Neuro-Immune Interactions During Homeostasis and Neurological Disorders

The field of neuroimmunology has evolved considerably over the past two decades and emerged into one of the fastest moving disciplines in biomedical research. Neuroimmunology has roots in the study of multiple sclerosis and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, but has broadened to include research focused on how the CNS and immune system communicate during various states of health and disease. The neural-immune interface is remarkably sophisticated, and recent studies have shown that the immune system actively participates in the development and maintenance of the CNS. These two systems have a continual dialogue throughout life that can either be beneficial or detrimental to human health. The benefits of CNS-immune interactions include synaptic pruning, maintenance of barriers, compartmentalization and cleanup of damaged tissue, clearance of infectious agents, etc. By contrast, the immune system can also directly damage the CNS by participating in autoimmune reactions, vascular breakdown, and neurodegeneration. It is therefore incredibly important to understand and discuss the mechanisms that give rise to these divergent outcomes.

The field of neuroimmunology is in a phase of rapid growth, and it is our intention to capture this momentum with a new meeting focused on neuro-immune communication. The meeting will reflect the breadth of the field by hosting speakers and attendees with an interest in understanding neuro-immune interactions that maintain a healthy CNS during development and in adulthood as well as ones that participate in different pathophysiological conditions, such as autoimmune disease, stroke, neurodegenerative disorders, infection, brain / spinal cord injury, etc. We also intend to showcase burgeoning areas of neuro-immune research like the influence of the microbiome on CNS immune function as well as how peripheral nerves directly modulate immune cells. Our aim is to attract the top researchers in the field and promote dynamic discussions as well as a sustainable forum for members of the community to interact in the future. Please join us in Ventura, CA for what should be an exciting inaugural meeting on this important contemporary topic.