A Fully Virtual Experience

The International Cytokine & Interferon Society (ICIS), is the world’s largest multidisciplinary organization advancing both fundamental and clinical research specific to the role of cytokines in health and disease. Our annual gathering of 700-1,100 investigators from academia, government and industry is an important time for our community to come together with the goal to bring together scientists from diverse areas of biomedical research to discuss the latest breakthroughs and insights into how cytokines and interferons regulate immunity, inflammation, metabolism, and cancer. Greater understanding of mechanisms of disease and novel concepts for therapy have and will continue to emerge from multidisciplinary gatherings where advances can be presented and discussed by established and trainee scientists.

Many of the major advances in cytokine biology were first reported at this annual conference, and we very much look forward to continuing this strong tradition this October. It is our hope that attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how cytokines network together to maintain health and gain an appreciation for the many potential strategies for targeting the network to create better drugs. The meeting will provide an outstanding forum for investigators in basic science and clinical research to present their most recent findings on the role of cytokines (including interferons, chemokines, and various pro-inflammatory/anti-inflammatory factors) in infection, cancer, allergy and autoimmunity, as well as in various other inflammatory and immune diseases. The meeting will also provide an opportunity for updates on the development of novel therapeutic interventions in these fields and help spur international collaborations among the meeting participants.

Due to the international travel restrictions to enter UK still in effect and the way the incidences of COVID are increasing, even in vaccinated individuals, ICIS has made the hard decision to pivot to a FULLY VIRTUAL Meeting.

We are fully committed to creating a virtual event up to the highest standards of science, education, and innovation. Building on the success from last year’s virtual meeting, we will ensure fruitful exchanges and presentations of original findings.

ICIS has already put in place a cutting-edge virtual meeting platform for our live and on demand streaming, iPoster presentations, virtual exhibitors and tournament.

We believe this decision will ensure safety of everyone and alleviate the stress related the uncertainties of travelling and in-person gathering.

We would like to wholeheartedly thank you for your confidence and support in these troubled times, and we are optimistic on the success of the 2021 Virtual Meeting, with a Welsh touch of course!

Best regards,