Immunology in Germany German Society for Immunology
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
1901 1984 Emil von Behring Georges J.F. Köhler Nobelprize ‘for his work on serum Nobelprize therapy, especially its ‘for theories application against concerning the diphtheria, by which specificity in 2008 he has opened a new 1905 development and Harald zur road in the domain of Robert Koch control of the Hausen medical science and 1908 immune system thereby placed in the Nobelprize Paul Ehrlich and the discovery Nobelprize hands of the physician ‘for his investigations of the principle ‘for his discovery of a victorious weapon and discoveries in Nobelprize for production human papilloma against illness and relation to ‘in recognition of his of monoclonal viruses causing deaths’ tuberculosis’ work on immunity’ antibodies’ cervical cancer’ Immunology in Germany German Society for Immunology Content Preface ............................................................................... 3 About the DGfI ...................................................................4 Academy of Immunology ...................................................6 Research Focus Groups ......................................................7 Scientific Awards ................................................................8 Annual Meeting ...............................................................10 International Networks & Bilateral Meetings ..................11 Immunology in Germany - Overview ..............................12 Public Outreach - ‚Immunology for Everyone‘ ................16 Membership in the DGfI? Yes! .........................................17 Legal note .........................................................................18 About the DGfI President Secretary General Vice President Past President Jürgen Wienands Carsten Watzl Michael Lohoff Hans-Martin Jäck Göttingen Dortmund Marburg Erlangen Society Office Advisory Board Ulrike Meltzer, Theresa Hoppe, Berlin 9 members Agnes Giniewski, Erlangen Membership in (inter)national umbrella organizations AWMF1, EFIS2, FOCiS3, IUIS4, VBiO5 Academy of Immunology Research Focus Spring School of Immunology, Groups Autumn School, Translational 13 groups Immunology School Certified Committee on Immunologist DGfI Gender Issues (over 220) Members Corporate Members6 2,300 members (2015) 19 members (2014) Legend 1Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen 6 AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co.KG, Becton Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften e.V. Dickinson GmbH, Beckman Coulter GmbH, 2European Federation of Immunological Societies; BioLegend GmbH, Bio-Rad Abd Serotec GmbH, 3Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies; BIOZOL Diagnostica Vertrieb GmbH, CSL Behring 4International Union of Immunological Societies; GmbH, dianova GmbH, Dunn Labortechnik 5Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften und GmbH, eBioscience, an affymetrix company, Biomedizin in Deutschland e.V. EUROIMMUN AG, Hycultec GmbH, Jackson ImmunoResearch Europe Ltd., MABTECH AB, PeproTech GmbH, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, R&D Systems GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Germany BV & Co.KG, Yakult Deutschland GmbH. 2 Preface Dear colleagues and friends, This document provides scientists, the DGfI Academy of Immunology with its immunologists, students, and the three schools and a program to award a interested public with a short overview professional certification in immunology. of the history, organization, and current The success of our Academy indicates that activities of the German Society for it may serve as the model for a structured Immunology (DGfI). education of immunologists at all levels in and outside of Germany. Immunology has emerged as one of the most important areas in modern To attract young scientists to immunology, biomedicine. With more than 2,300 the most fascinating scientific discipline members, the DGfI represents immunolo- in biomedicine, we need to secure and gists working in Germany at all levels of improve adequate career perspectives for their professional career in academic and our young students and postdocs. This is non-university research institutions as a challenging task, in view of a decline (or well as in clinical departments. at least stagnation) in research funding at many universities. The tremendous progress in basic and clinical immunology over the past few Nevertheless, the DGfI must convince years contrasts sharply with a lack of academic and non-university research appropriate public awareness about the institutions to secure and even expand importance of the immune system in departments in basic and clinical health and disease. Indeed it is alarming immunology. that there is a decline and even a resistance against vaccination, one of We hope that this document helps you the most successful achievements of to appreciate the diverse activities of immunology. the Society. You are cordially invited to contact us or to visit the DGfI online at One goal of the Society is to change this www.dgfi.org or www.das-immunsystem. situation and to reach this goal, the DGfI de. has started to establish platforms and campaigns that will provide the general Yours sincerely, public, teachers and academics with information about the immune system and its importance for public health. Another goal of the Society is to train Prof. Dr. Hans-Martin Jäck junior and advanced immunologists. To Past President address this point, we have established 3 About the DGfI The DGfI was founded in 1967 as the ‘Society of Immunology’ upon the initiative of H. Gerhard Schwick, Otto Westphal and Klaus Rother. From the beginning, the major goals of the society were the strengthening of immunology as an interdisciplinary area of biomedical research (including clinical translation), the training and support of young immunologists and the development of international collaborations. The first annual conference was organized as joint meetings with immunological in 1969. In 1989, just a few months before societies from neighboring European the fall of the Berlin wall, the German countries. In addition, successful, Society of Immunology had the honor of specialized small bilateral meetings hosting the VII International Congress of have been established with selected Immunology (ICI) in Berlin. immunological societies, notably from Japan, China, Argentina and Italy. Following the unification of Germany, the Society established new initiatives To honor excellence in science the DGfI to promote active cooperation. Research has established a number of awards focus groups allow immunologists ranging from prizes for excellent interested in specific fields of basic or theses to the Avery-Landsteiner Award clinical immunology to organize smaller for internationally highly acclaimed and specialized meetings and other immunologists. Honorary memberships platforms to exchange ideas and reagents. and the honorary medal are bestowed on individuals who have served the goals The training and education of young of the DGfI or the field of immunology in immunologists is a major goal of the DGfI. general in an outstanding way. The ‘Academy of Immunology’ now offers structured education in immunology via With currently more than 2,300 members, three modules of training courses for PhD the DGfI has established itself as one of students, postdocs and clinical scientists the largest immunological societies. On from Germany and neighboring countries. the basis of competitive science, strong international networks and structured In 2001, the DGfI established a curriculum training programs tailored to young for specialized training in immunology to scientists, the DGfI will further strengthen obtain the certificate ‘Fachimmunologe its leading role within the family of DGfI’ (Certified Immunologist DGfI). More immunological societies. recently, the DGfI has started a program to raise the public awareness of the leading role of immunology in modern biomedicine (www.das-immunsystem.de). To foster international collaboration, the annual DGfI meetings are occasionally organized 4 About the DGfI Presidents of the DGfI Otto Westphal 1967 - 1976 Klaus Rother 1977 - 1982 Jochen Kalden 1983 - 1990 Hermann Wagner 1991 - 1992 Fritz Melchers 1993 - 1994 Martin Röllinghoff 1995 - 1996 Günter J. Hämmerling 1997 - 1998 Christine Schütt 1999 - 2000 Hans-Hartmut Peter 2001 - 2002 Stefan H. E. Kaufmann 2003 - 2004 Reinhold E. Schmidt 2005 - 2006 Secretaries General of the DGfI Stefan Meuer 2007 - 2008 H. Gerhard Schwick 1967 - 1982 Andreas Radbruch 2009 - 2010 Holger Kirchner 1982 - 1991 Dieter Kabelitz 2011 - 2012 Fritz Seiler 1992 - 2002 Hans-Martin Jäck 2013 - 2014 Werner Solbach 2003 - 2012 Jürgen Wienands 2015 - 2017 Carsten Watzl 2013 www.dgfi.org/ geschichte 5 Academy of Immunology The DGfI provides state-of-the-art immunological training in three modules that form the core of our Academy of Immunology. In addition to the two already existing schools a new school was founded in 2012. The DGfI schools, all of which are taught in English, will bring together clinical and basic researchers, and provide an update on basic and clinical immunology, as well as new developments in immunodiagnostics and immunotherapy. The three schools train about 180 students every year. ● Schools are offered annually at ● Sponsors may attend all presentations attractive sites from 2-5 days. and activities. ● Intense contact is fostered between ● All schools are also open to interested speakers, attendees and sponsors. participants from industry. ● Courses are organized by renowned immunologists. In collaboration with various societies ● Invited speakers are world-renowned the DGfI currently awards stipends