ISeptembermmunology 2019 | ISSN 1356-5559 (print) News

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Immunology: meet our official journal's new Editor in Chief

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Immunology News | September 2019 A WORD FROM THE EDITOR 3 ©?Shutterstock/nobeastsofierce Welcome to the autumn issue of Elsewhere, we are building up Immunology News. In this issue, we momentum for the upcoming BSI take a particular focus on the Society’s Congress taking place in Liverpool on official journals. They are a key part of 2–5 December. On pages 8–9, you can our activities to disseminate research read more about what to expect and what with the aim of promoting and advancing we’re looking forward to. It’s a fantastic immunology to foster future innovation, opportunity to network with your peers in addition to providing major financial while taking in the latest cutting-edge support for the activities that we run to immunology research from around the support members’ careers including world – we hope to see lots of you there! Congress, our grant schemes, group Thoughts, feedback and comments as activities and careers initiatives. On pages always welcome to the email below. 14–16, Simon Milling, the new Editor in Chief of Immunology discusses his Best wishes, vision for the journal while our Head of Publishing, Lucy McIvor, takes a look at Jennie Evans Plan S and its implications for the BSI. [email protected]

The Team Contents Editorial Advisory Board: FEATURES: Edd James (Southampton) 8 Louisa James (London) Looking to Liverpool: Donald Palmer (London) BSI Congress 2019 Mihil Patel (Cardiff)

Managing Editor: Immunology : Meet the Jennie Evans 14 new Editor in Chief Sub Editors: Teresa Prados Rebecca Ramsden Design: Qube Design Associates

British Society for Immunology 34 Red Lion Square London 4 Society news WC1R 4SG Tel: +44(0)203 019 5901 19 Congratulations Email: [email protected] www.immunology.org 22 Parliamentary Links Day 20 Representing immunology Enquiries and correspondence: 25 Future focus Jennie Evans: [email protected] 29 Around the BSI groups

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Immunology News | September 2019 4 SOCIETY NEWS

Partnership work VIEW FROM … the BSI. This gave us the opportunity to THE BSI • I’m delighted to announce a new explore new relationships between the partnership for the BSI with the National BSI and Parliamentarians as well build PRESIDENT Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) that links with other scientific societies in brings together immunology and cancer the UK. communities to drive collaborations • With vaccination uptake rarely off the and address current challenges in front pages, we’ve been busy responding immunotherapy. Doug and his team have to many media enquiries to ensure been instrumental in these negotiations we provide a strong, evidence-based and we have some exciting plans in the viewpoint on the importance of pipeline. vaccination to public health. • We’re working hard to increase our Journals engagement on the European stage with EFIS – in particular, looking at how • I would like of offer my sincere thanks our immunology communities can work to Danny Altmann as he steps down together to address vaccine uptake from his long and dedicated service as issues – more information soon. the Editor in Chief of Immunology and • I was involved in discussions with to welcome Simon Milling who assumed American Association of Immunologists this role in June. I also congratulate (AAI) to explore new ways for interaction Danny and his Associate Editors for between the BSI and AAI. This, and the their efforts leading to the increase in work with EFIS, are in part a response to the impact factor of Immunology (now feedback from the membership survey 4.147, its highest ever). You can read It has been six months since my last we carried out last year, where many more about Simon’s future plans for the message to BSI members and it’s of you indicated that it was important journal on pages 12–14. remarkable how quickly time is flying for the BSI to increase international • I would also like to thank and past – it means that I must be enjoying interactions. The Trustees and the congratulate Leonie Taams, the current myself! A lot has happened in this time. BSI office do listen the views of the editor of our other journal Clinical I have benefited greatly by having Peter membership. & Experimental Immunology, Mark Openshaw, our past President, close at Peakman, the past editor, and their External affairs hand to provide advice when needed. Also, editorial team on achieving their highest Doug Brown, our CEO, and his team in • This year, we’ve increased our ever impact factor of 3.711. the BSI office are doing a fantastic job Parliamentary engagement with • The BSI is in an excellent financial position all round to support our members, our significant success – raising issues at present because most of our income activities and introduce new initiatives that around vaccination uptake and the comes from the success of our journals. I will outline in more detail below. policy environment that the UK needs The Trustees and the BSI office are in Key highlights include engagement with to create to allow immunology research discussions about how to maintain the Government Ministers about immunology, to flourish (more on page 20). A group income stream from the journals as the meetings that Doug and I have had with of Trustees and BSI office team recently online publishing environment changes. the European Federation of Immunological attended the Royal Society of Biology’s We will provide more detail of our efforts Societies (EFIS) and our response to Parliamentary Links Day on behalf of and plans on this in due course. counter anti-vaccination issues. The Board of Trustees and the BSI office have an excellent working relationship that makes our interactions both interesting and productive. We are working hard to deliver against our strategic plan, including addressing new plans to diversify our income streams to ensure long-term stability of the organisation.

Highlights over the last six months include:

BSI elections

• As always, there is movement on and off the Board of Trustees as terms end. I would like to thank Edward Chandler for his valuable input over the last four years, as well as Simon Milling who stepped down in May. I’m delighted to welcome the newly elected Trustees, Deborah Dunn-Walters and Allan Mowat (second term), in addition to James Lowe, a new co-opted Trustee. You can BSI Trustee Ann Ager discusses the importance of immunology to the life sciences agenda with Alun Cairns MP, read more about them all on page 6. Secretary of State for Wales at Parliamentary Links Day

Immunology News | September 2019 SOCIETY NEWS 5

VIEW FROM THE PRESIDENT (cont.)

Events • We’ve had an incredibly busy schedule ‘We're working hard to increase our of BSI Regional and Affinity Group events over last nine months, and I engagement on the European stage with hope many members have benefitted from attending these activities. EFIS - in particular looking at how we can work The Groups are the lifeblood of the organisation and act to bring together together to address vaccine uptake issues.’ our immunology communities. I’d like to personally thank all Group members with young children, and a carers’ grant who give up their time to organise and the BSI office will be there during fund. The details are on our website. these activities – your hard work is the poster sessions and throughout the much appreciated. conference. Do come and visit us for a chat Finally, I hope you have a great summer • I’m looking forward to the BSI and attend our AGM to hear more about and look forward to catching up with as Congress 2019 in December – this has the work we are doing on your behalf. many of you as possible at Congress in always been my most exciting scientific Our collective role is to support the BSI Liverpool in December. meeting of the year. I would like to members and your input into how we do encourage all to submit abstracts this is very important. We have a number Arne Akbar by the deadline of 9 September. The of new initiatives at Congress this year, President BSI has a stand at the meeting and implemented as a direct result of your British Society for Immunology members of the Board of Trustees feedback, including a crèche for members Email: [email protected]

VIEW FROM … on vaccination, UK-based medical research charities on autoimmunity research THE CHIEF through our Connect Immune Research initiative and the NC3Rs on immunological EXECUTIVE experimental models – we will, of course, keep you all posted on progress. I hope you have all had a wonderful summer We can’t do this on our own, and we break. It’s been another exciting, action shouldn’t even try, but there really is packed few months at the BSI and we strength in numbers; working with others, continue to work with you all to push the while playing to our strengths, is going boundaries for the benefit of immunology! to be the most effective way of having In terms of what we’ve delivered and the the impact we all want for immunology. successes we’ve had, our President, Arne Partnership working will remain at Akbar, summarises this very nicely in his the core of how the BSI operates. address to the membership on the opposite Talking of strength in numbers, we are page. I would like to take this opportunity to all eagerly anticipating BSI Congress 2019 say a huge thank you to the BSI staff team and abstract submissions close soon on 9 (if you want to know who we are, please September. Personally, this will be my first do check us out at www.immunology.org/ BSI Congress and I really cannot wait! I about-us/our-people/our-team) who have see Immunology News, June 2019, page have heard such wonderful things about it worked incredibly hard to achieve all of this, 7) which aims to bring the immunology and to have all our leading immunologists and our committees and other members and cancer fields closer together to in one place for four days discussing all who continue to support us in all we do. help build on the success of the recent things immunology will not only be inspiring A key ingredient to this success, and immunotherapy developments. NCRI and and enjoyable, but will also lead to exciting something we have focussed on over BSI make a perfect coupling and one that, new ideas and collaborations. We would the last year, is working in partnership I have no doubt, will be incredibly fruitful love to see as many of you there as possible with other organisations. The number of for research and experimental medicine. and hear about your work, so please do partners we are collaborating with has As you will read on pages 20–24, we register now to secure your place! exploded recently and I’m delighted that have also ramped up our parliamentary Keep up the great work everyone – the there is such an appetite from others engagement programme, working in team and I are really looking forward to work with us on immunology-related partnership with individual politicians, cross to welcoming you all to Congress! initiatives. By join forces with others, we party groups and arms-length bodies such can share resources, increase reach as Public Health England. The issues we Doug Brown and get more bang for our buck! are highlighting are complex and working Chief Executive, There are too many partnerships in the in partnership (while also maintaining our British Society for Immunology pipeline to list them all here, but there are independence) is yielding impressive results. Email: [email protected] a couple that we are particularly proud of, We are also having success from engaging including one we recently launched with the with other non-governmental organisations, National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI; such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Immunology News | September 2019 6 SOCIETY NEWS

SOCIETY NEWS New BSI Board members

Our Board of Trustees is crucial to our work as they are responsible for physicists, mathematicians and I have a overseeing our business activities good appreciation both of the challenges and ensuring the Society is well-run, of working across disciplines, and the financially sound and that it meets its benefits that interdisciplinary working can charitable aims and objectives. We’re bring. I look forward to working with the delighted to welcome three new Board to continue their invaluable work towards excellence in immunology.” Trustees to the Board. You can find out more about them in the profile below.

DEBORAH DUNN-WALTERS BSI Trustee Professor of Immunology, University of Surrey

“I have been a member of the BSI for over 20 years, throughout which time I have benefitted greatly from the networking opportunities presented by the Congress and Affinity Group meetings. To be an immunologist is to be part of a broad JAMES LOWE ALLAN MOWAT and exciting scientific community. It is BSI Co-opted Trustee BSI Trustee extremely important to ensure that we Professor of Mucosal Immunology, maintain and reinforce our welcome and “I am a Chartered Accountant with University of Glasgow support for our fellow immunologists over 30 years of experience in both the wherever they may be from. In particular, commercial and not-for-profit sectors “I am a clinically qualified academic I feel that support for early career including as a Trustee and Treasurer working in mucosal immunology research researchers is vital and that we should with several charities. My most recent and first joined the BSI as a PhD student in continue, and build upon, the BSI’s charity experience was as the Treasurer 1978. This is my fourth term as a Trustee, efforts to support ECRs through the of Autistica for six years. The charity funds first as Chair of Council in the 1990s, as often-difficult transition between postdoc autism research and, in recent years, has Groups Secretary (2000–2008) and from years and later career. Whether that later been very successful in increasing the 2015 until now. During these terms, I was career is in academia, industry, science relevance of this research with donors and involved in the Society purchasing its first communication or anything else – the the NHS. permanent home, its acquisition of charity growth of immunology as a discipline “Although I do not have a scientific status, the move to having an annual can benefit from a broad reach and we background, I was attracted by the Congress and the expansion of the Board should do all we can to help early career prospect of working with an organisation to include non-scientists. immunologists fulfil their maximum that delivers substantial value to “My research career concentrated on potential. its members, and in particular, the the mechanisms that regulate immune “I am the University of Surrey champion possibilities for collaboration and sharing of responses in the intestine, using for the Lifelong Health research theme, ideas. I hope to make use of my business experimental models to investigate T and head of the Immunology section. My and financial experience for the benefit cells, NK cells, dendritic cells, vaccine own personal scientific interests lie in B of the organisation. I am looking forward development and most recently, cell development in health and disease, to learning more about immunology and macrophage biology. I was a Councillor looking through the lens of the adaptive the BSI, and working with the rest of the of the International Society for Mucosal immune repertoire. We have developed Board on some of the challenges and Immunology from 2009 to 2019 and was its immunologist-friendly web-based tools to opportunities facing the Society.” President 2015–17. Throughout my career, help the community with bioinformatical I’ve had extensive teaching commitments, analysis of repertoire data (http:// having coordinated the BSc Honours mabra.biomed.kcl.ac.uk/BRepertoire). course in Immunology in Glasgow for 17 I also have an interest in the biology of years. I am also an honorary consultant ageing and I have studied the ageing Find out more clinical immunologist in the NHS, with two of the normal human B cell repertoire weekly sessions based at Glasgow’s new for over a decade. As a result of these Find out more about our Board at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, where interests I have often been in a position www.immunology.org/about-us/ the diagnostic immunology laboratory is of working with computational biologists, our-people/governance. the largest in Scotland.”

Immunology News | September 2019 SOCIETY NEWS 7

SOCIETY NEWS ©Shutterstock/Danny Smythe New Impact Women in Factor released immunology We’re proud to announce that this year the BSI’s official journals have achieved database their highest impact factors so far: The European Federation of Immunology has reached an IF of 4.147 Immunological Societies (EFIS) hosts a and Clinical & Experimental Immunology ‘Women in Immunology’ database on their has reached 3.711. website which aims to help scientists, We’d like to take this opportunity universities, research institutions, political to celebrate our journals for building institutions, conference organisers and upon their position as highly respected journal editors to identify appropriately publications within the field of immunology. Green qualified female immunologists. You can We’d like to thank our editorial teams, search for keywords, cities, institutions, led by Editors-in-Chief Leonie Taams etc., and filter records by research area, and Simon Milling, for their ongoing credentials position, or country. commitment to the journals, and everyone For those of you that receive a print copy We encourage any women who are keen who has contributed to the continued of this magazine, you might have noticed to improve their visibility in the discipline success of our journals, including authors, something slightly different in this issue’s to register with this database. Also, if readers, reviewers and editors. delivery. As part of our ongoing work to you are organising a conference and Profits derived from the sale of the reduce the environmental impact of our looking to widen out your speaker list, the journals are invested back into the BSI to activities, we have switched our magazine database may be helpful to you in terms of benefit our members in the form of grants, packaging from plastic to a wrapper made suggesting additional potential speakers. travel awards, Regional and Affinity group from potato starch. This is 100% compostable You can access the database via the EFIS meetings, our popular Congress and other and can be put in food or garden bins. It website at www.efis.org/the-federation/ key initiatives. We encourage you to support breaks down into CO2, water and biomass women-in-immunology/about/about. the BSI by submitting your work. within 12 to 18 weeks and complies with html?nav=true. European standards on composting and biodegradability. We hope that you like it!

UPCOMING BSI Regional and Affinity Groups Impact BSI MEETINGS Factor We have lots of upcoming meetings BSI Cambridge Immunology Group and covering a vast array of immunological the Cambridge Immunology Network 3.711 topics. Find out more at 20TH CAMBRIDGE IMMUNOLOGY www.immunology.org/events. FORUM – PRIMARY IMMUNODEFICIENCIES BSI meetings 13 September 2019 Cambridge, UK BRITISH SOCIETY FOR

IMMUNOLOGY CONGRESS 2019 BSI London ©Chad Marrington/Flickr 2–5 December 2019 Immunology Group Liverpool, UK BARRIER IMMUNITY ©Shutterstock/Shaun Jeffers 18 September 2019 London, UK

Impact Factor BSI supported meeting Co-hosted with British Society for 4.147 Immunology VALIDATE SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE 2–3 October 2019 London, UK

Immunology News | September 2019 8 SOCIETY NEWS

SOCIETY NEWS BSI Congress 2019 2 – 5 December, Liverpool, UK

The UK’s top immunology conference is back – bigger and better Key dates than before. Based in the beautiful city of Liverpool, our extensive programme boasts a diverse selection of immunology topics covering Abstract submission: cutting-edge research from leading scientists around the world. 9 September 2019 We also have a range of networking opportunities to allow you to exchange ideas and build links to aid your next career step. BSI Congress bursary applications: Our much-anticipated flagship event presents the perfect opportunity to 11 October 2019 showcase your research to a large cross-section of the UK and international immunology community. Submit your abstract by 9 September and join over 1,200 attendees from around the world for four days of immunological delights! Early bird registration: 25 October 2019 Help with your travel costs All BSI members are eligible to apply for a Congress bursary to assist with the costs of attending Bright Sparks in Immunology the meeting. Application deadline 12:30 – 17:00, Monday 2 December 2019 is 11 October 2019 and you can find more information at www. Our showcase of work from early career immunology.org/grants-and-prizes. researchers in immunology. If you’re a . PhD student or early career postdoc, make sure you register your abstract Keynote lecture for these sessions on the submission BSI Congress for all form. It’s a great opportunity to Ensuring that the BSI Congress is present your work in front of a Doreen Cantrell inclusive is extremely important to us. large networks of peers and debate This year, we have launched a immunology in a friendly atmosphere. Professor of Cell Biology and Immunology new grant scheme for those who and Wellcome Trust Principal Research have caring responsibilities at home, Fellow at the University of Dundee whether this is looking after children 18:00, Monday 2 December or older members of the family, or those that need carers themselves. This BSI carers’ grant is intended to go towards the cost of the attendee’s care arrangements during the time they are attending BSI Congress.

Application deadline is 11 October 2019 and you can find more information at www.immunology. org/grants-and-prizes/bsi- Joint sessions with UK PIN congress-2019-carers-grant. The last day of the conference (Thursday 5 December) will be We will also have an onsite crèche held jointly with the UK Primary at the BSI Congress in Liverpool Immunodeficiency Network (UK PIN). to provide subsidised childcare for We’re delighted to be running several delegates’ children up to 12 years joint sessions including two plenaries of age. You will need to register for ‘Learning from cell signalling in this service in advance to secure immunodeficiency’ and ‘Mechanism of a place for your child/ren. inflammation in immunodeficiency’.

Immunology News | September 2019 We strive to ensure that our Congress SOCIETY NEWS 9 spans the breadth of immunology, with something to suit all careers levels and interests from basic What an amazing opportunity to be part through to clinical. Here, we ask of another inspiring BSI Congress in three members of our Congress Liverpool! Committee what they are most looking Feedback from previous events forward to at this year’s event. has helped the Congress Committee to assemble an exciting and mixed programme for 2019, covering several novel The 2019 BSI Congress in Liverpool will be areas of immunology. This year we will have my first as Congress Secretary and having special topics such as neuroimmunology, been involved in the planning from the immunometabolism, B cells activation I’m very much looking forward to start, I am looking forward to seeing how it and function, cancer immunity, leukocyte being back in Liverpool for BSI Congress all fits together. BSI Congress Committee dynamics, stromal-immune cell cross-talk 2019. Congress is a great opportunity to has worked hard to develop a diverse and immunology in neuroscience. Plenary catch up with old friends and colleagues programme of plenary and parallel sessions sessions will shed light on exciting areas and make new ones, and of course that we hope will appeal to the delegates. such as immunological challenges in to hear about the best immunology My research background is in the influenza and clearance of senescent cells research from around the world. identification of immune correlates to by leukocytes. I’ll kick off Congress by attending better understand the pathogenesis There will be also state-of-the art the Bright Sparks sessions featuring of infectious diseases and generate sessions on translational immunology some of our best PhD and postdoctoral knowledge that underpins novel vaccine ranging from immunotherapy researchers and I’m delighted that design. I’m therefore particularly looking in autoimmunity, cancer and Doreen Cantrell will be our keynote forward to the plenary session on the neuroinflammation to vaccine design. speaker on day one. I work on respiratory immunological challenges of controlling A highlight will come on Thursday 5 immunology, so the plenary session influenza and the parallel sessions on December when BSI and UK PIN will have on the ‘Immunological challenges of vaccine design and antibody diversity two plenary session entitled ‘Learning controlling influenza’ will be unmissable. in protective immune responses. from cell signalling in immunodeficiency’ Cancer immunotherapy is a fast One of the strengths of BSI Congress and ‘Mechanism of inflammation in moving and exciting field, which will is the variety of sessions on offer and the immunodeficiency’. be covered in our plenary session on opportunity to move between sessions I highly recommend arriving for the Wednesday morning. I’ll also make for specific talks, so I am also looking Bright Sparks in Immunology sessions sure I attend the parallel sessions on forward to the sessions on immunotherapy taking place on Monday 2 December. This ‘Inflammation at mucosal barriers’, and and cancer immunology, which are is a fantastic opportunity for early career ‘Inhibitory immune receptors and new common themes that run through researchers to present their ground- immunotherapies’. Another highlight for the 2019 Congress programme. breaking work and exceptional research. me will be the session on the ‘Recognition This year there will be a session on I’m looking forward to listening to them and of senescent cells by leukocytes’, translational immunology and learning being inspired! This will be followed by our which has wide ranging implications from academic/industrial partnerships. Opening Ceremony and our keynote lecture for cancer and age-related diseases. These relationships are crucially important by Professor Doreen Cantrell giving a start Our AGM at the end of the afternoon as they influence the focus, funding and to the next three days of BSI Congress. on Tuesday is our opportunity for us to impact of our research from laboratory to Do remember to submit your abstracts report to you on the activities of the BSI clinic, so I am looking forward to seeing by 9 September and take the opportunity this year. The BSI is your society, so please how that session goes. However, if I have to to show your work to a wide immunology do come along and ask questions! pick my favourite part of Congress, I think community! I look forward to meeting you in it has to be the Bright Sparks sessions Liverpool. Fiona Culley for PhD students and postdocs on the BSI Treasurer first day. I’m always impressed by the Martina Colicchia energy and enthusiasm of the speakers Early Career Representative, and the quality of the talks, it’s a great BSI Congress Committee way for me to start the meeting. Looking Get the latest info forward to seeing everyone in Liverpool. www.bsicongress.com Gary Entrican Twitter: @bsicongress BSI Congress Secretary Follow #BSI19

Immunology News | August 2018 10 SOCIETY NEWS

SOCIETY NEWS Human immunoglobulin SEIZE THE supply issues POTENTIAL ©Shutterstock/ustas7777777 DURACLONE SC MESENCHYMAL KIT

The British Society for Immunology works closely with the UK Primary Immunodeficiency Network (UKPIN) on matters of relevance to both of our memberships. Both organisations have been concerned for a while about the ongoing supply issues DURA Innovations Dry Unitised Reagent Assays with normal human immunoglobulin (Ig). Although used to treat several conditions, Ig is an essential medicine for patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID), for which no alternative exists. It is a sterile preparation of concentrated antibodies created from the pooling and processing of thousands of blood donor collections. All human immunoglobulin products Characterise mesenchymal stem cells must be shipped into the UK from abroad. Global demand for from complex source materials Ig has increased recently as clinical need has grown, leading to well-defi ned cell culture products to instability in the supply of this product for UK patients. without antibody pipetting - NHS England (NHSE) acknowledged the ongoing shortage using the dry pre-formulated of Ig and suggested close stewardship of immunoglobulin DURAClone SC Mesenchymal kit! management via sub-regional immunoglobulin advisory panels (IAPs) (www.england.nhs.uk/?s=immunogloblin+supply). Although UKPIN and BSI are in support of rationalised use of immunoglobulin, it is doubtful that this initiative will close the gap of shortfall in supply. We wrote to NHS England in September 2018 to ask for more flexibility for immunoglobulin prescribing to allow for the gap of supply issues, for the regional IAPs to be supported and resourced appropriately, and for the NHSE report from the ‘lessons learned’ exercise that took place in June 2018 to be released to the stakeholders. ✔ Standardized � Following an unsuccessful approach to NHS England, in ✔ Effi cient June, UKPIN and the BSI, wrote a joint letter to Rt Hon Matt ✔ Replicable � Hancock MP, the Secretary of State for Health, to highlight ✔ Versatile � the Ig supply situation and the need for NHS England to act to secure long-term, reliable supply of this therapy for patients with PID. In response to this letter we were diverted See our complete DURAClone antibody panel portfolio at once again to NHSE (www.england.nhs.uk/publication/ https://www.beckman.com pss9-immunoglobulin-pss-cquin). NHS England is still to release the lessons learned exercise from last year regarding the immunoglobulin supply issues and their response to the concerns of the UK immunologists, BSI and relevant societies. Although the response has been disappointing so far, BSI will continue to work closely with UKPIN and other stakeholders to ensure the current problems regarding treatment of © 2019 Beckman Coulter, Inc. All rights reserved. Beckman Coulter, the stylized logo, and the Beckman Coulter product and service marks mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Beckman Coulter, Inc. in the United patients with PID is prioritised and addressed appropriately. States and other countries.

For Beckman Coulter’s worldwide offi ce locations and phone numbers, please visit “Contact Us” at beckman.com Sofia Grigoriadou 2019-EMEAI-FLOWR-CM0054-2506 BSI Clinical Secretary

Immunology News | September 2019 SOCIETY NEWS 11

SOCIETY NEWS Building a network of immunology educators

As part of its remit to enable the UK’s immunology community to network and collaborate more effectively, last year the British Society for Immunology launched a database of immunology educators’ profiles on our website. This resource is available to all BSI members, in our members’ area, and can be accessed at www.immunology.org/immunology-educators. This section of our website contains profiles for some leading immunology teachers in the higher education sector across the UK, including details about the topics they teach, teaching methods, resources they use, affiliations and contact details.

The idea behind these profiles is that members seeking advice and practical help immunologists working in higher education with aspects of immunology education.” teaching or interested in further developing Calling all HE educators their teaching skills can gain insights into what others in the field are doing and build At the BSI, we believe that this resource is a network for themselves. The profiles an excellent opportunity for immunologists give a succinct overview of what each around the UK to learn from each other educator does, and you can contact them and to gain new skills and insights into to gain further insights and information on immunology teaching. We are keen to immunology teaching. You can search the expand the database of profiles further profiles according to name, research area, so that it will eventually become an teaching method or affiliation, allowing invaluable resource for all BSI members. specific information to be found efficiently. We would like to encourage more of our The initiative is led by BSI Education members to take part in this initiative Secretary Helen Collins, who says: “In and have their own profiles on the addition to raising the profile of educators database. We are looking for BSI members among the Society membership, the currently involved in teaching at a UK online teacher profile pages will provide higher education institute. Is that you? Or a unique and valuable database for all do you know an experienced or skilled ‘The online teacher those involved in immunology education, colleague who would be interested in providing an excellent resource for having a profile of their own? If you are profile pages provide a unique and valuable database for all those involved in immunology education.' interested in this initiative, please contact Eolan Healy, our Education & Careers Officer at [email protected] to find out how to get started and have a profile created for you on our website. Finally, we would like to thank all our members who have their profiles on the database and we look forward to hearing from other members wishing to take part in this exciting and collaborative initiative.

Eolan Healy Education & Careers Officer, BSI Email: [email protected]

Immunology News | September 2019 12 ADVERTISEMENTS

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Immunology News | September 2019 SOCIETY NEWS 13

SOCIETY NEWS

2018 statistics on animals in research

©Shutterstock/unoL The UK Home Office recently published its living organisms and systems function, annual statistics on the number of animals with research involving the immune system used in research for 2018. In total, there were making up 22% of this research type. Whilst 3.52 million procedures carried out, a 7% drop alternatives should always be pursued and compared with 2017 figures and the lowest research should adhere to the '3R' principles number since 2007. Half of these (1.8 million) to replace, reduce or refine, we believe that were experimental procedures, with the other animal research remains essential for future half for the creation/breeding of genetically scientific and medical breakthroughs. altered animals (1.72 million). The British Society for Immunology is Animal research has been a critical signed up to the Concordat on Openness on component of nearly every advance in Animal Research, meaning that we commit immunological science in recent decades to be clear about when, how and why animals and has helped us to understand how are used in research. You can read our full the immune system works and develop position statement on the use of animals in new treatments against disease. Of the scientific research at www.immunology.org/ experimental procedures carried out in policy-and-public-affairs/briefings-and- 2018, 56% of these involved basic research position-statements. to allow us to expand our knowledge of how BSI Congress Secretary

Following our call for nominations, we’d like to offer our warm congratulations to Mark Coles who will become our new Congress Secretary. He will shadow the current incumbent, Gary Entrican, from autumn 2019 and will commence his term of office in summer 2021. Mark is currently a Senior Research Fellow and Director of Graduate Studies at Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford. The BSI Congress is the 25 years at UK's premier immunology event attracting over 1,000 immunologists from around the the BSI! world. The Congress Secretary leads on and We congratulate Sarah Green, our coordinates the development of the scientific Membership & Office Manager, on reaching content of the BSI Congress and chairs the her 25th work anniversary at the BSI! There Congress Committee. We’re sure you’ll all have been many ups and downs throughout join us in welcoming Mark to his new role. the last 25 years; Presidents, CEOs and numerous team members have come and gone, we have moved offices, but Sarah has ©Shutterstock/Rei Imagine stayed loyally looking after our members. Code of conduct A familiar face to many of you, Sarah The British Society for Immunology values joined the BSI team as Meetings Assistant all our staff, members, volunteers and back in 1994. After a few years, she moved supporters and we are committed to providing into marketing and exhibitions before a safe environment for everyone we engage moving into membership and taking with. To that end, we have introduced a new over responsibility of IT and the smooth 'Code of Conduct' that outlines the behaviours running of the office. Thank you, Sarah, for that we expect all attendees at our events dedicating 25 years of your life to serving to adhere to, as well as staff and members the immunology community. You are such representing the BSI at external events and You can read the full 'Code of Conduct' on our a significant part of our team and we online. It also includes information on what website at www.immunology.org/about-us/ can’t imagine the BSI without you. Happy to do if you feel this code has been violated. code-conduct. If you have any questions, anniversary, we hope you there are many All attendees at our upcoming BSI Congress please contact us at membership@ more to come. 2019 will be asked to adhere to this code. immunology.org.

Immunology News | September 2019 14 FEATURE ARTICLE Meet the new Editor in Chief of Immunology: Simon Milling

We’re pleased to formally PhD. I knew I wanted to stay in London introduce the new Editor in Chief for a few more years but I had no idea of our official journalImmunology , what to study. I applied for the PhD Professor Simon Milling. Read with the biggest stipend I could find in the interview below to find out London – I had an expensive scuba habit to maintain. I was lucky enough to be more about his background, what offered the position, with Prof. Robert attracted him to the role and his Lechler and Dr Sara Brett, and I’ve never vision for the journal. looked back. My PhD focused on antigen presentation to human T cell clones Simon is an immunologist working on and laid the foundations for the work I the immunology of the intestine. His do now. To be clear, although it worked lab focuses on the biology of antigen out well, I definitely do not recommend presenting cells in the intestine and on this as a way to choose your PhD! how these cells respond to infectious or inflammatory stimuli. He trained at How did you first become Simon Milling Imperial College London and worked involved with the BSI? as a postdoctoral researcher in The task now is to maintain the quality Philadelphia and in Oxford. He moved At the beginning, it was all about of the journal that has been so expertly to Glasgow as a lecturer in 2007 and Congress. As a PhD student I went to BSI looked after by my predecessor Danny became a full professor in 2017. Congress meetings in Kensington Town Altmann for the last 13 years. Immunology Simon has been actively involved with Hall, Brighton, and of course Harrogate. has an outstanding history, being one of the BSI for the past few years and has Congress was then, as now, a great way to the longest-running journals in the field a unique perspective of the Society’s connect with the immunology community – it has fantastic potential to showcase activities from his experience as a in the UK and further afield. After my excellent research and increase its impact Trustee. He took over as Editor in Chief PhD I moved to a postdoc in Philadelphia. in the future. When I looked into this of Immunology in June this year. Congress provided a link back to the UK; more deeply, I became excited about the coming back for the meeting enabled team that I might be working with, both in Tell us a bit about your academic me to meet potential supervisors and the BSI office, and my superb Associate and professional background helped me gain my second postdoc Editors. I was very pleased to be appointed. in Oxford. I owe a lot to Congress. I always enjoyed biology at school, and I How has it been so far and was drawn by the bright lights of London, What attracted you to the role of what are you most excited so I did my undergraduate degree at Editor in Chief of Immunology? about going forward? Imperial. Towards the end of my degree, which I very much enjoyed, I decided When I saw the position advertised, I was It has been a great start. I began with a I wanted to take on the challenge of a attracted by the idea of a new challenge. day-long strategy meeting with the BSI team, Danny and the Associate Editors – Kathy McCoy, Francisco Quintana, Awen ‘Immunology has an outstanding history, Gallimore and Florent Ginhoux. This meeting generated lots of great ideas being one of the longest-running journals and set the stage for the next couple of years of development for Immunology. in the field – it has fantastic potential to Also, we recently learned that the journal’s metrics are moving in a really encouraging showcase excellent research and increase upward direction. We achieved our highest impact factor ever, which is now over 4. its impact in the future.’ Perhaps more importantly, our alternative

Immunology News | September 2019 FEATURE ARTICLE 15 metrics and downloads show the high impact and reach our articles have. Of course, having been in the job for only a couple of months, the credit for this positive momentum is all Danny’s. But it’s fantastic to start with good news, and I’m very much hoping to build on this achievement.

What are your plans for the journal and what are you hoping to achieve over the next few years?

First, I intend to maintain the quality of the work published in Immunology. In this age of too much information, authoritative sources are needed more than ever. Immunology will continue to be one of these sources. Our metrics are now competitive ‘By submitting to Immunology, you against the other general immunology journals, and we offer an excellent service. Building on this, I aim to make Immunology support your Society, receive an excellent a go-to journal for studies in cellular and molecular immunology. service and enhance the impact of your

What challenges do you see published work.' ahead for Immunology?

The journal, along with our sister journal Any other reasons why BSI in the abstract and the title, and provide Clinical & Experimental Immunology, members should consider five or more attractive figures that clearly provides significant income for the publishing in Immunology over show the data supporting your conclusions, BSI and supports our community of other journals in the field? you will have a great chance of receiving immunologists directly. My challenge constructive comments from our reviewers. for the next few years is to strengthen The only reason not to publish in the links between Immunology and Immunology is that you might be aiming Can you describe a day in the the immunology community. for an even more prestigious journal. If you life of an Editor in Chief? The relationship between the Society hope your work is suitable for Immunity, and the journal is highly symbiotic. then good luck! If you’re looking for a About half my editor-time is spent looking Leonie Taams (CEI Editor in Chief) and I strong general immunology journal at the at all the submissions that come to the receive fantastic support from the BSI. next level, then Immunology should be journal, making decisions about whether In turn, the journals provide a platform your first choice. We not only now have they might be suitable for review and for publishing the work of our members a similar impact to the journals that you distributing the review-worthy manuscripts and immunologists worldwide. This then may have previously considered before to the Associate Editors. Each of us generates revenue for the BSI, which is Immunology, but we also offer a fast, have specific expertise, and different used to support all the work of the Society, friendly, cost-effective service, a fair and networks to help with the reviews. Awen again feeding back to the membership. thorough review process and effective Gallimore has strong expertise in cancer marketing to help enhance the reach of and regulatory T cells; Florent Ginhoux is your published paper. By submitting to a leading expert on myeloid cell biology; Immunology, you support your Society, Francisco Quintana has a broad and receive an excellent service and enhance deep knowledge of the immunology of the impact of your published work. autoimmunity; and Kathy McCoy is a mucosal immunologist with strong skills What advice you can give in bacteriology. With these skills, and people who are considering my own interests in dendritic cells and submitting their work? inflammatory disease, there are not many aspects of immunology we can’t cover. We are looking for high quality submissions describing mechanisms of cellular and/ Tell us a bit more about the subject or molecular immunology. These can be areas the journal specialises from across the range of immunology, in. Which topics do you think though articles describing clinical studies are currently of interest to the are likely to be more appropriate for immunology research community? CEI. If you’re planning to submit, then don’t hesitate. We’re looking for clearly- Topics of interest to the journal described advances in our understanding of include: immune cell development, how the immune system works, across the cancer immunology, systems entire range of immune cells. If you make immunology/omics and informatics, sure you succinctly describe your advance inflammation, immunometabolism,

Immunology News | September 2019 16 FEATURE ARTICLE immunology of infection, microbiota and that I learned how much the success immunity, mucosal immunology, and of Immunology and CEI is linked to the neuroimmunology. We also publish review success of the BSI. Both journals are articles on subjects of topical interest to supported by fantastic and hard-working immunologists, and commission in-depth teams of BSI staff and scientists. It is review series. very exciting to have joined the team at Immunology and to contribute to the future Do you have any specific success of both the journal and the BSI! examples of recent articles relevant to these topics? Interview by Teresa Prados, BSI Marketing & Communications Officer We published a great Review Series in the July issue. Awen Gallimore, Sergio Quezada and Rahul Roychoudhuri guest edited the REFERENCES series, which seeks to answer the question Image from Yano et al. 2019 http://bit.ly/303krzW 1. Zelek et al. 2019 Immunology 157 283–295 ‘Tregs in cancer: where are we now?’ (Free https://bit.ly/31b0pUc access here: bit.ly/TregsImm.) We have I’m currently working on pulling 2. Santos et al. 2019 Immunology 157 296–303 a few more Review Series in the pipeline together the September issue, which will https://bit.ly/2yzaQVv for later in the year, so keep an eye out for feature work on inflammation-induced 3. Zhu et al. 2019 Immunology 157 304–311 those on our homepage and social media! cancer, the microbiome, and more! https://bit.ly/2KnELFL A typical issue of the journal will contain 4. Fan et al. 2019 Immunology 157 312–321 papers covering a range of topics – Is there anything else you would like https://bit.ly/2LTAxc9 for example, in August the journal to say to your fellow BSI members? 5. Casetti et al. 2019 Immunology 157 322–330 comprehensively covered molecular https://bit.ly/2MCOIld immunology,1,2 cellular immunology,3,4 As a BSI member I have gained much as well as an elegant piece on the from the BSI over many years. It was only immunology of infection from Casetti.5 when I became a Trustee of the Society

Meet the Associate Editors

AWEN GALLIMORE FLORENT GINHOUX KATHY MCCOY FRANCISCO J. QUINTANA Cardiff University, Singapore Immunology Network University of Calgary, Harvard Medical School, UK (SIgN), A*STAR, Singapore Canada USA

Cancer, cancer antigens, Ontogeny, development, and The microbiome, mucosal Immune regulation, regulatory T cells, differentiation of dendritic cells, immunology, innate immunity, T cells, dendritic cells, immune modulation monocytes, and macrophages B cells, allergy astrocytes, autoimmunity

Find out more To find out more about the To find out more about the Society’s Thinking about submitting to Follow the journals on Immunology Editorial Team, official journals,Immunology Immunology? Go to social media: please visit and Clinical & Experimental www.immunology.org/submit. http://bit.ly/ImmAEs. Immunology, please visit: Support the BSI, submit your @immjournal bit.ly/Immjournal work now! @CEIjournal bit.ly/CEIjournal

Immunology News | September 2019 FEATURE ARTICLE 17 BSI, Plan S and Open Access ©Shutterstock/karpenko_ilia

The world of academic publishing is not known for its fast pace environment, rather its more glacial, steady pace. However, over the past 12 months there has been a quiet revolution taking place, which is being led by research funders.

Open access – research articles that are organisation. We’re proud to achieve this driver to improve research assessment free and open to anyone who wants to through the publication of our two hybrid by evaluating the work itself, rather access them – is not new and has been open access journals, Immunology and than using the venue of publication as mainstream for over ten years with an Clinical & Experimental Immunology. a proxy for quality; we are now in the increasing number of international funding Revenue derived from the sale of the process of becoming official signatories bodies mandating that their research is journals is invested back into the BSI, of DORA for the BSI and our journals published openly. However, the global move providing major financial support for (more news on this soon!). Alongside to open access, predicated by funders, the Society's charitable activities, this, we have plans in place at the BSI for has to date been slow and patchy. including our Congress, Group events, ensuring financial security far into the Plan S arrived into the publishing grant schemes, careers programme future through income diversification as world in September 2018 with the aim and public engagement activities. part of our sustainability programme. that, from 2021, scientific publications The BSI is supportive of open access but With this radical change in the publishing that result from research funded by we need to ensure that this is implemented landscape, learned societies like ours hold public grants must be published in over a multi-year period to ensure a a unique space in the R&D ecosystem and compliant Open Access journals or future where sustainable open access need to work together to ensure that our platforms. The plan is supported by publishing is accessible to all. To such voices get heard. We are supportive of Plan cOAlition S, an international consortium ends, we have been playing a leading role S and open access and we look forward of research funders that includes the with the Society Publishers’ Coalition, a to working with our partners to adjust to Wellcome Trust, Gates Foundation and group of not-for-profit learned societies, this new world of publishing and using 13 national European funders, including membership charities and community our time wisely to diversify our income UKRI. Plan S asks for better financial publishers, to ensure the voice of small sources and adapt our business model transparency in publishing and explicitly organisations such as ours is heard in to ensure that we continue to provide refuses to fund article publication the discussions on this. As a group, we vital support to all of our members and charges (APCs) in hybrid journals. support the principles of open scholarship for immunology research as a whole. Guidance on implementation of Plan and believe that open access to research S includes establishing transformative outputs will benefit researchers across Lucy McIvor agreements with institutions – moving our shared communities. With a global Head of Publishing, BSI hybrid journals to transparent pricing author base, we believe that authors Email: [email protected] ‘read and publish’ models during a must be able to publish in our journals transition period from 2021 to 2024. regardless of their funding status or ability From 31 December 2024 onwards, to pay. However, we also believe that the hybrid journals such as the BSI’s official transition to full open scholarship must Find out more journals, Immunology and Clinical be managed in a sustainable, inclusive & Experimental Immunology, must way to ensure the future system is fit The BSI worked with the Society be fully compliant to these funders for purpose for all stakeholders. Publishers’ Coalition to produce a joint in order to publish their content. We are working closely with our response to the Plan S consultation publisher Wiley to better understand detailing our position on this issue What does this mean for the and support the move to transformative and how we would like to engage with BSI and our members? agreements for our journals to facilitate cOAlition S to bring about a future where open access and ensure that our sustainable open access publishing is The BSI’s ethos – to disseminate members may continue to publish in accessible to all. You can read this at research with the aim of promoting and their official journals. We also support www.immunology.org/news/society- advancing immunology to foster future the San Francisco Declaration on publishers-coalition-statement-plan-s. innovation – still lies at the heart of our Research Assessment (DORA) as a

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Immunology News | September 2019 MEMBERS’ ACHIEVEMENTS 19

Lister Prize Congratulations to BSI members, Joanne Congratulations Konkel (The University of Manchester) This is the section of the magazine where we celebrate the and Michelle Linterman (Babraham Institute), who have been announced as achievements of our members. Our congratulations to all who Lister Institute’s 2019 Prize Fellows. The are mentioned here. Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine provides research funding to outstanding early career scientists whose work shows Communicating Immunology Grants excellent potential to make an impact in the field of biomedical sciences.

Travel grant success The following members were recently awarded BSI travel grants:

Calum Bain, Kym Bain, Mikaila Bandara, Alberto Bravo-Blas, Adela Constantinescu-Bercu, Elisa Corsiero, Lynda Coughlan, Thomas Crowley, Sophie Curio, Leon de Boer, Cristina Dumitru, Lydia Durant, Danika Hill, Jayne Hope, Regus Joulia, Laura The BSI is delighted to fund the following people with lived experiences of immune- Medina-Ruiz, Rebecca Newman, James projects. mediated conditions through creative Ozanne, Tom Partridge, Amit Patel, Joanne Pennock from the Lydia Becker practice to develop a collection of artistic Valentina Pucino, Anna Raper, Toni Institute of Immunology and Inflammation pieces to be exhibited at the Invisible Festival. Spence, Francesco Vacca, Peter West, at The University of Manchester received Maria O’Connell and colleagues from Gillian Wilson and Wioleta Zelek. funding to develop a project called the University of East Anglia will take ‘Outbreak!’, an interactive treasure-hunt hands-on activities, including the BSI’s In addition, the following BSI members style game taking players through a real-life giant nose model, to the Norwich Science have received a bursary to attend scenario to learn about infection control and Festival to showcase and raise awareness of the 17th International Congress of antibiotic resistance at Green Man Festival. immunology research at the university. Immunology (IUIS 2019) in October. We also funded Ceri Harrop (Wellcome The next application deadline is 1 October. Dannielle Wellington, Gennaro Prota, Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research at The For more details, visit www.immunology. Ilaria Chicca, Jessica Forbester, University of Manchester) and colleagues to org/grants-and-prizes/communicating- Marija Zaric, Matthew Hepworth, bring together immunology researchers and immunology. Miguel Leon Rios and Sabelo Hadebe.

The next application deadline is midday, 1 November 2019. More information at Summer Placement Award Scheme https://www.immunology.org/grants- This BSI scheme supports early Ellen Georgina Richards (Queen and-prizes/travel-awards. career scientists to conduct extended Mary University of London) to placements in labs other than research the hyperacute immune their own. Recent awards are: response to critical injury. Privjyot Jheeta (University of Edinburgh) Joanne McCabe (University of Exeter) We would love to hear from to investigate the regulation of neutrophilic to study the role of psychiatric risk you about your achievements. inflammation by amino acids. genes in learning and memory. Have you or a colleague recently Liying Low (University of Birmingham) The next application deadline is 1 received grant funding, passed to interrogate the dynamic relationships December 2019. For more details, your PhD viva or accepted a new between the host’s genetics, visit https://www.immunology. appointment? If so, let us know by immune response, microbiome and org/grants-and-prizes/summer- emailing [email protected]. pathogen interactions during ocular placement-award-scheme. infection and inflammation.

Immunology News | September 2019 20 REPRESENTING IMMUNOLOGY

BSI policy work update ©Shutterstock/Amir Ridhwan

The BSI has had a successful last few months of policy and public affairs work. We have built on our existing parliamentary questions programme, continued to meet with MPs and Whitehall officials, and placed our agenda firmly onto the radars of Government Ministers.

Productive meetings Most recently, we met with Anne Marie Morris MP (Con, Newton Abbot), Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Access to Medicines and Medical Devices, to discuss the state of the research pipeline from bench to bedside. Following the meeting, we were invited to take part in the APPG’s inquiry into the NICE Methods Review, the outcome of which we look forward to. Since our meeting, Anne Marie has been elected onto the House of Commons Select Committee on Health and Social Care, which is the standing body in Parliament that scrutinises the Government’s these in presenting the case to the Minister Vaccines on a global stage work in this important policy area. that more measures should be taken to It’s important not just to meet parliamentary reverse the decline in vaccination coverage influencers like MPs, but also to talk to Vaccination and public health seen during recent years. To watch the full the civil servants working in Whitehall Towards the end of May, we met with Chris debate, visit https://bit.ly/2YWPdde and you who are responsible for the day-to-day Green MP (Con, Bolton West), Chair of the can read an accompanying article on the implementation of Government policy APPG on Medical Research and Vice-Chair Politics Home website at http://bit.ly/2Lt0jnf. and have the subject knowledge expertise of the APPG on Life Sciences, and had a This is an important step forward in our that informs that policy. Following a letter broad discussion ranging from ways in which policy work and in raising the profile of to Rt Hon Rory Stewart OBE MP (Con, to coherently fund R&D, to vaccination and immunology and the BSI – debates such as Penrith and The Border), after Theresa public health. It was on the latter of these these allow us to get issues on the radar May appointed him as Secretary of State topics that Chris agreed to enter the ballot of the relevant Minister, meaning that for International Development, we met to hold a related debate in Westminster Hall, they have to make an official response. with two members of the Global Funds the adjunct to the main Commons chamber Furthermore, we can now follow up with the team in his department. The team are where backbench MPs are able to raise local Minister themselves, Parliamentary Under responsible for the UK’s contribution or national issues of importance and elicit a Secretary of State for Public Health and to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which response from the responsible Government Primary Care. For our vaccination work, we sees its fifth replenishment conference Minister. The ballot entry was successful, and were really pleased that she mentioned all take place in London in June 2020. the debate was scheduled for Wednesday 12 of the key areas that the BSI been calling Our meeting was productive and both June. We provided Chris with a BSI briefing for more Government support on – more sides thought there was a scope for on the issues that we thought were most accessible services, more information and working together in the run up to the important to raise. We can happily report more training for healthcare workers. Gavi replenishment to showcase the back that he was able to mention most of world-leading research the UK is doing in immunology and vaccinology and how this relates to our aid efforts around ‘If Johnson replicates what worked for the world. It also led to the BSI getting a seat at the table the next week at a meeting hosted by the Bill & Melinda him at City Hall, we should move from Gates Foundation, to discuss how all partners could work together to champion government by coterie to collegiality.’ the use of vaccines ahead of the Gavi replenishment. We hope to bring you more news on this soon, so watch this space!

Immunology News | September 2019 REPRESENTING IMMUNOLOGY 21

All change Questions, questions Boris Johnson has already signalled As this article is being written, the UK’s that the Cameron era pledge to reduce net The BSI has continued with our parliamentary new Prime Minister, Rt Hon Boris Johnson migration to the tens of thousands will be questions programme (explored in depth in MP (Uxbridge and South Ruislip), is putting scrapped in favour of an Australian style the last issue of Immunology News) which together his team of Ministers and advisers, points system. His new Home Secretary, remains successful, both in engaging with beginning with the Cabinet. By September, Rt Hon Priti Patel MP (Witham) used an parliamentarians and in putting our agenda we should know a lot more about how this article for Conservative Home to set out onto the desks of Government Ministers. will affect the policy priorities that the BSI her approach to a post-Brexit immigration This included four written parliamentary is campaigning on. A lot rests on whom system in 2018. She wrote of favouring an questions tabled by Tom Brake MP (Lib Johnson has chosen to be his Secretaries immigration system ‘that helps us attract the Dem, Carshalton and Wallington) that of State for key departments such as Health brightest and the best from across the world’ maintained the pressure on Home Office and Social Care, Business, Energy and and references a report looking at what Ministers regarding the importance of a future Industrial Strategy (covering the science, post-Brexit immigration in the UK would immigration system that focuses on the research and innovation remit) and the look like; the report mentions ‘academics scientific skills that the UK needs and that the Home Office. We have also seen many [and] scientists’ as ‘high added value but bidirectional movement of talent can continue senior Vote Leave campaign staffers enter low volume employees’ that any future after we leave the EU (see example below). Downing Street as political advisers, not system should be ‘as flexible as possible Future frameworks least Brexit campaign supremo, Dominic for’. Considering the forward direction that Cummings. This is a clear signal to the the Immigration White Paper released under As mentioned last time, the BSI submitted a world that Boris Johnson is serious about Patel’s predecessor, Sajid Javid, took us in, response to the Government’s consultation his pledge to leave the EU on 31 October this is a portfolio we will be watching closely. on ‘Future frameworks for international ‘come what may’/‘do or die’, and that When Johnson was Mayor of London, collaboration on research and innovation’, Brussels should expect a more hard-line, he surrounded himself with a team that he which was the call for evidence in the less akratic approach from Number 10. trusted to implement policy without restricting review being led by Sir Adrian Smith. Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP (West Suffolk), a them by top down micromanagement. This Our response made it clear that the former Conservative leadership challenger will be a shift change from the way that Rt Government should seek to associate the himself, was chosen to stay as Health Hon Theresa May MP (Con, Maidenhead) UK to Horizon Europe, rather than accept Secretary, the position to which he was managed ministers during her premiership. third country status. With this in mind, we appointed by Mrs May last year. Having Mrs May often boasted of never having were pleased to hear at the Royal Society been widely thought to be in the running “spent endless amounts of time in the of Biology’s Parliamentary Links Day to be Chancellor of the Exchequer, he was Commons tearoom or socialised in the at the end of June, the then Minister of pipped to the post by another erstwhile Strangers’ Bar,” but this came to define State for Universities, Science, Research leadership contender, Rt Hon Sajid Javid her relationship with colleagues: she did and Innovation, Chris Skidmore MP (Con, MP (Bromsgrove). If he had hoped for a not have any friends or personal allies in Kingswood), move from saying that this Cabinet promotion, he has found himself Westminster, and therefore felt she could association should simply be an ‘ambition’ as a victim of his own success at the not trust them with something so serious as to something that the Government should Department for Health and Social Care; running the country. Control was centralised definitely do. Our contacts in Government commonly seen in Westminster as ‘a safe in Number 10 and not even Cabinet Ministers have told us that this review should be pair of hands’, the Prime Minister decided were privy to the thinking behind much of presented to Ministers and a summary that Hancock is of most use steadying her decision making. If Johnson replicates published at the end of August, so we the tiller as Health Secretary while the what worked for him at City Hall, we look forward to seeing its findings. Government navigates the choppy waters should move from government by coterie of Brexit. Continuity is certainly welcome to collegiality. This means, of course, that Matthew Gibbard in such an important department. individual Ministers will be more important Policy & Public Affairs Manager, BSI In the Department for Business, Energy to policymaking and that’s something that Email: [email protected] and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), we see our lobbying efforts will have to reflect. Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP (South Northamptonshire), another former leadership contender, whose previous Written question to the Home Office: positions include Leader of the House of Commons and Environment Secretary. Question from Tom Brake MP to the Home Office: Her views on R&D funding are not well known, but the day after her appointment To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps his she received a letter from the BSI outlining Department has taken through the immigration system to ensure that the UK can why it is more important than ever to attract and retain scientific talent at all career stages. meet the 2.4% GDP funding target for Response from Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, former Minister of State R&D by 2027 as pledged in the 2017 Conservative Party manifesto. A figure that for Immigration (answered on 11 July 2019): we do know a lot more about however, On 24 June 2019, the Government asked the independent Migration Advisory is Rt Hon Jo Johnson MP (Orpington) Committee (MAC) to consider the operation of salary thresholds in the future who has reassumed his former role as immigration system, including the impact of exemptions from minimum salary Minister of State for Universities, Science, thresholds. The MAC is due to report by January 2020. Research and Innovation in BEIS, and We recognise the vital contribution that scientists make to the UK. In his spring who we hope will use his unique fraternal statement, my Rt Hon Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, confirmed that PhD access to lobby his brother, the PM, for level occupations would be exempt from the Tier 2 cap. Additionally, researchers the funding and support UK science applying for settlement are exempt from the rule. and innovation needs and deserves.

Immunology News | September 2019 22 REPRESENTING IMMUNOLOGY Parliamentary Links Day ©Royal Society of Biology

Over 200 researchers, parliamentarians, and learned society members attended Parliamentary Links Day, one of the biggest and longest-running science events in the Parliamentary calendar. Organised by the Royal Society of Biology, it is designed to link parliamentarians with researchers to discuss the future of UK science. This year’s theme was ‘Science and new frontiers’. The BSI had a strong presence including Prof Arne Akbar, Prof Ann Ager and Dr Edith Hessel from our Board of Trustees, and Dr Laura Pallett and Fane Mensah, Early Career Chris Skidmore MP, former Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, addresses the room Representatives from our Forum. science as ‘the twin engines of human to ensure that the benefits of science and Auspicious introductions progress’. As a chartered engineer, Ms. technology are accessible for all of society. Dr Stephen Benn (Royal Society of Biology) Onwurah has experience of the diversity New frontiers opened the event and introduced the Rt Hon issues in STEM, joking that Parliament John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of was ‘the most diverse’ place she had ever The first panel session, chaired by Stephen Commons, who welcomed everyone. Mr. worked, and suggested that short term Metcalfe MP (Chair of the Parliamentary Speaker spoke of the importance of good contracts for early career researchers were and Scientific Committee), focused on teachers inspiring young people into STEM one of the structural barriers that prevented where the new frontiers of science are. careers, and the necessity of maintaining those with caring responsibilities from Panel members, including nutritional international collaborations post-Brexit. reaching their full potential. She pointed out immunologist Professor Philip Calder, had Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister for that 20% of the UK workforce are in science three minutes to introduce themselves Industrial Strategy, delivered the first roles, and they enjoy wages 40% above before the floor was opened to questions. keynote address, describing politics and average. The Shadow Minister was keen The panel were asked questions ranging from how to boost manufacturing interest ©Royal Society of Biology and potential in the UK to whether our current education systems adequately provide the interdisciplinary skills needed for future scientific careers. The importance of collaboration and interdisciplinary working were key factors highlighted throughout discussions. Rt Hon Sir Norman Lamb MP, Chair of the House of Commons Select Committee on Science & Technology, then delivered his keynote. He condemned the rise of populism offering ‘easy solutions to complex problems’ and emphasised the necessity of engaging with scientists for rational policy-making. Sir Norman described his Committee’s purpose in advising and scrutinising Government policy. In line with previous speakers, he spoke on the importance of maintaining international Chi Onwaruh MP, Shadow Minister for Industrial Strategy collaborations in the face of Brexit and

Immunology News | September 2019 REPRESENTING IMMUNOLOGY 23

‘Overarching themes from the morning’s event included the importance of diversity and inclusion in science, how to prepare for increasingly multidisciplinary science, and the importance of maintaining international collaborations after Brexit.’ the UK remaining part of Horizon Europe. discussed the importance of making the scientific community, citing Brexit, Sir Norman encouraged the audience sure science careers were inclusive immigration post-freedom of movement, to invite Committee members to visit and seen as open to all in society. and the Comprehensive Spending Review scientific institutions to learn more about Fane Mensah, the BSI Forum’s Early (CSR). He emphasised the need to do all the cutting-edge research taking place in Career Representative, asked how we we can to maintain EU collaborations our universities and research institutes. can regulate automation, digitalisation and participation in Horizon Europe He also encouraged participation in ‘My and big data to engineer biology. The post-Brexit. The Minister discussed his Science Inquiry’, an open invitation for panel felt that the UK historically has a thoughts on the impact of Brexit on the the public to come forward with ideas reputation of being able to handle complex scientific community and said he hoped for the Committee to investigate. ethical issues and will be well placed that we could achieve ‘freedom of talent’ to respond and evolve in an agile way to retain the UK’s international research Policies for success as new technologies are developed. community. He went on to discuss The second panel session on policies for The panel were also asked how to better what the UK needs to do to reach the success was chaired by Carol Monaghan enthuse the public with the process of Government’s stated target of increasing MP, a House of Commons Science and science rather than just the headlines. investment in R&D to 2.4% GDP by 2027. Technology Committee member. Panel All agreed there was a public admiration The Minister then took questions from members included Dr Grant Hill-Cawthorne for scientists, but more can be done in the audience including on any commitment (Parliamentary Office of Science and both education and public engagement received from the candidates for PM Technology) and Dr Sarah Main (Campaign to reach out to diverse audiences. on science and Brexit, how delay to the for Science and Engineering). Our own CSR would affect the ability to reach Boosting research investment CEO, Doug Brown, asked what practices the 2.4% GDP target and on how to the panel would put in place to attract and The final keynote speech was by Chris encourage more people to study STEM. retain talent in industry and academia in Skidmore MP, the then Minister of State Following this, the BSI delegation order to reach the Government’s stated for Universities, Science, Research and attended a networking lunch in the aim of increasing investment in R&D to Innovation. He described 2019 as a year Speaker’s Apartments, in the Houses 2.4% GDP by 2027. In response, the panel of extreme stress and challenge for of Parliament hosted by Dame Eleanor Laing MP, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons. Here, we got to discuss what UK immunology needs to thrive in one-to-one conversations with several of the key speakers from the day, including Chi Onwarah MP and Stephen Metcalfe MP. Additionally, our Forum Chair, Ann Ager from Cardiff University, met with her local MP Alun Cairns, Secretary of State for Wales, to discuss, in particular, how immunology research contributes to the South Wales ecosystem. Overall, it was encouraging to hear renewed promises to increase GDP investment in R&D and that the voice of the scientific community has been heard on the implications of Brexit. Other overarching themes from the morning’s event included the importance of diversity and inclusion in science, how to prepare for increasingly multidisciplinary science, and the importance of maintaining international collaborations after Brexit. The event was a huge success in bringing parliamentarians and the scientific community closer together and for the BSI personally in raising the profile of immunology in Parliament.

Lizzie Billington The BSI delegation at the lunchtime reception. (L-R) Matthew Gibbard (Policy & Public Affairs Manager), Doug Brown (CEO), Intern, British Society for Immunology Fane Mensah (Forum PhD rep), Laura Pallett (Forum Early Career rep), Jennie Evans (Head of External Affairs)

Immunology News | September 2019 24 REPRESENTING IMMUNOLOGY #EvidenceMatters: showcasing #BritainBreathing in Parliament ©Shutterstock/Dusan Petkovic

The BSI was delighted to take part in Evidence Week, working with the Policy@Manchester team from The University of Manchester, to highlight the findings from our citizen science project #BritainBreathing and how these might be used in policy making.

Evidence Week, organised by Sense About Science, aims to bring together researchers and policymakers to discuss why evidence matters and how it can be used to inform robust policymaking. As part of this week of events, we took over an ‘Evidence Pod’ in the Upper Waiting Hall of the Houses of Parliament to provide three-minute briefings to MPs, Lords and parliamentary and committee staff about our project. John McNally MP (SNP; Falkirk) talks to Sheena Cruickshank about #BritainBreathing #BritainBreathing is a joint citizen science project between The University of our results show so far and how we hope of air pollution to work out if this is having Manchester, the BSI and the Royal Society that this type of data can be used to better an effect on allergy symptoms and what of Biology to study allergy symptoms. inform policymaking in the future. Professor the next steps in our research are. Users download an app that they can use to Cruickshank explained, “Britain Breathing is Overall, the event was an excellent upload their allergy symptoms daily – our breaking new ground in how we understand opportunity for us to engage with a wide team can then cross-reference these with allergies and asthma. We worked with variety of MPs working in many different other datasets, such as pollen or pollution, allergy and asthma sufferers to build an app departments and on different briefs to to work out what factors are correlated that was helpful to them as well as helping use our immunology research to illustrate with the type and severity of symptoms. our research. Participants using the app the wider point of how scientific evidence Sheena Cruickshank and Caroline Jay learn more about their own allergies by can be incorporated into policymaking from the #BritainBreathing team attended monitoring and recording their symptoms, and why this is important. Our thanks the day and were on hand to guide MPs while contributing to ongoing research into to the Policy@Manchester team for through the background to the project, what why allergies and asthma are increasing organising our participation at this event. and the role of pollution in this increase.” Our ‘pod’ was visited by over 20 MPs Jennie Evans and Lords from all the main parties who Head of External Affairs, BSI generally stayed considerably beyond their allocated three minutes to learn why Visit britainbreathing.org to download research into allergies is important. With the app and help scientists discover the help of some ‘pollution maps’, Sheena more about seasonal allergies. and Caroline showed how our data can be linked to datasets on different parameters

‘Anecdotal evidence and intuition is not quite enough, you need to have the scientific evidence behind it. This event has proved very helpful to everybody.’ Caroline Jay explains the #BritainBreathing app to Stephen Metcalfe MP, Chair of the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee John McNally MP (SNP; Falkirk) Immunology News | September 2019 EDUCATION & CAREERS 25 FUTURE FOCUS BSI Undergraduate Prize 2019 Each year, the BSI’s Immunology Undergraduate Prize scheme aims to promote excellence in the study of immunology at undergraduate level, and encourage gifted students to pursue further postgraduate study, or a career in the discipline. Here’s a selection of the 2019 winners. University of Aberdeen The BSI Undergraduate Prize 2019 was awarded to Alina Capatina who gained an MSci degree in immunology with industrial placement with First Class Honours from the University of Aberdeen. The prize was presented by Dr John Barrow, Medical Sciences Honours Year Co-ordinator, University of Aberdeen, at the Graduation Reception on Wednesday 19 June 2019. Alina gained the highest average mark across the whole immunology course and the highest marks in the class for her excellent research project. Anna Heawood Ross Deehan The project involved the use of super- resolution microscopy to investigate University of Glasgow and to the BSI. Delphine was the first actin bridges in red blood cells. She woman Professor at the University of is looking forward to taking up a PhD Anna Heawood has been awarded the Glasgow where she started the first BSc studentship in cancer immunology at 2019 BSI Delphine Parrott Prize in devoted to immunology in the UK. University of York in October. recognition of her outstanding performance Prof. Maggie Harnett, coordinator on the University of Glasgow’s BSc of the final year of the immunology (Hons) Immunology programme. programme said: “Anne is an outstanding Anna was the top student of this year’s student and a very deserving winner of class and a very deserving winner of the Delphine Parrott prize. We are also the BSI Delphine Parrott Prize. This extremely grateful to the BSI for the 2019 prize was established in memory of Undergraduate prize awarded to Ross Delphine Parrott who made outstanding Deehan for the best laboratory project.” contributions, both to immunology,

University of the West of Scotland

Congratulations to Siobhan McKenzie who was awarded the BSI Undergraduate Immunology Prize. Siobhan graduated with a First Class BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science.

You can find out more about the BSI Immunology Undergraduate Prize scheme and how your department can apply for funding at www.immunology.org/ grants-and-prizes/immunology- Siobhan McKenzie with University Principal and undergraduate-prizes. Alina Capatina Vice-Chancellor, Professor Craig Mahoney Immunology News | September 2019 26 EDUCATION & CAREERS

an important complement to research and thus my ‘second hat’ was forged. As Centre Academic Lead for PE, I’ve FUTURE worked with a wonderful group of staff and students to initiate, trial, evaluate, refine and deliver a wide range of PE activities and resources, co-created FOCUS with various partners. Having no Centre PE support, we certainly had genuine Trying to lose researcher ownership of, and investment in, what we were doing. However, we would have struggled without terrific MRC my Public Festival of Medical Research-focused PE training and development, afforded us via our MRC Centre status. Additionally, Engagement hat having no initial core financial support As the new Public Engagement (PE) for our PE, we relied upon grants, such as the BSI Communicating Immunology Secretary for the British Society awards, to bring our ideas to life. This for Immunology, I’d like to take this Donald J Davidson training and funding was essential. opportunity to introduce myself. Expanding PE at the BSI I am Professor of Host Defence After learning my trade as a technician and Inflammation Biology at the for a couple of years, and a year back in In my new role with the BSI, I aim to further University of Edinburgh Centre for clinical practice, a PhD in Edinburgh was enhance the Society’s valuable support followed by Wellcome Trust and Canadian for PE, building on Sheena Cruickshank’s Inflammation Research, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation non-clinical excellent work. I am delighted at the Centre Academic Lead for PE. For postdoctoral fellowships in Vancouver. enthusiasm for this from the BSI team in our years, I have described the latter as Having discovered my scientific niche, initial discussions. I hope we can restructure my ‘second hat’. However, as I start in antimicrobial host defence peptides, I PE grants to ensure clearly stated specific to get used to the former (a new title then returned to establish my research objectives, delivering inclusive, high-quality group at the University of Edinburgh, engagements to diverse audiences, with for me), I also find myself planning courtesy of Wellcome Trust Career well-developed and evaluated determinants how to lose that PE hat. That may Development and MRC Senior Fellowships. of success and, where possible, longer-term sound rather contrary, but let me impacts. As well as open calls, we aim to Creative science engagement take a step back, then elaborate. introduce targeted calls in immunology- That sounds ridiculously simple and linear, priority areas, establish PE consolidation Hooked on science which of course it absolutely wasn’t, and grants (with accompanying mentorship My undergraduate degree was in medicine, it was essential for my wellbeing that I components) to further develop successful but, in addition to discovering my way also made time for family and a variety previously funded projects, and to have PE around medicine and surgery, I learned of creative pursuits. The latter ranged funding specifically available for Regional that I didn’t want to be a clinician. from caricaturing, to 3D-modelling, and Affinity Groups. More information After graduating, I decided, to my bank to painting, and from time to time on all these initiatives will follow soon! manager’s great displeasure, to abandon intersected with my science. Initially I hope that PE can become a prominent that career and to set out instead to this manifested in publishing scientific thread that runs through all BSI strategy become an artist. That choice necessitated cartoons, but gradually took forms that and activities, including incorporating an income from a ‘temporary’ technician we now call public engagement. To my PE into BSI Congress, showcasing and job at the MRC Human Genetics Unit. good fortune, science policy makers were sharing our members’ initiatives, starting Before I knew it, science had me hooked! simultaneously concluding that PE was this year. As well as facilitating our members’ PE, we plan to continue direct BSI-delivered events, diversify partners and audiences with which to engage, and increase production of lay digital BSI immunology resources. I hope that all of this will increase public understanding of immunological topics in health-focused decision making, and generate bidirectional engagement around immunology, while creating opportunities for our members to gain experience and confidence in PE. PE at the centre of research The PE landscape has been rapidly evolving, but we now need an accelerated phase of deeper embedding in research. Faced with a crisis of confidence in experts BSI volunteers at the Big Bang Fair earlier this year and rampant misinformation, researchers

Immunology News | September 2019 EDUCATION & CAREERS 27

have a responsibility to listen and enable, board! I want to work towards embedding as well as to inform. In any research project research-integrated engagement to worth doing, we should be able to define the point that it is simply part of being groups for whom its possible outcomes a researcher. We don’t need to inspire could have future significance. Engagement everybody to study STEM subjects, but with the appropriate audiences for a given let’s enable them to engage with the core topic (whether patients, pupils, politicians, of what we do, to ensure our research charities or communities), should then be maximally benefits society globally. integrated into our research, to help shape and inform the context, and maybe even Donald J. Davidson direction of our plans. That demands time BSI Public Engagement Secretary and prioritisation, experienced enabling Professor of Host Defence and support, funding, training and recognition. Inflammation Biology at the But let’s not forget that it is also rewarding; University of Edinburgh Centre inspiring, developing confidence and for Inflammation Research prominence, improving research quality and impact, establishing networks, BSI at Lambeth Country Fair and enhancing communication skills Donald would love to hear (including future grant writing prowess!). serious about reflecting that allocation of members’ thought on the roles As much as I am inspired and motivated researcher time, and its ramifications, in for the BSI in PE. You can get in touch by my science, I’m not sure I’d still be doing strategy and delivery, in order to promote at: [email protected] this job if I hadn’t embraced the creative the engaged researcher. Clearly the BSI and people-focused opportunities of PE. can’t tackle these problems alone, but @djdavidsonlab However, we can’t escape the fact that we want to make sure it contributes. creating and delivering quality, impactful www.djdavidsonlab.net One multicoloured hat! engagement takes time, which is then not available for other tasks. So, if the So, given all of that, why am I now trying to www.ed.ac.uk/inflammation-research/ science establishment genuinely believes lose my PE hat? It’s because I don’t think I people/principal-investigators/ in the societal value of engagement with should have two hats. I think the colourful dr-donald-j-davidson research, then systems need to change. feathers of my PE headdress should Universities and funders need to become be visibly incorporated into my mortar

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Immunology News | September 2019 BSI REGIONAL AND AFFINITY GROUPS 29 BSI Tumour Immunology Group: catalysing the ‘golden age of cancer immunotherapy‘

©Shutterstock/Juan Gaertner The British Society for Immunology is relaunching its Tumour Immunology Group, a UK-wide BSI Affinity Group that aims to create a platform to connect active researchers with a key interest in advances in cancer immunology. Here, members of the group tell you more about how they aim to facilitate networking and encourage future collaborations in the field.

A hot topic in immunology The leadership team of the Tumour Immunology Group (TIG), comprising Professor Ben Willcox (University of Birmingham), Dr Seth Coffelt (University of Glasgow) and when other treatments have failed, and have leadership are excited to develop a whole Professor Awen Gallimore (Cardiff University), now been incorporated into ‘standard-of- series of events to explore diverse aspects will be aiming to bring immunologists together care’ treatment pathways for some cancers. of the topic. “We are delighted to formally from both the fundamental and clinical ends “However, it is important to remember that relaunch the BSI’s Tumour Immunology of the spectrum, and also from industry, these game-changing immunotherapies Group. As a UK-wide affinity group, we via an ongoing series of events. The events ultimately stemmed from our understanding believe it will provide an excellent forum to will explore topical areas within the cancer of fundamental immunology,” she catalyse the interest of a diverse array of immunology and immunotherapy arena and commented. “An empowering message for the immunologists in this exciting area.” aim to stimulate nascent collaborations. immunologists is that there is plenty of room Finally, they emphasised the strong interest “Only a few years ago cancer for improvement: we need to extend these in the cancer immunology area. “We have immunotherapy was looked upon as somewhat successes to more patients, and the more arguably entered a ‘golden age of cancer of a pipedream. Now, due to the introduction of difficult-to-treat cancers.” immunotherapy’. Exploring the immunology powerful new immunotherapeutic approaches The realisation that the immune response driving the next wave of developments is of to the clinic, that perception has been to tumours can not only be extremely strong importance and interest to academics, completely transformed. Cancer immunology powerful, but also harnessable clinically, clinicians, industry, funding bodies including is rightly viewed as one of the most exciting has created a strong impetus to understand cancer charities, and ultimately to cancer areas of both oncology and immunology, and immune surveillance and immune control patients. We believe the Tumour Immunology a potential pipeline for future advances.” Ben of cancer in more depth. As Seth Coffelt Group can play a big part in bringing this Willcox commented. commented, “Great progress is being diverse and vibrant community together to One of the most significant steps forward made into our understanding of how the help accelerate those new developments.” has been the development of checkpoint immune system interacts with tumours. blockade drugs, which have revolutionised This includes how ‘unconventional’ immune treatment for some solid cancers, and led to cells function in this context, the interplay Find out more award of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or between different immune cell types, and Are you interested in joining the Medicine to James Allison and Tasuku Honjo. the complex immunology of the tumour group and participating in upcoming A second key advance is the development of microenvironment.” He was optimistic activities? Visit www.immunology.org/ chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells, about the opportunities these areas provide. tumour-immunology-group. which has proven a powerful approach for “Ultimately, scientific advances in these areas certain CD19-positive B cell cancers. will translate into new avenues for rational All BSI members are encouraged to development of immunotherapies, and join our Regional Groups and Affinity Harnessing the impact of combination approaches.” Groups. Find out how to join one: cancer immunotherapy www.immunology.org/about-us/our- Awen Gallimore highlighted that these Bringing together the people/regional-and-affinity-groups. new immunotherapy approaches are TIG community transformative, can achieve durable cancer With BSI approval in place for an inaugural @BSI_TumourImm remissions – even in late-stage cancers and TIG conference in early 2020, the group’s

Immunology News | September 2019 30 JOURNAL NEWS Immune Update The BSI A round-up of new research published in the British Society for Immunology’s official journalsImmunology and Clinical & Experimental Immunology. Members journals can access these journals free of charge at www.immunology.org/journals.

Immunology PI3Kδ – a regulatory T-cell target in cancer immunotherapy Tumour infiltration by regulatory T (Treg) cells several major immune cell receptors, contributes to suppression of the anti-tumour including the T-cell receptor and co- immune response, which limits the efficacy stimulatory receptors such as CD28 and ICOS, of immune-mediated cancer therapies. The but is antagonised by the immune checkpoint phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway has receptors CTLA-4 and PD-1. Understanding key roles in mediating the function of many how PI3Kδ inhibition affects Treg signalling immune cell subsets, including Treg cells. events will help to inform how best to use In this review, Lim and Okkenhaug explore PI3Kδ inhibitors in clinical cancer treatment. Lim & Okkenhaug 2019 Immunology how PI3Kδ contributes to signalling through 157 210–218 https://bit.ly/2YvaMEU

Novel anti–C5 monoclonal antibodies inhibit complement in multiple species Over recent years there has been a rapid anti-C5 mAb, including mAb that, unlike and rat serum, 7D4 also weakly inhibited increase in complement therapies; Eculizumab, inhibit across human, rat, mouse complement in vitro. The rat C5- one-third of the drugs in the clinic or in rabbit and guinea pig. Several inhibitory cross-reactive mAb 4G2, when given i.p. in development target C5 protein. Eculizumab anti-C5 mAb were identified and a rat model of myasthenia gravis, effectively is the reference standard treatment for characterised for C5 binding and lytic blocked the disease and protected atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome and inhibitory capacity. Of three clones selected muscle endplates from destruction. paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria and – 4G2, 7D4 and 10B6 – mAb 10B6 was in clinical trials for many other diseases. human-specific whereas mAb 4G2 and 7D4 Zelek et al. 2019 Immunology 157 Zelek et al. describe a panel of novel efficiently inhibited lysis by human, rabbit 283–295 https://bit.ly/2SOT2yQ Clinical & Experimental Immunology Neutrophils show rapid proinflammatory response after engulfing Hb-activated platelets in haemolysis Bhasym et al. describe the rapid activation only in vitro. These neutrophils exhibit early These observations suggest that Hb- of neutrophils after engulfing haemoglobin onset of apoptosis and cell death after activated platelets, abundant in the (Hb)-activated platelets, found in high engulfing Hb-activated platelets, but not circulation of patients with paroxysmal numbers in the circulation of patients with with free-Hb only. Further, data from mice nocturnal haemoglobinuria, promote early haemolytic disorders. Neutrophils from with phenylhydrazine-induced intravascular onset of neutrophil activation and increase healthy individuals after engulfing Hb- haemolysis display a gradual decrease in their proinflammatory response, leading to activated platelets express elevated CD11b total neutrophil count, but the number of early apoptosis and cell death. and secrete significant amounts of tumour activated neutrophils and neutrophil–platelet necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, aggregates increases, along with the rise of Bhasym et al. 2019 Clinical & Experimental IL-6, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and elastase TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and MPO in circulation. Immunology 197 131–140 https://bit.ly/2yrk6e0 within 4-h platelets, but not with free-Hb

Antibody responses elicited in infants born to mothers vaccinated in pregnancy

The maternal tetanus, diphtheria and ©Shutterstock/Ohishapply women had significantly higher antibody acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination against Tdap antigens. All antibodies were programme in the UK has successfully actively transferred to the infants with reduced cases of pertussis in young infants. higher transfer of DTx and TTx antibody in It is important to investigate the persistence Tdap-vaccinated pregnancies compared of maternal antibodies during infancy with unvaccinated pregnancies. and the possible interference of maternal The results support maternal immun- antibodies with infant responses to vaccines. isation as a method of protecting vulnerable Rice et al. recruited mother–infant infants during their first weeks of life. pairs from vaccinated and unvaccinated vaccine antigens in mothers and infants pregnancies and measured concentrations at birth, and in infants at 7 weeks and at Rice et al. 2019 Clinical & Experimental of immunoglobulin (Ig)G against different 5 months. They found that Tdap-vaccinated Immunology 197 1–10 https://bit.ly/2JKqFj4

Immunology News | September 2019 JOURNAL NEWS 31

A summary of some of the latest papers from the world of immunology. Around the Written by Edd James, Louisa James, Donald Palmer and Mihil Patel. journals

©Shutterstock/Kateryna Kon Class-switch recombination occurs infrequently in germinal centres Effective humoral immunity depends on the key processes of class-switch recombination and somatic hypermutation, which have long been thought to occur concurrently as part of germinal centre response. In fact, as Roco and colleagues demonstrate, these events happen sequentially, with class-switch recombination occurring prior to germinal centre formation. Class-switch recombination is initiated by germline transcription which peaks in the days following B cell activation, enabling the activity of DNA editing enzymes including AID and APE1. Subsequently, as activated B cells differentiate to form germinal centres, class switching is turned off under the regulation of BCL-6, which binds promoter regions upstream of germline transcripts and APE1, leading to their transcriptional repression. Within the germinal centre B cells undergo clonal expansion and somatic hypermutation leading to their affinity maturation. The authors demonstrate how early downregulation of class switching could increase isotype diversity by preserving IgM-memory B cells capable of switching during secondary responses.

Roco et al. 2019 Immunity 51 doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2019.07.001 Credit: Shutterstock/MDGRPHCS] Significance of CD3+ CD14+ doublets in flow cytometry analysis Burel et al. show that CD3+ CD14+ doublets are not artefacts of flow cytometry, but are due to an in vivo

biological interaction between these two cells types. The robustness of this finding was tested by analysing fresh and frozen blood. These populations remained stable over time between individuals. High resolution microscopy showed an increase in ICAM-1/LFA- 1 at the immunological synapse. Within the subset, the CD4+CD14+ vs CD8+CD14+ subset varied depending on challenge with a bacterial (TB) or Novel subtype of lymphocyte in T1D patients viral (dengue) antigen, respectively. In an effort to explore the immunological BCR in DE cells are functional as assessed As immunologists we tend to ignore basis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) Ahmed and by receptor crosslinking experiments doublets when analysing flow cytometry colleagues identified a rare subpopulation and exhibit limited TCR repertoire data. These data suggest that we of lymphocyte that co-expressed both the diversity. Interestingly, most DE cells are shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss these TCR and BCR in T1D patients in comparison clonotypic for a BCR which encodes for an populations, especially if monocytes are to healthy controls. This represents a novel autoantigen that can stimulate T1D CD4 involved as they could be a signature finding given that T and B cells are viewed cells, leading to the suggestions that these of an underlying immune response. as distinct lymphocytes. Transcriptional cells may contribute to this disease. analysis revealed that these cells, termed Burel et al. 2019 eLife 8 e46045 DE, shared and have unique markers to Ahmed et al. 2019 Cell 1771583–99 doi: 10.7554/eLife.46045 conventional T and B cells. The TCR and

Constraining neonatal Foxp3+ Treg cell development Generation of Tregs in the neonatal thymus or splenic antigen presenting cells. The rise to Tregs. By stark contrast, in the adult is essential in establishing immune tolerance 80 reactive T cell hybridomas were further thymus, all Padi4-specific thymocytes and preventing autoimmunity. However, their screened using peptide libraries, identifying undergo negative selection. This study development and specificity in the neonatal 17 self-peptides recognised by neonatal reveals an added complexity to central thymus are poorly understood. To address Tregs. Investigating one of these antigens tolerance that is determined by age. this, Stadinski and colleagues generated derived from peptidyl arginine deiminase a library of T cell hybridomas expressing type IV (Padi4), they show that dwell time Stadinski et al. 2019 Nature TcR cloned from neonatal mouse Tregs and of TcR with peptide/MHC defines the fate Immunology 20 1046–58 selected those that react to resting and/ of CD4 T cells, with moderate times giving

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