ISICR Vol. 15.1

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

ISICR Vol. 15.1 ISICR Officers President Eleanor Fish President-elect INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR Leonidas Platanias INTERFERON AND CYTOKINE RESEARCH Secretary April 2008 Tom Hamilton Volume 15, No. 1 Treasurer Bob Friedman Executive Director A Message from the new ISICR Cliff Brownstein President, Eleanor Fish It is with gratitude and humility that I assume the Future ISICR Meetings responsibilities of incoming President of the ISICR. I am honored to have been elected by my peers and am fortunate to have in place a Board of 2008 Meeting Directors and Committee members that are as Joint ISICR/ICS committed to strengthening our Society as I am. In Montreal, Canada recent months, to ensure that our Society reflects Oct. 12-16 the scientific activities of junior investigators, as positions have www.cytokines2008.org become vacant on the various ISICR Committees, in consultation 2009 Meeting with the Committee Chairs I have made best efforts to invite the par- Joint ISICR/ICS/SLB ticipation of younger investigators who share our vision of a strong, Lisbon, Portugal international, collegial Society. I invite members to participate in your Society - just contact me to let me know of your interest. 2010 Meeting Joint ISICR/ICS Within recent years we have seen a revival of interest in the Chicago, Illinois pleiotropic activities of interferons, touching on many different bio- logical disciplines. Moreover, the role of cytokines and how they ISICR WWW Site inform us of biological processes in normal and diseased states is an www.ISICR.org ever expanding field. I would like to focus my tenure as President on a number of key areas: ISICR Business Office O Communication. Disseminate information relating to notable [email protected] research activities to the general public, to governmental organiza- TEL: 301-634-7250 tions and policy makers. To ensure that support for research in our FAX: 301-634-7420 field is strengthened. ISICR Newsletter Editors O Collaboration. Provide the appropriate information to Society members and new opportunities for networking, to enable transla- Howard Young [email protected] tional research: from basic science discoveries to clinical/veterinar- Fax: 301-846-1673 ian application. O Membership. Enhance the membership to have a broader reach, Hannah Nguyen both in terms of attracting scientists from around the world and [email protected] from various disciplines. Invite broader membership from academ- Seng-Lai (Thomas) Tan ic institutions and industry. [email protected] I look forward to doing this in partnership with all of you. Eleanor March, 2008 New ISICR Executive Director New ISICR Business Officer Manager Clifford M. Brownstein Lisa Hetherington Cliff Brownstein has spent 33 years in the association manage- Lisa Hetherington joined FASEB ment profession. He has served last summer as Senior Project as Executive Director of numer- Coordinator in the Managed ous associations, including the Society Services department. With Association of Accounting over 10 years of administrative and Administrators, the National Business Owners management experience, Lisa is Association, the Society for Surgery of the responsible for coordinating and implementing Alimentary Tract, and the Association of Practicing activities for several client societies. CPAs, among others. At present, he is also Executive Director of the Society for Leukocyte Biology. Before coming to FASEB, Lisa served as Director and Manager for various operational, research and Prior to joining FASEB's Managed Society Services, publication services. From 2005 to 2007, as the he was Owner of Practical Strategies, consultants to manager of a business analyst group, she planned, associations, from 2000-2007. He provided strategic directed and coordinated system development life planning, membership growth, leadership training cycles for support and implementation of software consulting to a variety of associations including the changes. American College of Radiation Oncologists, the Society for Mucosal Immunology, the Automatic From 1998 to 2005, Lisa worked for a privately Meter Reading Association, and the American owned direct mail firm, serving in different capaci- College of Foot & Ankle Orthopedics and Medicine. ties as a Client Service Manager for fulfillment and publishing clients and as the Warehouse Operations From 1996 to 1999, Cliff served as Chief Operating Director, managing over $7 million of client Officer for TEAM Management, Washington, DC, inventory. overseeing a staff of 38 in two offices, and managing more than one dozen medical and scientific associa- Lisa earned her Bachelor's degree in Business tions. For 11 years prior, Cliff owned C.M. Administration from the University of Florida and is Brownstein & Associates, Inc., an association the proud mother of an 8 year old son. Prior to management company specializing in professional devoting her time to soccer games and Cub Scout societies. activities, Lisa was an avid billiards player, winning two division championship league titles. (Eight Ball Cliff served as 1997-98 President of the International - American Poolplayer's Association, sponsored by Association of Association Management Companies, Bud Light). has been a frequent contributing author to Association Trends, and has been an invited speaker on various association management topics at meet- ings of the American Society of Association Appreciation: Executives and its affiliated state societies. The ISICR wishes to express its' sincere appreciation to Ms. Delores Francis for her He is a graduate of Rutgers University with a BS in many years of effective service to the Journalism. He is married with three grown children ISICR and to John Lord for his service and one brand new granddaughter. He's also an avid this past year as Executive Director. motorcyclist, whitewater rafter, and keyboard and harmonica player. 2 International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research ISICR Awards The Seymour and Vivian Milstein The nominations will be collated, and passed on to Award the Chair of the Awards Committee in May. This committee will then vote for the winners. As speci- Seymour Milstein fied in the ISICR Constitution, the final vote of the (1920-2001) Awards Committee is subject to the approval of the ISICR Board of Directors. Individuals who have made excep- tional contributions to research relat- ed to interferons and cytokines either The Seymour and Vivian Milstein in a basic or clinical field. The Seymour and Vivian Milstein awards are made possi- Young Investigator Awards ble by the generous gift of the Milstein family. This ISICR members who attend the 2008 ISICR meeting award represents a pinnacle of scientific achievement in Montreal, Canada and who have received a Ph.D in our field and is an important landmark of the soci- or M.D. within the previous 8 years are eligible. ety. Nominations should be communicated to the Every year up to five awards are granted to individu- President of the ISICR by May 1, 2008 (see below). als who have made notable contributions to either basic or clinical research. This award is provided by Honorary Membership a generous gift of the Milstein Family. We urge every eligible individual to apply for the awards. A Nominees should be individuals who have made sub- CV and letter of recommendation should accompany stantive contributions to the interferon/cytokine field the application. We also ask more senior laboratory over much of their careers, either in basic, clinical or advisers to encourage their associates to apply. applied research. Honorary members are the treas- Deadline to Submit your 2008 ISICR Award ures of the society and provide us with an historical Application is July 18, 2008. perspective and valued research tradition. We invite your nominations for eligible candidates Seymour and Vivian Milstein Travel for The Seymour and Vivian Milstein Award and Honorary Membership, both prestigious symbols of Awards recognition by our society for outstanding achieve- ISICR members who attend the 2008 ISICR meeting ments. A brief (one to two page) description of the in Montreal, Canada are eligible for Travel Awards. reasons for your nomination and the CV of the They are provided through a grant from the Milstein nominee should be sent to the ISICR President by Family based on the scientific merit of the abstract May 1, 2008: and financial necessity. However, this award does Eleanor N. Fish, Ph.D. not exempt payment of the registration fee. A CV Canada Research Chair in Women's Health & should accompany the application for this award. Immunobiology Please note that there are no age restrictions to this Professor, Dept. of Immunology, University of Toronto award. However if both senior and junior members 67, College Street, Rm. 424 from the same laboratory apply for an award, prefer- Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M1 Tel: 416 340-5380 ence is given to the junior member. Deadline to FAX: 416 340-3453 Submit your 2008 ISICR Award Application is e-mail: [email protected] July 18, 2008. April, 2008 3 (Awards, cont. from page 3) Vilcek Foundation 2008 Award Winners The ISICR wishes to express its' deepest appreciation to the Milstein Family for their continuous support of the Society. The Vilcek Foundation has announced the names of The ISICR is honored by the generosity of the recipients of its annual prizes in biomedical the Milstein Family in being able to research and in the arts. Dr. Inder Verma is the prize recognize the scientists whose work has recipient for biomedical science; the prize recipient been instrumental in understanding the for the arts is composer Osvaldo Golijov. The Vilcek role of Interferon in the host response to Foundation Prizes are awarded annually to foreign- infectious disease and cancer, through the born individuals for extraordinary contributions to Milstein Award and Milstein Young society in the United States. In explaining the moti- Investigator Awards. Furthermore, the vation for the awards, Dr. Jan T. Vilcek, President of Milstein Travel Awards provide an The Vilcek Foundation said, "We should not have to important mechanism for enabling the be reminded of how much America owes to people future generation of scientists to attend who were born abroad, but we do.
Recommended publications
  • Cytokines MONTRÉAL 2008
    Cytokines MONTRÉAL 2008 Translating Science into Health: Cytokines in Cancer, Infl ammation and Infectious Diseases 7th Joint Conference of the International Cytokine Society and the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research Photo: Tourisme Montréal Photo: Tourisme October 12-16, 2008 Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel Montreal Quebec CANADA Cytokines Montreal 2008 1 PROGRAM From cell separation to molecular analysis The Gold Standard in Cell Isolation • Separation of functional, cytokine-secreting cells • Virtually any cell type from any species • Superior viability, purity and recovery Cytokines and Growth Factors • New, broad portfolio: human - mouse - rat • Excellent purity and activity • Optimized for cell culture applications MACSmolecular Tools for Molecular Analysis • Tools for signal transduction • State of the art microRNA analysis • Comprehensive gene expression profiling Unless otherwise specifically indicated, Miltenyi Biotec products and services are for research use only and not for therapeutic or diagnostic use. Miltenyi Biotec Inc. Phone 800 FOR MACS www.miltenyibiotec.com 12740 Earhart Avenue +1 530 888 8871 [email protected] Auburn CA 95602, USA Fax +1 530 888 8925 2 Cytokines Montreal 2008 ContentsWelcome to Montreal ..................................................................................... 4-5 Sponsors and Exhibitors ................................................................................... 6 Conference Venue ...........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Beyond Vaccines: Promising Therapeutics for COVID-19 and Emerging Viruses
    Research Canada speaks to Dr. Eleanor Fish, a scientific advisor to Canada’s COVID- 19 Therapeutics Task Force Beyond Vaccines: Promising Therapeutics for COVID-19 and Emerging Viruses The federal government’s COVID-19 Therapeutics Task Force provides advice on the best and most promising treatments for COVID-19 procurement, whether these are still in development and merit support, including via applications to the federal Strategic Innovation Fund, or are existing medications. The Task Force also makes recommendations on therapies developed for a different use that may have an application to COVID-19. Dr. Eleanor Fish is among 11 science advisors to the Therapeutics Task Force. A Professor of Immunology at the University of Toronto and a Senior Scientist at University Health Network, she investigates the behaviour of cytokines, which play a role in cell-to-cell communication during the body’s immune response. In a recent Research Canada interview with Ms. Deborah Gordon-El- Bihbety, President and CEO, Dr. Fish talked about the critical place of therapeutics in the battle against COVID-19, and their important role in preparing for the diseases and epidemics to come. "Vaccines are a very important tool in our toolbox against COVID-19, but they are not a complete solution." - Dr. Eleanor Fish 1 RESEARCH CANADA: Canada’s vaccination campaign is under way, and we’ve been told that all Canadians who want a vaccine will have it by next fall. What role do therapeutics play, separate from vaccines, in the fight against COVID-19? DR. ELEANOR FISH: Vaccines are a very important tool in our toolbox against COVID-19, but they are not a complete solution.
    [Show full text]
  • Dec 08 News Vol 15 No 3 Final.Qxp
    ISICR Officers President Eleanor Fish President-elect Leonidas Platanias Secretary Tom Hamilton December 2008 - Volume 15, No. 3 Treasurer Bob Friedman Executive Director One on one: An Interview with Cliff Brownstein Giorgio Trinchieri, Recipient of the 2008 Milstein Award Future ISICR Meetings Thomas Tan 2009 Meeting Giorgio Trinchieri received his medical degree Joint ISICR/ICS/SLB from the University of Torino, Italy, in 1973. He Lisbon, Portugal was a member of the Basel Institute for Immunology (Basel, Switzerland) and an investi- 2010 Meeting gator at the Swiss Institute for Experimental Joint ISICR/ICS Cancer Research (Epalanges sur Lausanne, Chicago, Illinois Switzerland). From 1979 to 1999 he was at Wistar Institute in Philadelphia and became Hilary Koprowski Professor and Chairman of the Immunology Program; he ISICR WWW Site was also Wistar Professor of Medicine at the University of www.ISICR.org Pennsylvania. He then served as director of the Schering Plough Laboratory for Immunological Research in Dardilly, France, and an ISICR Business Office NIH Fogarty Scholar at the Laboratory for Parasitic Diseases, [email protected] NIAID, before becoming director of the Cancer and Inflammation TEL: 301-634-7250 Program (CIP) and Chief of the Laboratory of Experimental FAX: 301-634-7420 Immunology at NCI in August 2006. As CIP director, he oversees the operations of two major NCI intramural laboratories, the Laboratory ISICR Newsletter Editors of Experimental Immunology and the Laboratory of Molecular Howard Young Immunoregulation. These two laboratories constitute the major [email protected] immunologic component of the inflammation and cancer initiative, Fax: 301-846-1673 which spans the NCI's campuses in Frederick and Bethesda and seeks Hannah Nguyen to partner NCI's expertise in inflammation and immunology with its cutting-edge cancer etiology and carcinogenesis program.
    [Show full text]
  • CMAJ WHO Enters New Terrain in Ebola Research
    CMAJ News WHO enters new terrain in Ebola research he meeting on unproven inter- ventions for Ebola at the World T Health Organization on Sept. 4 and 5 takes the global agency into “absolutely uncharted territory,” says WHO spokesperson, Dr. Margaret Harris. “We’re actually often criticized for being incredibly slow about saying, ‘Do this over that’, because we demand enormous levels of evidence,” she says. But for Ebola virus disease, there are no approved therapies, so WHO is attempting to move investigational interventions forward, including medi- cations, vaccines and so-called conva- lescent serum, made from the blood of survivors. The Sept. 4 meeting, aimed at guid- ing research in the midst of the out- NikiLitov/iStock/Thinkstock break, marks a sharp turn for WHO, In the absence of approved therapies for patients diagnosed with Ebola, WHO is taking where research efforts are viewed as the unprecedented step of attempting to move research forward. fragmented. About five years ago, WHO eliminated its office of research break at 78%, and in late August the three control animals died. Five of the strategy; the department leading the disease spread to another country — seven people treated with ZMapp have Ebola research effort, known as Senegal — and another city — Port survived, but it is unclear if the medica- Knowledge, Ethics and Research, was Harcourt, Nigeria, the hub of Nigeria’s tion helped them to recover and it will only formed at the end of 2013. But the oil and gas industry, where Canadian be months before there is more ZMapp Ebola crisis forced a change.
    [Show full text]
  • Keynote Speakers
    Keynote Speakers Dr. Katie Flanagan, BA(Hons) MBBS DTM&H MA PhD CCST FRCP FRACP, leads the Infectious Diseases Service at Launceston General Hospital in Tasmania, and is a clinical Associate Professor at the University of Tasmania, Australia. She obtained a degree in Physiological Sciences from Oxford University, followed by her MBBS from the University of London. She is a UK and Australia accredited Infectious Diseases Physician. Katie obtained her PhD in malaria immunology based at Oxford University. She was previously Head of Infant Immunology Research at the MRC Laboratories in The Gambia from 2005-11. Dr. Thumbi Ndung’u, BVM, PhD, is the Scientific Director of the HIV Pathogenesis Programme at the University of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa. He is a virologist with a PhD from Harvard University, Boston, USA. His main research interests are in host-virus interactions and immune responses in HIV-1 infection. He is also interested in the development of biomedical interventions that can be used in resource-limited settings to prevent or treat HIV/AIDS. He is an Associate Professor in HIV/AIDS Research at the the Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal. He holds the South African Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation (DST/NRF) Research Chair in Systems Biology of HIV/AIDS. Dr. Josef Penninger BA, MD, PhD, is Scientific Director of the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria. He is Professor in the Departments of Immunology and Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto, Canada, Professor of Genetics, University of Vienna, Austria, Honorary Professor of Peking Union Medical College/Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China, Affiliate Scientist, Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St.
    [Show full text]
  • The Dynamic Changes in Cytokine Responses in COVID-19
    meeting report SARS-COV-2 The dynamic changes in cytokine responses in COVID-19: a snapshot of the current state of knowledge “The role of cytokines in COVID-19” online symposium was presented on 18 June 2020 by the NIH/FDA Immunology and Cytokine Interest Groups and was purposed to discuss our rapidly changing understanding of COVID-19-related cytokine responses in diferent stages of infection, including the etiologies, downstream consequences and possible mitigation strategies. The recording is available at https://nci.rev.vbrick.com/ sharevideo/03106730-66cc-47ba-870b-f6e6274a998a. he symposium was opened by address that underscored the broad variety serum cytokine concentrations with disease Anthony Fauci, Director of the of clinical presentations of COVID-19, outcome. Her data showed that IL-6, IL-8 TNational Institute of Allergy and thus highlighting the central role of the and TNF, and to a lesser extent, IL-1β, were Infectious Diseases at the US National immune response in this disease. She also elevated at the time of hospitalization, and Institutes of Health (NIAID, NIH), and remarked on the apparent geographic their concentrations correlated with disease Janet Woodcock, Director of the Center clusters of disease manifestations and the outcome and mortality, even after correcting of Drug Evaluation and Research, Food need to better understand possible factors for age, ethnicity, race and comorbidities, and Drug Administration (CDER, FDA) in host–pathogen interactions beyond those suggesting that they could be used to and currently leading the therapeutics health conditions already identified, such identify patients at risk of severe disease2. component of Operation Warp Speed.
    [Show full text]
  • December 2012
    Department of Immunology Newsletter image provided by Michael Corrin VOL I – ISSUE 4 December 2012 Message from the Chair, UPCOMING SEMINARS Dr. Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker EASTON SEMINARS – Another year, another spectacular Immunology Holiday Party for January 2013 which we have Alessandra Ferzoco, Elisa Porfilio and many IGSA Room 2172 MSB at 11:10 a.m. members to thank. Jennifer Gommerman’s Mayan inspired January 14, 2013 apocalyptic monologue was terrific, and terrifying if we really had Richard M. Ransohoff, MD to choose whom to save. For those that could not make it, I am “Monocytes and microglia: Where they sorry, you missed a wonderful evening, but here is a recap of some come from and what they do.” (Host: Dr. Eleanor Fish) key items: the Richard Miller award was given to Janet Markle (Danska lab) and the Bernhard Cinader award by was given to January 21, 2013 Peter Chen (Carlyle lab); the Examiner of the Year award went to Jorge Kalil, MD, PhD “From molecular immunopathogenesis Michele Anderson, with Alberto Martin as a close runner-up. Our to the development of a vaccine to avoid department’s long-running holiday party DJ, Ernie West, was a post infectious human autoimmune recognized for his many years of service, and James Carlyle won disease.” (Host: Dr. Michelle Letarte) the newly minted “Lord of the dance” gold record award. The centerpiece competition winners were from the Kelly MacDonald January 28, 2013 lab, and the Zúñiga-Pflücker lab as runner-ups. The new fashion- Jeremy Mogridge, PhD show competition award was won by Catherine Schrankel (Rast “Detection of danger by the Nlrp1b inflammasome.” lab).
    [Show full text]
  • Murine Hepatitis Virus Strain 1 As a Model for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (Sars)
    MURINE HEPATITIS VIRUS STRAIN 1 AS A MODEL FOR SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME (SARS) Nadine DeAlbuquerque, Ehtesham Baig, Max Xuezhong, Itay Shalev, M. James Phillips, Marlena Habal, Julian Leibowitz, Ian McGilvray, Jagdish Butany, Eleanor Fish, and Gary Levy* 1. INTRODUCTION Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a novel infectious disorder that was first diagnosed in China in November 2002.1,2 SARS was documented in approximately 8,000 persons globally with more than 700 deaths. In Canada, there were 375 probable and suspect cases between March and July 2003 with 44 deaths, reflecting a mortality rate of 11%. Spread of SARS was shown to be by airborne droplets and results in acute pulmonary inflammation and epithelial damage.3 It has now been determined that a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV, is the etiologic agent in SARS. Based on phylogenetic sequence analysis, it best fits within group 2 coronaviruses, which include the mouse hepatitis viruses (MHV).4,5 As for most infections, SARS varies considerably in terms of its clinical severity. This variation is almost certainly due to population-based diversity in the genes controlling the immune response. Clearance of mouse hepatitis virus coincides with a robust innate immune response, including increased numbers of CD8 T cells. Disease and death do not correlate with high viral titers, and it has been suggested that disease reflects alteration in host innate immune response. Furthermore, host production and response to type 1 interferons (IFN) is a key determinant of outcome in MHV-infected mice.6 However, IFNs and other cytokines regulate in a coordinate manner both inflammation and the Th1/Th2 character of the specific immune response.
    [Show full text]
  • Therapeutic Effectiveness of Interferon-Alpha 2B Against COVID-19: the Cuban Experience
    medRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.29.20109199; this version posted June 9, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. Therapeutic effectiveness of interferon-alpha 2b against COVID-19: the Cuban experience Pereda R1, González D1, Rivero HB1, Rivero JC1, Pérez A1, López LR1, Mezquia N1, Venegas R1, Betancourt JR2, Domínguez RE3. 1 Medical college of Havana. Havana city, Cuba. 2 Medical college of Villa Clara. Santa Clara city, Cuba. 3 Medical college of Camaguey. Camagüey city, Cuba. Correspondence to: Ricardo Pereda González Cuban Ministry of Public Health 202, 23 Street, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución. Havana, Cuba [email protected] key words: interferon, COVID-19, SARS-Cov-2 NOTE: This preprint reports new research that has not been certified1 by peer review and should not be used to guide clinical practice. medRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.29.20109199; this version posted June 9, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. ABSTRACT Background Effective therapies are needed to control the SARS-Cov-2 infection pandemic and reduce mortality associated with COVID-19. Several clinical studies have provided evidence for the antiviral effects of type I interferons (IFNs) in patients with respiratory coronaviruses.
    [Show full text]
  • What a COVID-19 Vaccine May Mean for Ageing Adults
    What a COVID-19 Vaccine may Mean for Ageing Adults Interview with Wayne Ko˛, Ph.D. President and CEO Human Vaccines Project Wayne Ko˛ is the founding President and CEO of the Human Vaccines Project (HVP). He has decades of experience in vaccine development and may also soon be a trial volunteer, having signed up to participate in future COVID-19 vaccine studies. Ko˛ is also an Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH), which is partnering with the HVP to decipher what e˛ective immunity is in ageing adults. HVP Editor Kristen Jill Abboud recently discussed the state of COVID-19 vaccine research with Ko˛ and asked him about the priorities for evaluating and deploying eventual vaccines in various populations, including the elderly. An edited version of the conversation appears below. What are the most critical unanswered questions about immunity to this novel coronavirus? The major unanswered question is: what causes the wide breadth of pathogenesis we see with this virus in di˛erent age groups and in di˛erent populations? What is at the root of that? Within that, there are speciÛc questions about pathogenesis within the elderly. We’re learning more and more that people have a chronological age, but they also have a biological age, and most likely also an immune age. We have the capacity now with the tools at our disposal—tools of systems biology, all of the ‘omics’ assays, and advances in artiÛcial intelligence and machine learning—to really understand this immune age in ways we couldn’t possibly have just a few years ago.
    [Show full text]
  • Kate Fitzgerald
    In This Issue: 2019 Young Investigator Awardees pgs. 3-8 Italian COVID-19 Storms pg. 11 In Memorium pgs. 12-15 New Member Mini-Bios pgs. 17-19 Spotlight: Women in Science pgs. 21-23 Cytokines 2020 pgs. 24-27 Si g n THE INTERNATIONALa CYTOKINEl & INTERFERONs SOCIETY+­­­ NEWSLETTER APRIL 2020 I VOLUME 8 I NO. 1 A NOTE FROM THE ICIS PRESIDENT Kate Fitzgerald I write this note as all of us reach a new norm of working “remotely”. I want to extend my sincere appreciation to all members of the ICIS community around the globe who have stepped up to meet the unique and unforeseen challenges of this time. The precautions that have been implemented at all of our institutions and companies, in accordance with local and national public health guidance, will no doubt help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. We should remain firmly committed to physical distancing to make us all safer. We stand with our Italian, Spanish and New York colleagues in particular, who are facing very difficult times right now and hope things will improve there soon. It’s hard to understate the importance of the scientific enterprise and the work we as cytokine and interferon biologists do in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our past and current efforts to understand the host response to viruses and other pathogens and the importance of IFN and cytokines in controlling infection and the immune response to vaccines could not be more important than it is now. Understanding cytokine and interferon biology is fundamental to human health and disease.
    [Show full text]
  • A B Stra C T B
    OPTIMMUNIZE: IMPRoVING THE BENEFICIAL EFFECTS oF VACCINES 19 - 21 FEBRUARY 2020 ABSTRACT BOOK ABSTRACT Name: Optimmunize: Improving the beneficial effects of vaccines Wellcome Genome Campus Conference Centre, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK 19-21 February 2020 Scientific Programme Committee: Christine Stabell Benn University of Southern Denmark, Denmark Rebecca Chandler Uppsala Monitoring Centre, Sweden Nigel Curtis The University of Melbourne, Australia Eleanor Fish University of Toronto, Canada Sabra Klein Johns Hopkins University, USA Tweet about it: #optimmunize20 @ACSCevents /ACSCevents /c/WellcomeGenomeCampusCoursesandConferences 1 Scientific Programme Committee Christine Stabell Benn Rebecca Chandler University of Southern Denmark, Denmark Uppsala Monitoring Centre, Sweden Nigel Curtis Eleanor Fish The University of Melbourne, Australia University of Toronto, Canada Sabra Klein Johns Hopkins University, USA Wellcome Genome Campus Scientific Conferences Team: Jemma Beard Nicole Schatlowski Conference and Events Scientific Programme Organiser Officer 2 Dear colleague, I would like to offer you a warm welcome to the Wellcome Genome Campus Advanced Courses and Scientific Conferences: Optimmunize: Improving the beneficial effects of vaccines. I hope you will find the talks interesting and stimulating, and find opportunities for networking throughout the schedule. The Wellcome Genome Campus Advanced Courses and Scientific Conferences programme is run on a not-for-profit basis, heavily subsidised by the Wellcome Trust. We organise around 50 events a year on the latest biomedical science for research, diagnostics and therapeutic applications for human and animal health, with world-renowned scientists and clinicians involved as scientific programme committees, speakers and instructors. We offer a range of conferences and laboratory-, IT- and discussion-based courses, which enable the dissemination of knowledge and discussion in an intimate setting.
    [Show full text]