Lymphocyte Kinetics in Health and Disease: a workshop
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Div of Investigative Science
Abstract
Immune cell dynamics are a crucial determinant of human health. The correct balance between immune cell proliferation and death guarantees a functioning immune system that contains cells of sufficient range and quantity to be able to recognize and destroy all pathogens. Dysregulation of the dynamic balance underpins many pathologies including AIDS (immune cell depletion) and leukemia (aberrant immune cell growth). Understanding immune cell dynamics is therefore a prerequisite for understanding the human immune system both in health and disease.In the last 10 years significant advances in experimental techniques and in the mathematics needed to interpret these experiments have enabled the measurement of immune cell dynamics in humans. However, different mathematical and experimental techniques can give significantly different answers. To date, there is no consensus on which techniques should be used. Modelling of immune cell dynamics is an intrinsically interdisciplinary subject. There is currently no forum to discuss the modeling of immune cell dynamics and so mathematicians and experimentalists attend their single subject-specific conferences and have little opportunity to meet. The aim of this two day interdisciplinary workshop is to bring together mathematicians and immunologists who are experts in immune cell dynamics with a view to exchange ideas, disseminate knowledge, initiate collaborations and ultimately to reach a consensus on the optimal mathematical and experimental techniques.
Organisations
- Imperial College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (Collaboration)
- University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC) (Collaboration)
- Sapienza University of Rome (Collaboration)
- ST GEORGE'S UNIVERSITY OF LONDON (Collaboration)
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (Collaboration)
- Utrecht University (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- National Institute for Health Research (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS (Collaboration)
- St George's, University of London (Project Partner)
- University College London (Project Partner)
- University Medical Center Utrecht (Project Partner)
Publications
Asquith
(2009)
Modelling Lymphocyte dynamics
Asquith B
(2009)
Lymphocyte kinetics in health and disease.
in Trends in immunology
N/a Asquith
(2009)
Lymphocyte kinetics in health and disease
in Trends in Immunology
Laydon DJ
(2014)
Quantification of HTLV-1 clonality and TCR diversity.
in PLoS computational biology
| Description | We received £3,453 to cover costs for international speakers at a two day workshop we organised entitled "Lymphocyte Kinetics in Health and Disease". The workshop was held in London 2008. The two day interdisciplinary workshop provided a unique forum where both mathematicians and experimentalists could discuss the modeling of immune cell dynamics. This enabled experts in immune cell dynamics to exchange ideas, disseminate knowledge, initiate collaborations and move towards a consensus on the optimal mathematical and experimental techniques. 120 people participated in the workshop which was fully subscribed. Participants originated from around the world and had a broad range of backgrounds with a roughly 60:40 split between theorists/ mathematicians and experimentalists; both industry and academia were well represented. |
| Exploitation Route | An innovative, vigorous science base is essential for the prosperity of the UK and global economies. Interdisciplinary work produces some of the most novel, most exciting science: it invigorates the science base and produces the next generation of scientists, techniques and innovations. This workshop helped to build the interdisciplinary science sector in the UK. * Participants reported a number of collaborations and grant applications arising as a direct result of the workshop * A paper, written by the scientific organisers, discussing the key topics presented has been published in Trends in Immunology * We were invited to contribute a book chapter on the subject of lymphocyte dynamics. * Both informal and formal feedback about the event was very positive. |
| Sectors | Education,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust |
| Organisation | Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | St George's University of London |
| Organisation | St George's University of London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | University Medical Centre |
| Organisation | University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC) |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | University of Utrecht |
| Organisation | Utrecht University |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | collaboration |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | 2) An international collaboration to investigate models of T lymphocyte recirculation, was established at the workshop. It involves the University of Rome and the National Institute of Health, USA. Further meetings on the subject of modelling T lymphocytes have taken place in late 2008, and a grant proposal is currently being constructed. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | collaboration |
| Organisation | Sapienza University of Rome |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 2) An international collaboration to investigate models of T lymphocyte recirculation, was established at the workshop. It involves the University of Rome and the National Institute of Health, USA. Further meetings on the subject of modelling T lymphocytes have taken place in late 2008, and a grant proposal is currently being constructed. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | collaboration |
| Organisation | St George's University of London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) A collaboration, set up during the workshop, has discussed reconciling the different results obtained from labelling techniques. A publication is in preparation. This international collaboration involved St Georges, University of London, Imperial College London, and University of Utrecht. |
| Description | collaboration |
| Organisation | Utrecht University |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | 1) A collaboration, set up during the workshop, has discussed reconciling the different results obtained from labelling techniques. A publication is in preparation. This international collaboration involved St Georges, University of London, Imperial College London, and University of Utrecht. |
| Description | collaboration (3) |
| Organisation | Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | A collaboration, originating in the workshop, resulted in an exchange of data and techniques between colleagues from Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and the University of Leeds. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | collaboration (3) |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | A collaboration, originating in the workshop, resulted in an exchange of data and techniques between colleagues from Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and the University of Leeds. |
| Start Year | 2009 |