2012 Immunochemistry and Immunobiology Gordon Research Conference

描述（由申请人提供）：免疫系统对人类健康和福祉有着巨大的影响。免疫系统的细胞几乎在身体的每个部位巡逻，充当哨兵，抵御病原体和疾病。然而，免疫功能异常会导致免疫缺陷、自身免疫和过敏，也会导致动脉粥样硬化和癌症等其他疾病。因此，免疫失调在许多最常见的人类疾病中占有突出地位。自1966年以来，戈登免疫化学和免疫生物学研究会议（GRC）定期举行，旨在促进有关免疫系统正常功能，免疫反应如何出错以及免疫调节如何用于治疗优势的广泛知识交流。这些会议通常每两年举行一次，在此申请中，我们寻求2012年免疫化学和免疫生物学GRC的支持。2010年的会议由NIH资助，非常成功，在参与者提交的评估中获得了高性能评级。我们为2012年的会议准备了一个激动人心的计划（所有发言人都已确认）。与许多专注于专门免疫学主题的会议相比，2012年免疫化学和免疫生物学大会将广泛覆盖先天免疫和适应性免疫，并将涵盖从基本机制到应用研究的所有领域。会议描述可在GRC网站上找到。GRC理事机构的理念帮助塑造了这一系列长期会议的独特特征，其特点在于几个重要因素。首先，这是一个有声望的会议，吸引了最有成就的研究者。此外，这并不以牺牲初级研究人员为代价，他们在项目中也有很好的代表，作为受邀演讲者。其次，这是一个相对较小的会议（最多150人），在一个私密的环境（瑞士的Les Diablarets）举行，与会者都呆在现场。GRC邀请的演讲者预计将在整个会议期间停留，他们的费用报销取决于遵守这一政策。参加整个会议的地点和道德允许初级调查员和他们的高级同事之间密切接触。第三，九个半天的会议涵盖了免疫学的广泛领域，重点是最深入研究的问题。其他广泛涉及免疫学的会议非常大，而较小的免疫学会议几乎总是关注免疫发育或细胞因子等子主题。第四，非常强调未出版材料的呈现。第五，会议有一个民主的组织，有许多专家的意见，导致方案的形成。特别是积极争取妇女和代表性不足的少数民族的参与。在此申请中，我们寻求对这一重要而有声望的会议的支持。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The immune system has enormous impact on human health and well-being. The cells of the immune system patrol nearly every site in the body, acting as sentinels, defending against pathogens and disease. However, abnormal immune functions cause immune deficiency, autoimmunity and allergy and also contribute to other diseases including atherosclerosis and cancer. Thus, immune dysregulation figures prominently in many of the most common human diseases. The Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Immunochemistry and Immunobiology has been held regularly since 1966 to foster a broad exchange of knowledge on how the immune system normally functions, how immune reactions may go awry, and how immune modulation may be used for therapeutic advantage. These meetings are typically held every two years, and in this application, we seek support for the 2012 GRC on Immunochemistry and Immunobiology. The 2010 meeting, which was funded by NIH, was very successful and received a high-performance rating in the evaluations submitted by the participants. We have assembled an exciting program for the 2012 meeting (all speakers confirmed). In contrast to many conferences that focus on specialized immunology topics, this 2012 GRC on Immunochemistry and Immunobiology will feature broad coverage of both innate and adaptive immunity, and will span the full spectrum of basic mechanisms to applied research. The meeting description can be found on the GRC website. The philosophy of the GRC governing body has helped shape the unique character of this longstanding meeting series, which is distinguished by several important factors. First, it is a prestigious meeting tha attracts the most accomplished investigators. Moreover, this is not at the expense of junior investigators, who are also well represented in the program as invited speakers. Second, it's a relatively small meeting (maximum 150 attendees), held in an intimate setting (Les Diablarets, Switzerland) with attendees staying on location. GRC invited speakers are expected to stay for the entire meeting and their expense reimbursements depend on abiding by this policy. The location and the ethic of attending the entire meeting allows for close contacts between junior investigators and their more senior colleagues. Third, the nine half day meeting sessions cover the broad field of immunology, focusing on the most intensely investigated issues. Other meetings that broadly cover immunology are very large, while smaller immunology meetings almost always focus on subtopics such as immune development or cytokines. Fourth, a strong emphasis is placed on the presentation of unpublished material. Fifth, the meeting has a democratic organization with input from a great many experts leading to the formation of the program. In particular, participation by women and underrepresented minorities is actively pursued. In this application, we seek support for this important and prestigious conference. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This is an application for NIH support for a meeting to summarize the latest advances in understanding the immune system, particularly to support the travel of junior investigators. The immune system protects us against disease every day, but it can also function improperly resulting in allergies and illnesses such as type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel diseases. The meeting will bring together leading immunology experts from across the globe for an intimate and intense exchange of ideas, techniques and concepts on both basic research, and more applied topics that will help to advance knowledge in the field.