract reviewer for the Tua Foundation research grants awards

Supervisor of PhD thesis (Zurich University)

Member of several DSMB for clinical randomized trials

Reviewer for the following journals: New England Journal of Medicine, European Heart Journal, Circulation JACC, JAMA cardiology, American Heart Journal, Atherosclerosis, Internal Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, BMJ Open, Swiss Medical Weekly, European Journal of Clinical Investigation, Cardiovascular medicine, Eurointervention.

 

• Contributions to Open Science

I share the publisher’s version of the accepted articles with the librarians of affiliated Universities when the deposit is requested. Some of my target journals are chosen based on their open access policies. I have published several papers in Plos One, JAHA, Open Heart and BMJ Open because those journals are known to have a 100% open-access policy.

I also submit to PROSPERO all ongoing meta-analysis protocols and work on the publication of peer-reviewed protocols of projects in the BMJ Open. I aim to generate collaboration with other investigators to share data and facilitative scientific exchanges and implementation of projects in the field of cardiovascular prevention.

 

Curriculum vitae

Teaching

• Teaching experience

Since more than 15 years I am involved in the teaching of atherosclerosis (“Cas de liaison”) in the first year of Bachelor, and I find this a real challenge to motivate these very young students. I am also involved the CC course Cardiology, and I am annually involved as supervisor of final Master exam of medicine at our Medicine Faculty.

I give regular postgraduate training of cardiology for the fellows of the cardiology division, for internal medicine fellows as well as fellows of other Departments of our University Hospital.

 

Geneva University, Pregraduate

2022-2023 (30 hours)

Bachelor – 1ème année (Médecine humaine et dentaire)- Cas de liaison Athérosclérose

Bachelor – 2ème année (Médecine humaine et dentaire)- Coeur et Circulation

Tutorial n°1: Le paysagiste essouflé

Séminaire interactif: CC – Cardiologie 1: Anamnèse d’une insuffisance cardiaque, examen clinique du Coeur.

Séminaire interactif: CC – Cardiologie 2: Maladie coronarienne: anamnèse, examen cardiaque, auscultation cardiaque normale

Séminaire interactif: CC – Cardiologie clinique: Auscultation cardiaque

 

Geneva University, Postgraduate

2022-2023 (50 hours)

Medical weekly ground round (colloque du mardi – Medicine Department/Geneva University Hospital)

Cardiology weekly ground (colloque du jeudi – Cardiology division/Geneva University Hospital)

Annual 4 seasons of cardiology meetings – (Cardiology division/Geneva University Hospital)

Postgraduate cardiology conference for our fellows

Regular conferences at Swiss cardiology university centers

Regular conferences at local non-university hospitals

Regular conferences with primary care and cardiologists in French part of Switzerland

MAS on Drug Discovery and Clinical Development

(Cardiology and Personalized Medicine)

 

Enseignements extérieurs reconnus par FacMed

Master SMS (Science du Mouvement et du Sport) UNIL Science du mouvement (Pathologies cardiaques chez l’adulte)

 

• Teaching perspective

I will continue my teaching activities within our Medicine Faculty in both pre-graduate and postgraduate levels as mentioned above. Du to my age (62), I also focus within the next 3-5 years on finding a successor for these activities. I will also continue to give national and international lectures in the field of preventive cardiology.

 

Curriculum vitae

Management and administration

• Management skills

Geneva University

In 2006 I have been appointed as Head of Cardiology Division of the Geneva University Hospitals. Today this division represents around 150 persons, including nurses, medical doctors, technicians, administrative and research staff. I am legally and medically responsible of all our 45 medical doctors. In addition, I am responsible for the cardiology teaching (FMH) of all our medical fellows (13-15 doctors). I also supervised all our cardiology beds unit, including intensive cardiac care. Together with my clinical staff (20 doctors), we are managing the clinical care of patients with cardiovascular disease such as acute coronary syndromes, heart failure, structural heart disease, arrhythmias and prevention. We also propose regular cardiology teaching conferences to our physician colleagues practicing outside our hospital.

 

• Institutional involvement

Geneva University

1)   Full Professor at Faculty of Medicine, Head of Cardiology Division since 2006

2)   Group leader of basic atherosclerosis research (1999 – 2020)

3)   Council member of De Reuter Foundation

4)   Council member of Tua Foundation

5)   Previous member of the Ethical Committee in Human Research (2004 – 2010) at the Geneva University Hospitals.

 

 

 

 

Curriculum vitae

Clinical expertise

• Clinical expertise

I am a MD trained both in internal medicine (FMH certification in 1999) and cardiology (FMH certification in 2001). Since 2006, I am Head of the cardiology division at the Geneva University hospital. I am legaly and medically responsible of all patients that are treated by our different cardiology units, for both ambulatory and hospitalized patient. I am directly and weekly involved with hospitalized patients within our bed units, and I also have an ambulatory cardiology consultation where I see around 4-6 patients on a daily basis. In addition, I am responsible of our lipid ambulatory consultation.

Since several year I am recognized as an expert in the field of preventive cardiology, strongly implicated in clinical research by contributing to the design and completion of many clinical research projects and multi-center studies. I continue to collaborate with the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in the elaboration of clinical guidelines, for which I have been the chair of the lipid guidelines of 2019 as well as the prevention guidelines of 2021. Currently, I am chairing the 2025 ESC Focus update guidelines on dyslipidaemia which will be publish in August 2025.

Prof. François Mach, MD

 

Geneva, February 26, 2025