ESF Research Conferences

ESF-EMBO Symposium

B CELLS 2008: COMPLEXITY, INTEGRATION AND TRANSLATION

Chaired by

CHAIR:

ProfessorJohnGordonE-Mail: University of BirminghamThe Medical SchoolDivision of Immunity & InfectionMRC Centre for Immune RegulationBirminghamUnited Kingdom

http://www.mrcbcir.bham.ac.uk/

VICE-CHAIR:

Dr.RitaCarsettiE-Mail: Bambino Gesu Children Hospital (OPBG)University La SapienzaResearch CentreRomaItaly

http://www.opbg.net

Dates

16-21 May 2008

Location

Hotel Eden Roc, Sant Feliu de Guixols, Spain
The conference will take place in Sant Feliu de Guixols, on the Spanish Costa Brava, 120 km north of Barcelona and 30 km south of Girona. Group transportation will be arranged from/to Barcelona airport, on arrival and departure days.

Final Programme & List of Accepted Participants

: Source: F. Batista, London Research Institute, Cancer Research UK

B CELLS 2008: COMPLEXITY, INTEGRATION and TRANSLATION considers B cells in all their colours. Knowledge of B-cell behaviour is a central Public Health issue; not least in relation to vaccines and therapy. B cells also contribute to autoimmune disease while B-cell tumors constitute the majority of haematological cancers. This meeting will encapsulate the very latest advances in our understanding of B-cell physiology and pathobiology. The highly integrated, interdisciplinary approach will ensure a broad-ranging, cutting-edge symposium.

Participants will engage with the leaders in each of the fields represented during interactive sessions of talks, posters, discussions and social events.

Themes include:

Theoretical and physical approaches for dissecting complex B-cell phenomena and for validating or adjusting prevalent biological concepts: including mathematical and computerized modelling of B cell physiology together with physical considerations of BCR interactions and signals.
Control of gene expression via transcription factors in relation to B-cell differentiation and of normal B-cell regulation by endogenous small inhibitory RNAs and their impact on B-cell disease, predominantly, cancer.
Consideration of B-cell dynamics and homeostasis at the molecular, cellular and population levels.
The important newly emerging aspects of B-cell as (non-antibody) effectors: both paracrine and autocrine.
Translation of the fundamental knowledge on B cell physiology to the treatment of diseases.
Exploration of the emerging appreciation of the strong dialogue occurring between Immune & Nervous systems: this providing novel B-cell targets as well as new pathways for modulation in health and disease.
Potential impact of the above on Society with regards the widespread use/abuse of psychotropic drugs where we are beginning to learn of their deleterious consequences on normal B-cell functioning.

Final Programme PDF (394 KB) Last Updated 7-May-2008
List of Invited Speakers & Accepted Participants

Abstracts, Posters & Short Oral Contributions

There will be no short talks other than those listed on the programme. All abstracts have been accepted as posters.

The list of posters divided by session is now available.

A poster prize sponsored by EMBO will be awarded at the end of the conference.

Poster Session 1 PDF (92K); Poster Session 2 PDF (94K); Poster Session 3 PDF (92K)

Posters can be fixed with blue tack or tape onto poster panels. Poster size should be no more than 130 cm high x 130 cm wide. Use letters and drawings that can be read from approximately 100 cm distance.

Group Transportation & Practical Information Guide

Detailed information on all practical aspects of the conference (access to site, registration & fee payments, accommodation, travel reimbursements...) is available from the Practical Information Guide. Please read it fully and carefully...

Practical Information Guide PDF (196 KB)

GROUP TRANSPORTATION
Three buses will be arranged on arrival day from Barcelona airport to Sant Feliu. The journey takes approximately 2 hours, depending on traffic.

Bus departure times – Friday 16 May: 15.30 and 17.00 and 18.30

Airport departure point: the buses will wait in the special bus parking area located just before the A terminal. Each bus has been requested to be at the meeting point 20-30 minutes before scheduled departure. The coaches will have a sign in the window indicating “ESF Research Conferences” for easy recognition.

Group transportation back to Barcelona airport will be arranged in a similar way for the departure day.

Bus departure times – Wednesday 21 May: tentative times at this stage 08.00 and 09.00

ACCOMMODATION
Please note that SINGLE accommodation can only be guaranteed to invited speakers. All other participants will have to share a TWIN room. In case single rooms would become available at the time of the conference, rooms will be attributed on a “first come, first served” basis. Only the TWIN conference fee should be paid to the ESF when registering. The supplement for single should be paid to the venue directly. Should you wish to be put on waiting list for single accommodation, please contact Ms Chiara Orefice.

Registration Form

All participants - including speakers & session chairs - are kindly expected to confirm their attendance (and, when applicable, to pay the conference fee) by filling in a Registration Form.
Closing date for registration & fee payment: 15 April 2008

Conference Fees

Fees	What the fees cover
EUR 730	conference, meals and twin OR double room
EUR 520	non-resident: conference, meals (no room)

ESF Contact

Ms.ChiaraOreficeE-Mail: European Science FoundationESF Conferences UnitBrusselsBelgium

Phone: +32 (0)2 533 2023
Fax: +32 (0)2 538 8486
Please quote 08-210 in any correspondence.

Partnership

This conference is organised by the European Science Foundation (ESF) in partnership with the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO).

With Support from

Links of Interest

French Society for Immunology The SFI is an association of scientists and clinicians involved in immunological research. It was created by Pierre Grabar in 1966 and it was among the 10 national immunological societies participating in the founding of the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) in 1971.
Società Italiana Immunologia, Immunologia Clinica e Allergologia (in Italian)
European Federation of Immunological Societies EFIS is the Federation of 27 societies of immunology in 31 countries in the European area. EFIS aims at promoting the advancement of research and education in Immunology, especially by encouraging contacts between members of its constituent societies.
The aim of Trends in Immunology is to monitor advances in the various fields of immunology, and bring together the results in a readable and lucid form. Review articles form the backbone of each monthly issue, complemented by Opinion articles, which are a forum for discussion of more speculative topics or new hypotheses. Review and Opinion articles, together with the other sections of the journal (Research Update, News and Comment and Forum), ensure that Trends in Immunology provides the reader with a complete picture of the diverse field of immunology. Trends in Immunology is an Elsevier publication.
ELSO – the European Life Scientist Organization – was founded in 1999 to capture the excitement of these rapid advances and to share them with molecular life scientists across Europe.
Immunology Letters provides a vehicle for the speedy publication of experimental papers, (mini)Reviews and Letters to the Editor addressing all aspects of molecular and cellular immunology. The essential criteria for publication will be clarity, experimental soundness and novelty. Results contradictory to current accepted thinking or ideas divergent from actual dogmas will be considered for publication provided that they are based on solid experimental findings. Immunology Letters are published by Elsevier.
The American Association of Immunologists (AAI) aims to advance knowledge of immunology and related disciplines, to foster interchange of ideas and information among investigators in the various disciplines and to promote an understanding of the field of immunology.
The Journal of Immunology is published by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc. (AAI) twice a month. Scope: Basic and clinical studies in all aspects of immunology.

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Further Pages

Previous conference in the series: B CELLS CROSS THE DIVIDE: FROM IN SILICO TO THE WHOLE PERSON
ESF-EMBO Symposium
Sant Feliu de Guixols, Spain, 13-18 May 2006
ESF-EMBO Partnership