55th Annual Meeting of the Society for Leukocyte Biology

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT This proposal is to request support for the 55th Annual Meeting of the Society For Leukocyte Biology entitled: “Leukocytes on the Wave for Translating Medicine”. The meeting will be held October 26-29, 2022 with an in- person format. Funds derived from this proposal will be distributed in the form of travel awards that will provide

much needed assistance to young investigators and trainees. The Organizers of the 55th meeting are Domenico Mavilio, MD-PhD, Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Milan University, Milan, Italy and Chen Dong, Ph.D., Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.

SLB is the leading scientific society with a focus on leukocytes and their roles in the pathophysiology of acute and chronic diseases. No other scientific meeting regarding study of the immune system focuses on the leukocyte with the breadth and depth of SLB so the annual meetings sponsored by SLB fill this void. Therefore,

SLB is the premier society in the field of leukocyte biology, and convenes annually to promote scientific exchange among researchers and support the career development of trainees and junior investigators. Funds derived from this proposal will be distributed in the form of travel awards that will provide much needed assistance to the

ability young investigators and trainees to attend. The essential goals of the annual meeting include: 1) advancing original research and related scientific endeavors in the field of leukocyte biology and host defense, 2) promoting the career development of junior and new investigators interested in leukocyte biology, 3) disseminating

information about the field to the wider scientific and lay audience, and 4) encouraging the translation of basic research in leukocyte biology to applications in the clinic. These goals will be achieved through three Aims: Aim 1. To provide an innovative and scientifically progressive program, in a collegial forum, to address the

latest developments leukocyte biology. The agenda will include a total of 4 Plenary Sessions and 8 Concurrent Sessions with a total of 19 invited speakers. Aim 2: To provide an opportunity for new investigators and trainees to interact closely with established scientists. A significant innovation for the 2020 meeting will be the SLB-

SCHOOL (Society for Leukocyte Biology-Symposium for Career development and Hands-On Opportunity to Learn) which will offer trainees a full day instructional workshop covering topics related to research regarding the microbiome. The expectation is that enrollees will gain practical insight into this topic and more actively

participate with experts in the field. Aim 3: To promote diversity and inclusion in the field of leukocyte biology by cultivating the participation of women, underrepresented groups and disadvantaged individuals. The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee will sponsor workshops and awards to encourage the participation of

women and scientists from underrepresented groups. In sum, the 2020 program is purposefully designed to enhance awareness of the influence of leukocyte biology in health and disease and inspire young investigators.