UMMS co-hosts immunity conference in Italy

 UMass Medical School and the University of Verona will sponsor “Toll 2011: Decoding Innate Immunity,” the fourth in a series of conferences devoted to innate immunity to be held in Riva del Garda, Italy, from May 4 to 7.

“We have lined up a list of academic and industry superstars to present their work in an informal atmosphere devoted to intellectual exchange,” said Douglas T. Golenbock, MD, professor of medicine and microbiology & physiological systems.

This year’s meeting features a special seminar by Victor R. Ambros, PhD, the Silverman Chair in Natural Sciences and professor of molecular medicine, and winner of the 2008 Lasker Award for his work in identifying the function of microRNAs. This list of speakers for the 2011 conference also includes pioneers in the study of Toll-like receptors Shizuo Akira, Bruce Beutler and Ruslan Medzhitov, as well as leaders in a variety of important areas of innate immunity including Vishva Dixit, Alberto Mantovani, Luke O’Neill, Caetano Reis e Sousa and Jurg Tschopp.

UMMS faculty speaking at the event include Katherine A. Fitzgerald, PhD, associate professor of medicine; Eicke Latz, MD, research assistant professor of medicine; Egil Lien, PhD, associate professor of medicine and microbiology & physiological systems; and Neal S. Silverman, PhD, associate professor of medicine and microbiology & physiological systems.

There will be 65 speakers at the three-day event, which will also include student presentations.