Immunologists Fight for Health together

HIV, influenza, allergies, rheumatism, cancer are all diseases caused by failures of the immune system, which usually protects the body from infection and malignancies.  Understanding the immune system is key to developing adequate therapies for these common diseases.

Vaccination, one of the greatest achievements in medical science is a wonderful example of successful manipulation of the immune response. Several infectious diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and polio are no longer a threat in Europe because of the successful development and uptake of vaccines.

Despite these immunological successes and the role of Immunology in other scientific and medical disciplines, its importance is frequently under estimated. Therefore immunologists are launching a campaign to promote awareness of immunology amongst decision makers from science and politics as well as the interested public all over Europe.

To this end, the European Federation of Immunological Societies, an umbrella organisation for 28 member societies with more than 17,000 members, has initiated the Day of Immunology on April 29^th, 2005.