Immunoreceptors and Immunotherapy

About This Grant

Project Summary The goal of this application is to request partial support for the 2026 Science Research Conference (SRC) on “Immunoreceptors and Immunotherapy” sponsored by Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). This successful SRC has been running every two years since 1987 and has fostered a highly interactive community of international researchers with the goal of solving important problems in immunoreceptor and immunotherapy biology. The meeting in 2026 will be the 16th iteration of this highly successful series. Immunoreceptors play a central role in cancer, autoimmunity and infectious diseases, whilst immunotherapy is the rapidly expanding field focused on stimulating the immune system to fight cancer and other inflammatory diseases to change people’s lives in the clinic. Key highlights of this conference are: (1) A meeting program that is composed of the best science related to immune receptor function, immune cell signaling, and the physiology and pathology of immune diseases; (2) Addition of emerging topics in inhibitory receptors and antibody engineering, along with immunotherapy in cancer and autoimmunity, and organization of immunoreceptors on the membrane; (3) Speakers who are leaders in the field as well as early- and mid-career investigators, selected to feature cutting-edge aspects of immunoreceptor and immunotherapy biology, covering the range from basic science to translational applications; (4) A program that also includes state-of-the-art technologies in imaging, structural analysis, computational modeling, systems biology and therapeutic approaches; (5) Networking opportunities, including a “Meet the Expert” luncheon and Career Workshop to foster connections between junior and senior investigators; and (6) Financial support for trainees and early career investigators to attend and present at the conference. As such, this meeting brings together scientists from different fields, creating a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment for building networks and developing new collaborations. The FASEB SRC provides an ideal format for this meeting, because interactions between participants are guaranteed by the size of the meeting, an all-plenary format, multiple poster sessions and shared meals. The support requested through this application will enable the most promising trainees and early career faculty to share their work and interact with leaders in their field. With these features in mind, our specific aims are: Aim 1 – to disseminate the most recent advances and new paradigms in immunoreceptors and immunotherapy; and Aim 2 – to encourage intensive scientific discussion that promotes new collaborations among the international community engaged in immunobiology research. This meeting has received enthusiastic feedback from attendees of previous meetings, establishing a strong mandate for its continuation.