Project Summary/Abstract
Immunoengineering is a vibrant, emerging field that improves human health by enabling the analysis,
manipulation, and engineering of the immune system. Grounded in fundamental immunology discoveries, the
integration of principles from engineering and the physical sciences into immunological research has accelerated
in the last decade. However, the immunoengineering community until recently did not have a flagship conference
that brings together all of its constituencies. Workshops held at individual universities and symposia within larger
conferences have been well attended, but an internationally accessible conference that supports networking
between generations of researchers and across fields has been missing. Such a conference is needed to bring
together leaders, new investigators, and trainees from different disciplines for the first time, to advance both
translational and fundamental science and to provide a focal point for collaborative relationships, career guidance,
and mentoring of trainees in this field. Therefore, this proposal requests partial support for the second
international meeting on Immunoengineering as part of the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and Gordon
Research Seminar (GRS) series, to be held in Lucca, Italy February 10-11 (GRS) & 11 – 16 (GRC), 2024. The
specific aims of the conference are (i) to increase knowledge in immunoengineering at two levels – basic as
well as translational immunotherapy and immunology – by promoting engagement between investigators from
different disciplines, (ii) to advance the careers of new investigators and trainees in field of Immunoengineering
by showcasing their work and facilitating networking with senior investigators and peer mentors, and (iii) to
enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion among new investigators and trainees in Immunoengineering via strong
representation at the meeting. The GRC program will have a keynote address and nine sessions that broadly
address pressing health challenges where immunoengineering is making substantial headway in or already has
had translational impact, including cancer, pathogens, aging, neuroimmunology and autoimmunity, and
regenerative medicine. It will also highlight engineered immune cell therapies, molecularly engineered
immunotherapies, biomaterials for vaccines and immunomodulation, systems and computational immunology,
in vitro models of immunity, and micro-technologies to assess immune cell function. Each session will feature 1-
2 Short Talks selected from abstracts to highlight work by early stage investigators, as well as poster sessions
and an innovative lunch-based networking strategy. The Chairs of the GRC will implement strategies to increase
participation of woman and historically underrepresented minorities by setting aside specific funding for such
individuals, targeted advertising, and ensuring that they are well represented in the Short Talks. Thus, the 2024
Immunoengineering GRC and GRS will set the stage for the advancement of knowledge and translation in
Immunoengineering by promoting engagement and long-term relationships across fields, while supporting a
diverse base of young investigators to ensure its future strength.