British Society for Immunology
Encyclopedia
The British Society for Immunology, or BSI, is a UK based organisation of British immunologists
but accepts members from all countries. It was founded in 1956 and is one of the oldest and largest Immunology societies in the world and the largest in Europe. It publishes two scientific journals: Immunology and Clinical and Experimental Immunology.
BSI members work throughout the entire Immunology
chain, stretching from the laboratory bench right through to the clinics and hospitals in which patients are treated - from discovery to delivery. The fields in which they work are wide and extensive, from HIV
/AIDS
to allergy
, diabetes, malaria
, tuberculosis
, animal health
, arthritis
, transplantation, vaccination
and infectious disease
.
The BSI’s main objective is to promote and support excellence in research, scholarship and clinical practice in immunology
for the benefit of human and animal health
and welfare. The BSI seeks to help British Immunology accomplish the highest possible goals.
To meet this objective, the BSI undertakes the following:
The current General Secretary is Professor David Gray (University of Edinburgh
)
The Board of Trustees is composed of: Dr Lindsay Nicholson, Dr David Morgan (both University of Bristol
), Professor Robert Barker (University of Aberdeen
), Professor Arne Akbar (University College London
), Professor Tracy Hussell (Imperial College London
), Dr Stephen Jolles (Cardiff University
), Professor Adrian Hayday (King's College London
) and Professor Paul Lehner (University of Cambridge
)
Immunology
Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the...
but accepts members from all countries. It was founded in 1956 and is one of the oldest and largest Immunology societies in the world and the largest in Europe. It publishes two scientific journals: Immunology and Clinical and Experimental Immunology.
BSI members work throughout the entire Immunology
Immunology
Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the...
chain, stretching from the laboratory bench right through to the clinics and hospitals in which patients are treated - from discovery to delivery. The fields in which they work are wide and extensive, from HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
to allergy
Allergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
, diabetes, malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, animal health
Animal Health
Animal Health is the UK government's executive agency primarily responsible for ensuring that farmed animals in Great Britain are healthy, disease-free and well looked after....
, arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
, transplantation, vaccination
Vaccination
Vaccination is the administration of antigenic material to stimulate the immune system of an individual to develop adaptive immunity to a disease. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by many pathogens...
and infectious disease
Infectious disease
Infectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, contagious diseases or transmissible diseases comprise clinically evident illness resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism...
.
The BSI’s main objective is to promote and support excellence in research, scholarship and clinical practice in immunology
Immunology
Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the...
for the benefit of human and animal health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
and welfare. The BSI seeks to help British Immunology accomplish the highest possible goals.
To meet this objective, the BSI undertakes the following:
- Running innovative events in research, public engagement and education
- Promoting and disseminating research and good practice in Immunology, translational medicine and vaccination
- Working with its members to develop the benefits of membership and the relevance of the Society
- Providing bursaries and grants
- Enhancing public awareness of immunology
- Influencing policy and decision makers
- Working with other societies
The current General Secretary is Professor David Gray (University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
)
The Board of Trustees is composed of: Dr Lindsay Nicholson, Dr David Morgan (both University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
), Professor Robert Barker (University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
), Professor Arne Akbar (University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
), Professor Tracy Hussell (Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
), Dr Stephen Jolles (Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
), Professor Adrian Hayday (King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
) and Professor Paul Lehner (University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
)