ICIS thanks the Cytokines 2017 Organizers! From Left, Naofumi Mukaida; Kouji Matsushima & Akihiko Yoshimura

Cytokines 2017, October 29-November 2, 2017, in Kanazawa, Japan

Greeting from the Organizing Committee

Dear Colleagues;

It is our great honor and pleasure to host the 5th Annual Meeting of the International Cytokine and Interferon Society, ICIS 2017, October 29-November 2, 2017 in Kanazawa, Japan. In 2013, the ICS (International Cytokine Society) and ISICR (International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research) merged to form ICIS. ICIS-related international meetings that have been held in Japan previously include the Cytokine Workshop in Kobe in 1993, organized by Professor Tadamitsu Kishimoto, and the Cytokine and Interferon Workshop in Tokyo, also in 1993, organized by Professor Fumimaro Takaku. ICIS2017 is being co-organized with the Japanese Society of Interferon and Cytokine Research (JSICR) and the Japanese Society of Molecular Cell Biology of Macrophages (MMCB).

The field of cytokine and interferon research has seen tremendous scientific progress over the last two decades. Recent developments include the characterization of various mechanisms of cell death and systems for danger signal recognition, the linkage of innate and acquired immunity through chemokines, the discovery of autoinflammatory diseases caused by aberrant activation of the inflammasome, the elucidation of the effects of microbiota on the systemic immune system, clarification of the ontogeny and development of tissue macrophages and DCs, the discovery of innate lymphoid cells, and various advances in the development of biological therapeutics for intractable inflammatory and immune diseases. Some of these therapeutics include the development of antibodies against TNFα, IL-6 receptor, IL- 17 and IL-1 receptor antagonist/anti-IL-1β antibody. In addition, the recent development of CAR-T cell therapy and immune-checkpoint antibodies, such as anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1/-L1, has revolutionized our approach to cancer therapy.

The main theme of this year’s Meeting of the International Cytokine and Interferon Society is “Looking beyond the horizon of integrated cytokine, interferon, and chemokine research”. The meeting will provide an outstanding forum for investigators in basic science and clinical research to present their most recent findings on the role of cytokines (including interferons, chemokines, and various pro-inflammatory/anti-inflammatory factors) in infection, cancer, allergy and autoimmunity, as well as in various other inflammatory and immune diseases. The meeting will also provide an opportunity for updates on the development of novel therapeutic interventions in these fields.

Kanazawa is a beautiful castle town that was ruled from the 17th century to the second half of the 19th century by the influential Maeda family, who invested the region’s wealth in the promotion of culture and learning. The town was spared devastation during the second World War, and the Kanazawa’s rich culture can still be experienced today. A highspeed railway line from Tokyo to Kanazawa opened in March 2015, improving accessibility and reducing travel time from Tokyo to around 2.5 hours. Participants will enjoy the beauty of the Japanese Alps and the Sea of Japan coastline in their best season, when the autumn leaves are in full color.

The organizing committee is looking forward to hosting an exciting, fruitful and enjoyable meeting in Kanazawa and encourage your participation. We hope that this meeting will promote international collaboration and spur new progress in the field of cytokine, interferon, and chemokine research among scientists from both industry and academia.

Very sincerely yours,

President, Kouji Matsushima (The University of Tokyo)
Honorary President, Tadamitsu Kishimoto (Osaka University)
Vice President, Yoichiro Iwakura (Tokyo University of Science)
Takashi Fujita,  (Kyoto University)
Shuichi Kaneko,  (Kanazawa University)
Program Chair, Akihiko Yoshimura (Keio University)
Secretary General,  Naofumi Mukaida (Kanazawa University)

ICIS2017 Congress Secretariat

c/o Japan Convention Services, Inc.
Daido Seimei Kasumigaseki Bldg. 14F,
1-4-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyodaku, Tokyo 100-0013, Japan
TEL：+81 3-3508-1214 FAX : +81 3-3508-1302
E-mail:info@icis2017japan.com