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Poster session at ECI Berlin 2009

which in due time may lead to the cure ofthese disturbances of the immune system.
New concepts for the treatment of chronic
inflammatory diseases, which may control
inflammation long term, were shown.
Another central topic was the new possibilities to treat tumors which may lead totargeted therapies with only a few sideeffects. Also the development of newvaccines was an important topic, particularly in light of the current H1N1 influenza pandemic.
When we asked the participants about
their interests, translational aspects werealso very much represented Gene/Protein
Array Technology 617 positive replie, Flow

Cytometry/Imaging 1915, Signal Transduction 1067, Immune Diagnostics 977,
Cell Separation/Culture 1488, Immune
Therapy/Vaccines 1902. The feature‘‘careers in research’’ was also of special
attraction for junior researchers; thisworkshop attracted more than 350 participants. In addition, we had a ‘‘hands on’’workshop for scientists from Africa which
was very well received and let to immediate action in the participants’ home countries afterwards. Also well received was aninternational exhibition on the birth ofimmunology in Europe, which is available
for display through Europe.
The overwhelming success of European
immunology could be seen in the quality
and number of excellent contributions.
Certainly also, in conjunction with all theother European societies involved in
immunological research, our discipline
has demonstrated its translational importance. This should be reflected more in theappreciation of immunology by thescientific community, as well as those
involved in politics and funding.
Reinhold E. Schmidt
ECI Berlin Congress President
e-mail: immunologie@mh-hannover.de

Top three reasons to come to Kobe for the 14th International Congressof Immunology
The 14th International Congress of Immunology, which will be held in Kobe, Japan,
is only eight months ahead. We, the localorganizers, are busy finalizing thepreparation of the Congress in the hopethat it will become another landmark
event in the history of immunology, justlike the one held in Kyoto, Japan in 1983
where sensational reports such as themolecular identification of the T-cell
receptor and the isolation of humanimmunodeficiency virus represented thebeginning of an exciting era of immunology when a number of important immunologically relevant components wereidentified. This time, we would like toorganize an innovative and invigorating
Congress reflecting the direction of immunology in the 21st century, which is todefeat infection, autoimmunity, allergy,and cancer.
The program committee has compiled ascientific program of the Congress,
consisting of 30 symposia, 120 workshops,

a keynote lecture by Dr. David Baltimore,
more than 15 master lectures and morethan 8 lunchtime lectures, and more than2000 poster presentations. Workshoppresentations will be selected from
submitted abstracts, and all accepted
abstracts will be presented at the poster
sessions. We look forward to receiving
your abstract, and please note that theabstract submission deadline is 3
February 2010. An updated list of morethan 200 confirmed speakers can befound on the Congress website (http://www.ici2010.org).
Specialscientificfeatures associated with the Congressinclude a symposium on influenza
infection, timely given the recent
outbreak of the new influenza virus
and a continuing medical educationcredited teaching course (FOCIS/JSI
Immunology Update) covering issues
at the forefront of immunology. Thelatter, however, requires separate registration.

& 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

The Congress will be held in a comfortable, yet exciting, environment that offers
a wide range of diversions to participantsof all backgrounds. The opening ceremonyof the Congress will welcome you with alive music performance by the Osaka
Philharmonic Orchestra, whereas a night
cruise through the Kobe port and Osaka
bay has been arranged for a fun andrelaxing Congress party. Not only thehome for sophisticated Kobe beef and therenowned Nada sake breweries, the city of
Kobe offers an exotic mixture of multicultural history, fashionable technology,and landscape.
Kobe is located at the heart of Japan’s
premier tourism region, a short ride via
public transport from Osaka and thehistorical cities such as Kyoto, Nara,Himeji, and Tokushima. Kobe also offers
easy access to Kansai International Airportand other major cities including Tokyo.
The Congress site has an unmatched
combination of extensive conference
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Eur. J. Immunol. 2010. 40: 8–12

facilities, modern and affordable accommodation, and rapid and efficient transportation. The local organizers haveadditionally arranged super budget
accommodation to encourage student
participation (see the website for details).
Various travel bursaries are available
and listed on our website. The localorganizers offer travel bursaries for 200
researchers from developing countries
and 100 for students and post-doctoralresearchers. Other sources for travel
awards are the various national immunology societies and their Federations,
including the European Federation ofImmunological Societies (EFIS, seefeature box) and the Federation ofImmunological Societies Asia Oceania(FIMSA). Those interested in applying forsuch grants should inquire directly withthe respective societies for further details.
We believe that we could make anextensive list of the many excellent reasons
why you should come to Kobe and participate in the International Congress ofImmunology, but here we would like tobriefly mention those that we feel are thetop three. First of all, the quality of science.
The Congress focuses on immunology inthe 21st century. Most, if not all, prominent leaders in immunology and related

fields, irrespective of their geographicaland cultural backgrounds, regularly attend
the triannual International Congress ofImmunology. The coming Congress inKobe this summer will be no exception andprovides an ideal opportunity for participants to hear the latest research, review thedirection of future study, and meet a variety of internationally acclaimed scientists
working in relevant fields.
Second, the beauty of Japan. Japanconsists of 6852 islands, blessed withbeautiful nature; it is a country thattreasures its history, culture, and traditions, but one that also has the mostadvanced technology and innovativescience. If you have visited Japanpreviously, come and enjoy again its
beauty and hospitality. If you have not,please take advantage of this opportunity
to visit this beautiful country.
Last, but not least, Japanese immunologists. Probably, you have seen many
Japanese authors and many Japaneselaboratories in leading articles publishedin the field of immunology. Japan is one of
the leading nations in scientific research,
including immunology and the biomedicalsciences. Indeed, the Japanese Society ofImmunology has 40 years of history andmore than 6000 members, making it thesecond largest national immunology
society in the world. This International
Congress of Immunology in Kobe will be agreat opportunity for you to personallymeet or reunite with Japanese immunologists at the Congress, as well as in theirhometowns if you plan additional visits
while in Japan.
For more information on the 14th International Congress of Immunology, please
visit our website (www.ici2010.org). We
would appreciate your input to help ensurethat the Congress is the success we areaiming for, so please do not hesitate towrite us if you have any questions and/orsuggestions. We very much look forward toseeing you in Kobe very soon!
Yousuke Takahama1 and Masayuki Miyasaka2
1Chair, Committee of Public Affairs and Organizing Committee of the 14th InternationalCongress of Immunology

2Secretary General, Organizing Committee ofthe 14th International Congress of Immunology,

e-mail: takahama@genome.tohushima-u.ac.jp
e-mail: mmiyasaka@orgctl.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
www.ici2010.org

EFIS travel grants for 14th ICI Kansai 2010
EFIS will provide 100 travel grants worth h1000 each for attendance at 14th ICI Kansai 2010. Details on the conditions andapplication procedures for these grants will be posted in due course on the EFIS website (www.efis.org), but EFIS members shouldnote that, in order to apply for an EFIS travel grant, each applicant will have to submit the number of his/her (accepted) abstract.
The abstract submission deadline for ICI Kobe is Wednesday 3 February 2010 and submission details can be found at
www.ici2010.org/abstract.html

NK201012th Meeting of the Society for Natural Immunity
April 20–24, 2010
Cavtat-Dubrovnik, Croatia
Sponsored in part by EFIS-EJI monies
Speakers include:
Christine Biron, Hugh Brady, Véronique Braud, Mary Carrington, Adelheid Cerwenka, Marco Colonna, Francesco Colucci, DanielDavis, Mariapia Degli-Esposti, Werner Held, Petter Höglund, Kathy Hsu, Lewis Lanier, Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren, Eric O. Long, MiguelLópez-Botet, Ofer Mandelboim, Alessandro Moretta, Peter Parham, David Raulet, Eleanor Riley, Jim di Santo, Thomas Spies, John
Trowsdale, André Veillette, Andrea Velardi, Silvia Vidal, Eric Vivier, Carsten Watzl and Wayne Yokoyama
IMPORTANT DATESRegistration
Standard: until 31 January 2010
Late/Onsite: until 6 April 2010
Abstract submission deadline: 31 January 2010
For more information, visit http://nkdubrovnik.com& 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

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