9th Joint Meeting ISICR-ICS Cytokines & Interferons: From the ...

2014 – Melbourne,
Australia
At last year’s committee meeting in Lisbon, Paul Hertzog
(ISICR, ICS) presented a proposal for Melbourne, Australia
(proposing October 2013). At the current committee meeting,
Brendan Jenkins re-summarized this proposal. Since both
societies feel that we should attempt to hold our joint
conference in the US every 3 years, it was agreed that we
should consider this Melbourne proposal for 2014.
The broad themes proposed will incorporate “traditional”
basic and clinical (translational) research on inflammation,
cancer, innate immunity, vaccines, infectious diseases,
haematopoiesis and tumor immunity, as well as emerging
areas (such as systems biology).
These themes are consistent with the well-recognized
strengths of many of Melbourne’s world class research
institutions (Monash Institute of Medical Research, MIMR;
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, WEHI; Ludwig Institute; Peter
MacCallum Cancer Institute), as well as the research interests
of both the ICS and ISICR societies. We also note that in
addition to cytokine- and interferon-based research, sessions
will focus on the rapidly growing pathogen recognition receptor
(PRR) field. The proposed local organizing committee is
comprised of individuals from: Melbourne [Brendan Jenkins
(MIMR), Paul Hertzog (MIMR), Bryan Williams (MIMR),
Ashley Mansell (MIMR), Warren Alexander (WEHI), and
Sandra Nicholson (WEHI)]; Sydney: [Iain Campbell (University
of Sydney)]; Adelaide:[ Angel Lopez (Hanson Institute)];
Brisbane: [Matt Sweet (Institute for Molecular Bioscience); and
Nigel McMillan (University of Queensland)]; and Perth: [Cassie
James (Murdoch University)].
The proposed venue is the Melbourne Convention and
Exhibition Centre which is located on the banks of the Yarra
River in central Melbourne. The plan is to reserve a block of
rooms at the Hilton Hotel. Other hotels of varying price-ranges
are located within walking distance. Assistance with the
strategic planning and professional running of the conference
will be provided by ASN Events, an Australian-based
company with over 15 years experience at successfully
costing, managing and organizing conferences, scientific
meetings and public events ranging in size from 100 to
25,000 participants, throughout Australia and overseas
A proposed budget for 600 delegates is being developed. The
Organizers have obtained a confirmed commitment of
AUD$65,000 / USD$61,465 from Melbourne Convention &
Visitors Bureau (MCVB), and Melbourne Convention &
Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Proposed registration fees range
from AUD $400-500 for students to AUD $750-850 for
Industry non-members. The organizers acknowledge a likely
reduction in attendance from researchers from Europe and
North America compared to previous conferences held in the
northern hemisphere; however, they anticipate a large
proportion of delegates from within Australia (especially
Melbourne) and the Asia-Pacific region considering the strong
research focus in the cytokine, interferon and pathogen
recognition receptor (PRR) fields.
Committee Vote
At the conclusion of the presentations, the presenters left the
room to allow discussion and voting on the 2013 and 2014
proposals. Discussion of the two proposals was positive and
the committee vote was recorded as unanimously in favor of
the two proposals for the dates proposed.
Post meeting note:
Carl Ware (ICS) and Christine Czarniecki (ISICR)
subsequently informed their respective Societies of the
Joint Meetings Committee’s recommendations to support
Joint Meetings in San Francisco, CA, USA for 2013 and
Melbourne, Australia for 2014. The Boards of each of the
societies voted in favor of these recommendations and
Carl and Christine conveyed the approvals to Warren
Leonard and Brendan Jenkins.
There was no other business to discuss and the Meeting was
adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Czarniecki
Co-Chair of the Joint ISICR/ICS Meetings Committee
FEBRUARY 2011 I VOLUME 18 I NO. 1 31