The Search for Mast Cell and Basophil Models – Are We Getting Closer to Pathophysiological Relevance?
January 20-22, 2014
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
The COST Action BM1007 Mast Cells and Basophils – Targets for Innovative Therapies Training School on “The Search for Mast Cell and Basophil Models – Are We Getting Closer to Pathophysiological Relevance?” will take place in Jerusalem at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Edmond J. Safra Campus. Participants should plan their travel to arrive on Sunday, January 19, 2014.
Goal:
The goal of the course is to perform with the students an unbiased screening of the literature on mast cells and basophils and address the question of pathophysiological relevance and limitations of the different available in vitro and in vivo models. Currently, various groups are using different models regarding the “most physiologically relevant”. Is there a basis for their claims?
The training school will deal with this dilemma and try to come up with an answer that should contribute to the general goals of our COST mission. To this end summaries will be submitted by each of the participating groups, following their unbiased reviews of the literature and discussions. The summaries will serve as a basis for a review article that will provide a comprehensive overview of the current mast cell and basophil models, their advantages, drawbacks and physiological relevance will be presented. The training school will aim to summarize current data and present the limitations of different models and attempt to assign appropriate models to the biological question that is being addressed.
Format:
The school is limited to 20 students, who will work in groups of 4-5 members. Experts in the field will provide introductory lectures. Each group will submit a written summary of the papers that were discussed by the group, and the conclusions drawn.
Requirements:
Basic knowledge of molecular biology, cell biology and immunology.
Finances:
Participation in this Training School will be funded by individual stipends from COST Action BM1007 to a maximum of 850 € to cover travel, accommodations and living expenses in accordance with the COST Action travel reimbursement guidelines.
Target Group:
The Training School is primarily intended for Early Stage Researchers (graduate students, Post-Docs) working on mast cells and basophils and from countries participating in COST Action BM1007.
Application:
Please submit your application by e-mail to both Francesca Levi-Schaffer (francescal@ekmd.huji.ac.il) and Ronit Sagi-Eisenberg (histol3@post.tau.ac.il) by December 8, 2013.
Your application should include:
- Short description of your research project. Indicate the mast cell or basophil models that you are using in your lab. (max. 1 page)
- CV
- Letter of support from your supervisor. Letter should state why supervisor feels the student or postdoc should participate.
Please combine the requested information into a single pdf file and save it with the file titled “Application – Your Name”.
Your application will then consist of a short e-mail with a single pdf file attached.
Upon notification of acceptance to the course, each participant is required to send 3 papers (not review articles) published from 2009-2013 and describing the use of a specific mast cell model or comparison of several models.