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具有巨大影响。免疫系统的细胞几乎在身体的每一个部位巡逻，充当哨兵，抵御病原体和疾病。然而，异常的免疫功能导致免疫缺陷、自身免疫和过敏，并且还有助于其他疾病，包括动脉粥样硬化和癌症。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，免疫化学和免疫生物学戈登研究会议（GRC）定期举行，以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，我们寻求对2012年免疫化学和免疫生物学GRC的支持。2010年会议由国家卫生研究院资助，非常成功，在与会者提交的评价中获得了高绩效评级。 我们已经为2012年会议制定了一个令人兴奋的计划（所有发言者都已确认）。与许多专注于专业免疫学主题的会议不同，2012年免疫化学和免疫生物学GRC将广泛覆盖先天性和适应性免疫，并将涵盖应用研究的全部基本机制。会议说明可在GRC网站上找到。GRC理事机构的理念帮助塑造了这一长期会议系列的独特性，这是由几个重要因素区分。首先，这是一个有声望的会议，吸引了最有成就的调查人员。此外，这并不是以牺牲初级调查人员为代价的，他们也作为特邀演讲者在该计划中得到了很好的代表。其次，这是一个相对较小的会议（最多150名与会者），在一个亲密的环境（Les Diablarets，瑞士）举行，与会者留在现场。GRC邀请的演讲者预计将在整个会议期间留下来，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研究人员与他们的高级同事之间进行密切接触。第三，九个半天的会议涵盖了广泛的免疫学领域，重点关注最激烈的研究问题。其他广泛涵盖免疫学的会议规模非常大，而较小的免疫学会议几乎总是专注于免疫发育或细胞因子等子主题。第四，非常重视未出版材料的介绍。第五，会议有一个民主的组织，有许多专家的投入，导致方案的形成。特别是，积极争取妇女和代表人数不足的少数群体的参与。在这份申请中，我们寻求对这一重要而有声望的会议的支持。 公共卫生相关性：这是NIH支持会议的申请，以总结了解免疫系统的最新进展，特别是支持初级研究人员的旅行。免疫系统每天都保护我们免受疾病的侵害，但它也可能不正常地发挥作用，导致过敏和疾病，如I型糖尿病，多发性硬化症和糖尿病。 硬化症和炎症性肠病。会议将汇集来自地球仪的领先免疫学专家，就基础研究和更多应用主题进行密切和激烈的思想，技术和概念交流，这将有助于推进该领域的知识。

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.