The European Society of Preventive Medicine Team
Dr Sagner was the Medical Director and attending physician in the Section for Preventive Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine, University of Hamburg Medical Center. He then co-founded a private clinic group and research institute for cardiology, metabolism, endocrinology, preventive medicine and sports medicine where he looks after elite athletes and executives. As a clinician he has spearheaded interventions in the field of endocrinology and cardiometabolic prevention such as the use of GLP1 agonists in Europe. His focus is on interdisciplinary approaches, looking at the systems of the human body as part of an integrated whole, incorporating biochemical, physiological, and environment interactions and translating these systems biology principles into clinical practice. He works on the convergence of systems biology and consumer-driven healthcare to transform medicine from its current reactive approach to an approach that is predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory (P4). As a public health expert, he has spearheaded several international initiatives in the field of systems biology driven preventive medicine working with governments and NGOs. One of his interests is closing the gap between clinical practice and public health to promote more effective and patient-oriented care and preventive interventions. For that he has collaborated with many NGOs such as the World Heart Federation (WHF), the World Obesity Federation and the World Health Organization (WHO) where he established the ‘cell to community’ approach in prevention.
Dr Sagner is the Founder and Executive Director of the European Society of Preventive Medicine, and partner of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Aging. He was a member of the European Union Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, and the UK All-Parliamentary Group for Longevity.
His areas of research are: Advanced Preventive Medicine, Systems Medicine, Metabolism, Noncommunicable Diseases, Longevity, Muscle Physiology and Cardiometabolism and has published numerous articles in this area.
Since 2015 he has been the Director of Ageing Research at King’s (ARK), a cross-university consortium of researchers taking a multidisciplinary approach to better understand the mechanisms of ageing, improving health-span and the social and economic impact of ageing.
He is currently a Visiting Professor in the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Honorary Secretary General of the European Society for Preventive Medicine. and previously a visiting academic in the Healthy Longevity Centre at University of Zurich, Switzerland.
His research team focuses on the role of nutrigenomics and ageing on redox signalling in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health and disease. His research at King's is primarily based in the BHF Centre of Research Excellence and he also has honorary roles in the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing and the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Brain Health at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience.
He has numerous international collaborations including University of Oxford, University of Zurich, National University of Singapore, Harvard Medical School, Charite Berlin, Technical University of Dresden and University of Tsukuba, Japan.
Richard championed the Framework Partnership between King’s and Unilever through his research collaborations and one year sabbatical at their global R&D Centres, which led to the establishment of the Unilever Bioscience Innovation Hub at King's. Richard had also established the King’s India Summer Session at Unilever Bangalore, a unique international academic-industry educational initiative.
He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and Fellow of the European Society for Preventive Medicine, UK Lead for the International Society on Ageing & Disease. He was previously a Committee Member of the European Society for Microcirculation and Society for Free Radical Research - Europe.
Richard is the Specialty Chief Editor, Healthy Longevity Section of Frontiers in Ageing, an Associate Editor of Frontiers in Nutrition, member of the International Advisory Board of The Lancet Healthy Longevity and a member of the Strategic Advisory Board of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Longevity. He has published over 90 peer-reviewed papers and has been awarded over £4m in collaborative research funding.
Puska is considered to have had a significant influence on Finnish public health research and practice for several decades. He spearheaded the North Karelia Project (as Director and Principal Investigator) for preventing cardiovascular disease 1972–1977, during which time cardiovascular disease mortality amongst men fell by 80 per cent.[1] Puska worked as a director for NCD prevention and health promotion at the World Health Organization (WHO) Headquarters in 2001–2003.[2] In 2006 he was the Finnish candidate for the Director-General post of WHO. From 2010 to 2013 he was Chancellor of the University of Turku.[3] He also currently holds the position of President of World Heart Federation (WHF) and that of Vice-President of the International Association of Public Health Institutes (IANPHI).
Felix Strobl is also a trained tenor with international stage experience. He is the initiator of the Long Covid project MEA (Music, Emotion and Atmung/Breathing) in Switzerland, where he conducted research of the therapeutic potential of music in overcoming health challenges with the help of breathing techniques.
As a dynamic speaker, he shares his insights with a wide range of audiences, including companies, educational institutions and health conferences. In addition to his scientific activities, Felix Strobl also works as a trainer and consultant for various companies. His work is characterised by an interdisciplinary approach that combines scientific knowledge with practical applications to promote holistic health.