WELCOME ADDRESS - EFIS PRESIDENT

Dear friends and colleagues,

It is my great pleasure as President of the European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS) to invite you to the European Congress of Immunology (ECI) in Berlin, September 13–16, 2009.

This is the second joint meeting of European national societies of immunology and EFIS. The first ECI held in Paris in 2006, was an outstanding success. The ECI series was created by EFIS in collaboration with numerous national immunological societies as successor of the triennial European Immunology Congress (EIC). The first EIC took place in Strasbourg, France in 1973, and the last EIC was held in Rhodes, Greece in 2003. The ECI is a clear example of the close interrelationship of the different European immunology societies with their umbrella society EFIS.

EFIS represents 27 national societies with ca. 13,000 individual members. The major goal of EFIS is to support immunology in the scientific arena of Europe and to bring together established scientists and young researchers. More precisely, in 2007/2008, EFIS provided more than 300,000 euros in support of immunological meetings, conferences and workshops. Moreover, young scientists benefit from bursaries for congresses and for short-term research visits to top laboratories in Europe, e.g., in 2007/2008, EFIS supported 12 research visits for young scientists. To support young scientists wishing to attend the ECI 2009, EFIS will offer 300 bursaries of 500 euros each for young researchers (under 35 years of age). This age limit will not be strictly applied to applicants from Eastern European countries so that more established researchers can apply as well.

At the ECI 2009, EFIS will award two major prizes in immunology: First, the “EFIS Schering-Plough Prize in Immunology” (50,000 euros). This prize was awarded for the first time in 2006 at the ECI 2006 to Professor Alberto Montovani, Milano, Italy. I am looking forward to meeting this year’s winner. Second, a new prize has been established for female group leaders in immunology at an early stage in their career. The “Ita Askonas Prize” (10,000 euros) of EFIS and the European Journal of Immunology will be awarded for the first time at the ECI 2009.

Of equal importance are our efforts to raise public awareness amongst politicians, press and lay people about immunology’s impact on health and well-being. To this end, EFIS has created the Day of Immunology (DoI), which first took place April 29, 2005 with enormous success. Along this line EFIS will allocate 20,000 euros for special activities at ECI 2009 to promote public awareness of immunology, including a prize for the best activities of DoI 2009. I am looking forward to the activities of the next DoI, April 29, 2009. In an attempt to bring together art and immunology, EFIS recently announced a competition for the best short cut: “Casting Immunology in a Short Film” (http://www.immunology-spot.de/). The winning concept will receive 3,000 euros and a further 25,000 euros will be dedicated for realization of the short film concept. The final production will be premiered at the DoI 2009 and then featured at the ECI 2009.

If you want to know more about all EFIS activities ranging from supporting young immunologists to fostering public awareness of immunology, please have a look at our website (http://www.efis.org/).

Networks between individual members are created and strengthened at meetings and the ECI 2009 will be an excellent opportunity for you to meet immunologists of all types: young students with fresh minds as well as established researchers with great experience. In addition to the top science presented in more than 30 symposia and 60 workshops, I hope you will also find time to enjoy the city of Berlin. Berlin is my hometown and I can guarantee you exciting times and enjoyable days in this lively city.

On behalf of the EFIS Board, I invite you all to attend to the ECI 2009 in Berlin, and I am looking forward to your participation. See you in Berlin!

Stefan H.E. Kaufmann, EFIS President
Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology