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New Developments

SMI leaders were recently featured in the Wall Street Journal: Click here to read now!

Letter from the President:

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great honor that I assumed the role of president of the Society for Mucosal Immunology from 2009-2011. Mucosal immunology has always had much to offer the discipline of immunology in general because the mucosal surfaces are the site of the greatest antigenic exposure and where appropriate recognition and regulation is critical. It is therefore extremely gratifying to see many more papers on mucosal immunology appearing in the top journals.

My primary goals as President are to continue the momentum set in motion by Past-President Rick Blumberg by retaining and expanding the 700-plus membership, maintaining the success of the flagship journal, Mucosal Immunology, and leading the development of a scientific program for the 15th International Congress of Mucosal Immunology (ICMI 2011), July 5-9, 2011 in Paris, France, that will attract as many or more than the 800 scientists who attended ICMI 2009 this past July in Boston. Please note the following important dates for ICMI 2011:

December 2010: Abstracts, Housing & Registration Open
January 2011: Abstracts Close
February 2011: Abstract Notification
March 2011: Exhibitor Deadline
May 2011: Advance Registration Deadline 

Additionally I wish to give SMI an international voice by holding SMI-sponsored sessions at major national and international meetings, continuing to raise the profile of the subspeciality, and increasing membership. These goals can only accompanied with the cooperation and collaboration of fellow mucosal immunologists like you.

From my interactions with the many young investigators who attended ICMI 2009 last summer, it was evident that mucosal immunology is seen as a very exciting area in which to develop a productive research career. If I have a single goal for my presidency it is for membership of the society to exceed the 1000 mark. This level of membership will provide enough income to allow the society to sponsor more meetings and collaborative ventures for the membership. I hope we all agree this is an attainable target and look forward to working with you to achieve it.

Best regards,
Thomas T. MacDonald
President, Society for Mucosal Immunology