Re-Evaluating the Fundamentals of Immunology, Their Clinical Potentials, Their Meaningful Measures, and the Unmet Needs

At a time of dramatic developments in immunology, the 2014 Gordon Research Conference in Immunochemistry and Immunobiology will use the presentation and discussion of new, largely unpublished data from leading and emerging experts to fundamentally re-evaluate basic research priorities, general scholarship, and translational potentials in nine key thematic areas of immunology. Those areas are: immune cell development and renewal; immune regulatory mechanisms; immunology and metabolism; immunological memory; tissue-based immune compartments; neonatal immunology; human immune response mechanisms; cytokines and their actions; and tumour immunology. Whereas these areas have traditionally been considered in the context of protection against infection, the more contemporary and challenging backdrop for their presentation and brain-storming shall also include the emerging and unexpected roles for immune cells in basic physiologic processes; the unanticipated yet impressive efficacies of immunotherapies in areas of major clinical need; and the rapidly improving tools for the direct analysis and manipulation of human immune responses.

The consideration of these issues will be aided by a broad constituency of delegates, while retaining a major goal of training and motivating the next generation of research leaders in basic, clinical, and applied science. In this regard, the opportunities for more junior attendees to make oral and poster presentations have been increased over previous years, and the Conference will benefit from a directly preceding Gordon Research Seminar in Immunology.