Personal Statements and Qualifying Information
This position is a 2-year term, beginning January 2027 · There are 2 nominees for 1 position
Scroll down to view statements from: Nandan Gokhale | Mohamed Saad
Nandan Gokhale, PhD
Assistant Professor
Division of Immunobiology
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
USA
Statement
I am deeply committed to the fields of virology and immunology, and consequently, cytokine biology. My work focuses on how RNA-protein interactions shape innate immune signaling outcomes. As an Assistant Professor at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and through the years of my training before this, I have also been committed to helping to train and mentor the next generation of scientists. I have been a member of the Cytokine society since 2020, when I attended my first (sadly virtual) ICIS meeting. I attended and was selected to present my work at the ICIS meeting in 2025, where I was also privileged to receive an ICIS-Regeneron New Investigator Award. I am excited by the opportunity to serve as the Councilor for Inclusion and Training because: 1) It would allow me to transmit my enthusiasm for this field to rising scholars, 2) I would have the opportunity to shape the benefits that the Cytokine Society presents to its junior members, and 3) it would allow me to give back meaningfully to this community that I value so much.
Participation in The Cytokine Society
I have been a member of the Cytokine Society since 2020. I presented my work at the ICIS Meeting in 2025, where I was also privileged to receive an ICIS-Regeneron New Investigator Award
Other Professional Activities
I enjoy bringing people together for the advancement of science. As a graduate student at Duke University, I was a member of the Office of Biomedical Graduate Education Student Advisory Committee. As a postdoctoral scholar, I was a founding co-organizer of the Immunology Microbiology Postdoc Symposium which sought to improve communication and foster collaboration between postdocs at the University of Washington. I hope to be able to continue growing as a leader in service of the Cytokine Society.
Mohamed Saad, PhD
Group Head Proteases in Inflammation & Cancer Lab Tumour Inflammation and Immunotherapy Program
SAiGENCI – South Australian immunoGENomics Cancer Institute
Adelaide University, Australia
Statement
As a group leader at The South Australian immunoGENomics Cancer Institute (SAiGENCI), Adelaide University, my work on ADAM-mediated ectodomain shedding of cytokines sits at the intersection of cytokine biology, inflammation, and cancer — areas central to the Cytokine Society’s mission. This gives me a grounded appreciation of both the mechanistic complexity of cytokine signalling and its translational relevance, perspectives I would bring directly to Council deliberations. Over the next three to five years, I believe the Society’s top priorities should be fostering interdisciplinary connections between basic cytokine research and clinical translation, expanding engagement with early-career researchers, and strengthening its international reach — particularly in the Asia-Pacific/Oceania region, which remains underrepresented in global cytokine networks. Challenges will include navigating increasingly competitive funding landscapes, keeping pace with rapid advances in single-cell and spatial technologies that are reshaping how we study cytokine networks, and ensuring the Society remains relevant to a broadening membership base spanning academia, industry, and clinical practice. The Society could better serve its members through more targeted mentorship programmes, greater visibility of members’ work through digital platforms, and creating structured opportunities for collaboration across career stages and geographic regions. My experience on the Membership Committee of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) has given me practical insight into how international scientific societies can grow and retain diverse membership, navigate governance, and align strategic priorities with member needs. Combined with my perspective as a researcher based in Australia — outside the traditional North American and European hubs of cytokine science — I offer a genuinely diverse viewpoint that I believe would strengthen the Council’s decision-making.
Participation in The Cytokine Society
Dr Saad has demonstrated a sustained and active commitment to the Cytokine Society, attending and presenting his research at the Cytokines conference regularly since 2018. This consistent engagement reflects not only his dedication to the field but also his investment in the Society’s scientific community and its collegial culture. Beyond his research contributions, Dr Saad serves as an Editor for Signals+, further demonstrating his commitment to advancing scientific communication and supporting the broader research community.
Other Professional Activities
International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) research fellow 2019-2021 Cancer Council Victoria (CCV) Postdoctoral research fellow Committee member, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Editorial board member, Front Oncol (Review Editor) 2021-2023 Animal Ethics Committee member, Hudson Institute of Medical Research
With his strong scientific standing, longitudinal engagement with the Society, and evident commitment to the research community, Dr Saad is ideally positioned for the role of Councilor for Inclusion & Training within the Cytokine Society.
