If you only attend one conference this year… here’s why it should be Cytokines-2025!
Just Right
Ever since I attended my first Cytokines conference (Amsterdam, 2000), this meeting has been THE event on my scientific calendar. I admit to being a little biased, but I think Cytokines conferences are perfect on a lot of levels. First, these meetings are just the right size – big enough to cover all the topics important to our community, but yet small enough to not feel lost or overwhelmed. Big name speakers abound (two Nobel Laureate keynote speakers this year), who are not only amazing scientists, but are easy to approach in the friendly atmosphere. We also feature lots of posters and short talks by people at all career stages. And there are plenty of opportunities to meet peers from all sectors of the cytokine research world in a safe and supportive setting.
Moreover, and perhaps most importantly, the Cytokine Society fosters a palpable sense of community in a collegial environment. Especially in these challenging times, the value of engaging with our colleagues and friends face-to-face cannot be underestimated. Whether it is connecting with someone in academia who might be looking to collaborate, someone in industry who might be interesting in hiring you or supporting your project for translation, or someone in publishing who can advise you on how to prepare your story for publication – we all come together at Cytokines meetings.
Cytokines 2025 will not disappoint
One of the highlights of our annual meeting is doubtlessly the Early Career Researcher (ECR) Networking event. This year the event will be on Monday evening organized by our new ECR Committee co-chairs Dr. Rami Bechara (University of Paris-Saclay, INSERM) and Dr. Kevin Lee (Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne). Held early in the meeting in a casual reception format, this is an unmatched opportunity for trainees and early career PIs to find new collaborators, new connections, and often new friends.
We will have lots of travel awards and prizes that celebrate achievements across career stages – and we have great people to celebrate with. COME JOIN US IN SEATTLE, November 2-5, 2025.
Co-chairs Michael Gale, Jr and Ram Savan, have assembled a fantastic program which includes not only Nobel Laureates Charlie Rice and David Baker as keynote speakers, but also a diverse array of invited speakers that truly embody this year’s them of Cytokine Cross-Talk and all that implies. In addition to the exciting program, they are planning great networking and an exciting gala dinner celebrating the urban sophistication mixed with outdoors-y charm of the self-described Emerald City that is Seattle.
Finally, while acknowledging that challenges abound, with serious uncertainties in research funding among other troubling signs, we at the Cytokine Society remain hopeful that, if we help each other and remain strong, we can navigate whatever rough weather lies ahead (cytokine storms or otherwise).
Sincerely,
Sarah L. Gaffen, Ph.D.
President, International Cytokine & Interferon Society (ICIS)