Letter from Simon Jones

 

A Hybrid Experience: In-person and Online Presentations & Sessions

Our annual gatherings of investigators from academia, government, and industry offer exciting opportunities for you to discuss the latest breakthroughs in cytokine and interferons biology. Accommodating scientists from diverse biomedical backgrounds, the conference has an established tradition of showcasing major scientific discoveries affecting societal health and wellbeing. We very much look forward to continuing this strong tradition in Cardiff this coming October. 

The global pandemic continues to impact us all. During these challenging times, our society is actively striving we maintain strong links with the research community. For those unable to travel, the virtual meeting platform offers delegates excellent opportunities to engage with the meeting format and attendees. Providing an outstanding forum for investigations in basic science and clinical research, we have invited an impressive collection of speakers presenting exciting findings affecting cytokine involvements in infection, cancer, allergy, autoimmunity, and the wider aspects of immune-mediated disease. We are also encouraging updates on novel therapeutic interventions in the field and working with other societies to pioneer collaborations with industrial partners and international participants.

The hybrid format for Cytokines2021 will blend the physical experience at the Cardiff City Hall in the Centre of Cardiff, with a custom designed LabRoots Virtual Meeting platform. Facilitating a unique experience for in-person delegates and the virtual community, Webcast video presentations will be intertwined with in-person presentations and live sessions. These will include virtual interactions, live commentaries, online chat & video chat discussions, and a photo booth for those impromptu social interactions and memories. Whether your attendance is in person or virtual, we very much hope you will continue to submit your latest research for discussion. The Cytokines 2020 Virtual Meeting exceeded our expectations, and we are confident that the Hybrid Meeting format will continue to form part of the planning of all future meetings. Thus, ensuring our ability to disseminate the latest research advancements in cytokine biology around the world, and keeping us all connected.

We very much hope to see you all in Cardiff later this year, and I hope you and your families remain healthy and safe in these challenging times.

Local Organizing Committee

From Left to Right

  • Luke O’Neill, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
  • Clare Bryant, University of Cambridge, UK
  • Clare M. Lloyd, Imperial College, UK
  • Iain McInnes, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK
  • Simon A Jones, (Chair) Cardiff University, Wales, UK

International Scientific Advisory Committee

  • Evangelos Andreakos, Laboratory of Immunobiology, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Greece
  • Yvonne Bordon, Nature Reviews Immunology, UK
  • Andrew Bowie, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
  • Ernest Choy, Cardiff University, Wales, UK
  • Marcus Feige, TUM, Germany
  • Kate Fitzgerald, University of Massachusetts, USA
  • Trude Flow, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
  • Brian Fritz, 10x Genomics, USA
  • Sarah Gaffen, University of Pittsburgh, USA
  • Christian Holm, Aarhus University, Denmark
  • Christopher Hunter, University of Pennsylvania, USA
  • Brendan Jenkins, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Australia
  • Gareth W. Jones, University of Bristol, UK
  • You-Me Kim, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea
  • Carolina López, Washington University in Saint Louis, USA
  • Ignacio Moraga Gonzalez, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK
  • Sandra Nicholson, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Australia
  • Anne O’Garra, Crick Institute, UK
  • Stefan Rose-John, University of Kiel, Germany
  • Ram Savan, University of Washington, USA
  • James Turkson, Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, USA
  • Irina Udalova, University of Oxford, UK
  • Hiroki Yoshida, Saga University, Japan

Preliminary List of Session Topics

  • Cytokines in cellular metabolism and immune homeostasis
  • Designer cytokines and cytokine immunotherapy
  • Tissue homeostasis and barrier immunity
  • Cytokines in anti-viral immunity • Epigenetic control of cytokine responses
  • Mechanisms of cytokine release syndromes
  • Single cell analysis of inflammatory outcomes
  • Understanding multimorbidity in chronic disease
  • Cancer inflammation
  • Mechanisms of interferonopathies
  • Determinants of disease heterogeneity
  • Cytokines in allergic reactions
  • Cytokines in psychoneuroimmunology and pain
  • Stromal tissue as orchestrators of disease outcome
  • Determinants of cell fate
  • Repurposing of biological therapies
  • Advances in precision medicine
  • Systems approaches in precision medicine

Cardiff City Hall,

within short walking distance of the City centre and hotels, offering superb shopping and located adjacent to Cardiff Castle and Cardiff University

Cardiff’s City Hall stands in what has been acclaimed as one of the finest civic centres in Europe – located in the heart of the city of Cardiff, 4-minute walk to hotels, between Cardiff University and Cardiff Castle, the magnificent Edwardian City Hall, built in the English Renaissance style, was opened in 1906, a year after Cardiff was granted its city status. Within the magnificent exterior carved from Portland stone can be found elegant rooms to meet the expectations of conference, function and event organisers. This majestic building offers a spacious venue for large-scale events yet smaller rooms are also available for more intimate gatherings and syndicate sessions. However, behind its magnificent facade and glorious interiors you will find that City Hall can accommodate state of the art conferencing and hi-tech communications systems.

Tabletop Exhibits will be set up in the Marble Hall between all the meeting rooms. Virtual and Live exhibit booth engagement will be available through the LabRoots Virtual Meeting platform.

Cytokines 2021 Hybrid Lobby

Historic Coal Exchange Hotel on Cardiff Bay, Tuesday evening Networking Event venue.

Luke O’Neill’s band, the Metabollix with special guests, will be playing live at the Cytokines2021 Networking event and will be live streamed from the historic Coal Exchange Hotel to our virtual audience through our virtual networking lounge pictured below. 

Please visit regularly this website to view the updated program and confirmed speakers, plan to submit abstracts and award applications by June 1 and encourage your colleagues to join us. I very much hope to see you all in Cardiff next year, and I hope you and your families are healthy and safe in these challenging times.

Best regards,

Professor Simon A Jones

Dean of Research, The School of Medicine
Division of Infection & Immunity
Cardiff University
Cardiff, Wales, UK
JonesSA@cardiff.ac.uk

Yr Athro Simon A Jones

Deon Ymchwil Ysgol
Meddygaeth Prifysgol Caerdydd
Yr Isadran Haint ac Imiwnedd
Adeilad Tenovus
Parc y Mynydd Bychan
Caerdydd, Cymru, DU