Welcome

Inflammation: A friend and a foe

The immune system has been considered for decades as the body’s defense mechanism against invading microorganisms. Over the years, it has become clear that the immune response also has a pivotal role under sterile conditions in supporting tissue healing following injury, in normal development and in many other aspects of normal and pathological homeostasis. It has been further demonstrated that the immune system plays additional roles in tissue maintenance, by fighting against internal enemies including those that emerge during aging leading to cancer or degeneration. It is likely that many more such roles are yet to be discovered. With advances in immunology, and with increased appreciation of immunological heterogeneity, depending on the timing and location of the response, it is evident that while inflammation is the foe of most tissues, a well controlled immune response provides the body with defense mechanisms against cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic diseases and aging.

As paradigms describing the basic principles guiding the interactions of immune cells with various tissues are formulated, it is becoming clear that there are both unifying and unique concepts and themes.  The Inflammation Beyond Infection annual forum is designed to bring together scientists from different disciplines to enable cross-fertilization and discussion on the role of inflammation in homeostasis and disease. The speakers of this year's seminar will discuss different aspects of the inflammatory repertoire, including the role of inflammation in aging, its promoting role in cancer, the control of organismal metabolism in health and disease and basic principles guiding the inflammatory response. A new feature of this year's seminar is highlighting a new emerging concept: the diversity of neutrophil function, to be discussed by two young researchers and discussed in detail with the audience.

We look forward to a stimulating day and hope that you'll be able to participate, learn and contribute to the lively discussion that will follow each lecture.

Organizing Committee:
Michal Schwartz
Adit Ben-Baruch
Eli Pikarsky

Conference Coordinator:
Judith Gan