We were also honored to host Dr. Dorina Avram, a former UF faculty member from the Moffitt Cancer Center, whose presentation on “Control of CD8+ T Cell Effector and Stemness Programs in Response to Infection and Tumor” offered invaluable perspectives on immune responses in complex disease settings.
Further enriching our symposium were presentations by members and colleagues in the UF College of Medicine. Dr. Christian Jobin presented on “Drilling Down into the Human Fecal Ecosystem to Identify Bacterial-Derived Small Molecules with Immunotherapy Adjuvant Properties in Cancer.” Dr. Stephanie Karst (also from the College of Medicine) presented on “Microbial and Maternal Regulation of Bile Acid Metabolism Determines Neonatal Susceptibility to Norovirus Disease.”
Dear CIMI Members,
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each of you who contributed to the resounding success of the 2024 Mini-Symposium. Your presence and engagement are the building blocks of our community, reflecting a shared dedication to advancing the field of immunology.
This year’s symposium brought together over 70 esteemed immunologists, including distinguished UF faculty, guest speakers, and budding research trainees. Among the highlights was the keynote presentation delivered by Dr. Greg Sonnenberg from Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Sonnenberg’s presentation, titled “Innate Immune Determinants of Intestinal Physiology,” unveiled groundbreaking insights that promise to reshape our understanding of immunological mechanisms.
In recognition of his invaluable contribution, Dr. Liang Zhou, the director of our center, presented Dr. Sonnenberg with a well-deserved award, commemorating his exceptional scholarship and impactful presence at the event.
From the College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Julie Moore presented her talk on “Longitudinal Analysis of the Infant Gut Microbiota Reveals Early Life Predictors of Malaria Susceptibility.”
Also from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Bikash Sahay and Dr. Eric Helm provided engaging short talks on mucosal immunity.
We extend our sincere appreciation to our esteemed speakers for sharing their expertise and to all attendees for their active participation and thoughtful contributions. Our members’ commitment to excellence and innovation forms the foundation for the center, and your contributions help keep the center alive and able to host such engaging networking experiences for immunologists.
Together, we are propelling CIMI forward on its mission to unravel the complexities of inflammation and mucosal immunology, paving the way for transformative advancements in the field.
Thank you for your unwavering support, and we look forward to continuing to build the center up as a pillar for the immunology community.