ICMS celebrates 10 years of connecting the ion channel community
As Sophion Bioscience’s Ion Channel Modulation Symposium (ICMS) marks its 10th anniversary, Sophion reflects on a decade of bringing scientists together to share ideas, spark collaborations, and advance ion channel research. We spoke with Dr. Duncan Jarman, one of the driving forces behind ICMS, about how the event has grown into a valued global platform where researchers connect, exchange knowledge, and build lasting partnerships – something Sophion is proud to support and continue developing for the community.
Duncan, now that your brainchild is reaching double figures, can you share your thoughts and perspective on its journey so far?
Q: When first pitching the idea of ICMS to Sophion colleagues, what ambitions did you hope it would achieve?
The ambition behind ICMS was to create something more than a typical scientific meeting. It was to build a genuine community around ion channels, allowing scientists from academia and industry to exchange ideas and to encourage new collaborations.
It was also about bringing something meaningful to the field, not just presenting the research, but about creating a platform where researchers felt part of a community.
Q: Were those ambitions realized, or has ICMS exceeded your and Sophion’s initial expectations?
It has exceeded our expectations. We wanted it to become a respected meeting, but the feedback on the quality of the agenda has been especially rewarding.
ICMS has developed its own identity. Scientists attend not only because it is useful, but because they genuinely want to be there, to reconnect with friends, colleagues, and other scientists, and to engage in the discussions. The enthusiasm and engagement is something we did not anticipate.
Q: How has ICMS evolved over the last 10 years? Which milestones stand out the most to you?
The ICMS has grown from one relatively small symposium into an international event with strong scientific influence. At first, we wanted to build belief and trust in the concept. With that foundation in place, growth followed naturally.
Key milestones include delivering the first event where attendance exceeded expectations, followed by the expansion into Japan and the United States, and the point at which ICMS became something people actively plan into their calendar.
Q: What do you remember most about the early days of ICMS?
What stands out most is the energy of all those involved from the organizing team, the advisory board, the speakers and the attendees, and, to be honest, a certain amount of organized chaos. Everything felt very hands on. We were learning as we went, solving problems as they arose and calling in many favors.
There was a strong feeling that we were building something for the ion channel community. Rather than organizing a symposium it felt more like creating a space for this niche community.
Q: ICMS is now hosted in the UK, Japan, and the United States. How has this international expansion shaped the event and its impact?
The international expansion has strengthened ICMS by broadening the perspectives and scientific approaches.
Each region has its own culture and priorities, and that diversity has made discussions more interesting and valuable. It has also highlighted that many of the challenges researchers face are shared globally. By connecting people across regions, ICMS became a truly international platform.
Q: Has anything surprised you along the way? Can you share any funny or unusual stories over the years?
One surprise has been how attached people become to certain traditions, whether that is a drinks reception by the River Cam, the 20-minute presentation timing, or even the extended coffee and lunch breaks. Scientists like to talk, and ICMS is designed to give them that forum.
There have also been the usual conference moments, such as speakers presenting after long journeys, last-minute technical issues, and the occasional evening event that becomes more memorable for reasons other than the science. Those moments are the stories people remember most.
Q: Do you have any favorite memories from 10 years of ICMS?
Many memorable moments happen outside the scientific sessions. Researchers meeting over coffee, or drinks, who later become collaborators; or hearing people reconnecting with a former colleague, or mentor at ICMS, is always rewarding.
Those moments are a reminder that the value of the event lies in bringing people together and what grows from those connections.
Q: What has kept you motivated to stay involved with ICMS over the years?
People have been the main motivation. The science associated with ion channels advances through the curiosity and commitment of individual researchers, and ICMS brings together people who are genuinely passionate about ion channels and their work.
Knowing that the event helps create opportunities for collaboration and scientific progress makes it very worthwhile. When you see its impact beyond the few days of the event, it is easy to remain committed.
Q: How has ICMS made a difference for our customers and the ion channel community?
ICMS has created an environment where customers are not just customers, but active contributors in the ion channel community. That changes the relationship in a positive and meaningful way.
For the wider ion channel community, it has helped connect researchers across different sectors and disciplines, which is particularly important in such a specialized field. For Sophion, it has helped build trust by showing a genuine commitment to advancing the science of ion channels.
Q: How do you see ICMS evolving in the future?
The future of ICMS lies in becoming even more collaborative and inclusive, whether that is early career scientists, geographical reach or the promotion of women in science. The challenges ahead in ion channel drug discovery and diseases associated with ion channels, will only benefit from closer partnerships across academia, biotechnology and pharmaceutical research.
At the same time, it will be important to maintain the sense of community that has made ICMS so successful. Continuing to grow while preserving the quality of interaction will be key to its development over the next 10 years.
As ICMS enters its second decade, the focus remains clear: bringing the ion channel community together to share ideas, build collaborations, and drive scientific progress. Whether you are a long-time attendee or considering joining for the first time, ICMS offers a unique opportunity to connect with peers and be part of a truly engaged global network.
Join us at one of this year’s symposiums:
- ICMS Tokyo, Japan – May 28–29, 2026
- ICMS Cambridge, UK – June 24–25, 2026
- ICMS New York, USA – October 24–25, 2026
We look forward to welcoming you.