B Cells: New Insights into Normal versus Dysregulated Function Organizer(s): David J. Rawlings, Frances E. Lund, Stuart G. Tangye and John G. Monroe Date: April 12 - 17, 2011 Location: Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Whistler, BC, CanadaB lymphocytes play crucial roles in host defense against infection via a series of highly coordinated processes that include cell homing, antigen recognition, antibody secretion, antigen presentation, and/or cytokine release. To accomplish these myriad functions, B cells must maneuver through a complex series of primary and secondary developmental, homoeostatic, and activation-triggered checkpoints. These checkpoints dictate stochastic and molecularly directed events dependent upon local micro-environments, cell-cell interactions, and interactions with pathogenic or non-pathogenic organisms. Early events in this developmental cascade promote the generation of a diverse B cell antigen receptor repertoire that is essential for both survival and entry into downstream effector populations. In parallel, this repertoire is tested for self-reactivity at multiple steps leading to either loss or expansion of specific clones. Dysregulation of these complex processes can lead, alternatively, to immunodeficiency, autoimmune, or malignant disease. The overall goal of this meeting is to highlight recent studies of normal versus abnormal B cell development and function with an emphasis whenever possible on data using human models. Scholarship Deadline: December 13 2010 Discounted Abstract Deadline: December 13 2010 Abstract Deadline: January 18 2011 Discounted Registration Deadline: February 11 2011 We gratefully acknowledge additional support for this conference from:  We gratefully acknowledge additional in-kind support for this conference from those foregoing speaker expense reimbursements:
Genentech, Inc.
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