LAUSR

Firstly, and somewhat belatedly, the best wishes from EFIS for a 2017 full of success and gratification! I wanted to share these few thoughts with the EJI readership to relay what EFIS is all about and what it is striving to do to nurture and enhance the European immunology community. It’s clear that we and I’m speaking here of EFIS and the more than 14,000 individual scientists of its affiliated Societies are a diverse group, comprising students, postdocs, and eminent investigators of experimental science, as well as practicing clinicians in rheumatology, dermatology, gastroenterology, neurology, etc.. But it is a community that is united by a common goal: to discern the mechanisms regulated by the immune system that govern diseases, that prospect cures for those diseases, and that guarantee better health to all. Immunology is arguably the most flourishing of medical sciences, and is assuming an exponentially relevant role in the understanding of the underlying causes of diseases and in the daily clinical care of patients. To fulfill its ultimate promise, however, transnational and interdisciplinary collaborations must continue to expand and be fostered. And EFIS aims to be a part of this process. EFIS is proud of its longstanding mission to support education and research in immunology, and has always done its part to promote crosstalk and dialogue, by endorsing high-caliber immunologythemed events and participating towards the attendance of junior researchers at major international events (the ECIs and the ICIs): over the past two years, EFIS funding has thanks to the EJI contributed to the organization of more than 45 meetings and schools, and has facilitated more than 275 participants at the ECI 2015 and ICI 2016 [1, 2]. Although resources are limited, EFIS wants to share in this venture, and welcomes innovative applications for support from everyone. EFIS is also intent on enhancing relations with its affiliated Societies, and has thus launched the “EFIS on Tour Symposium” [3]. First held in Budapest, then in Athens, scheduled for Lisbon in March, and slotted for October in Croatia, this initiative seeks to engage and sometimes challenge Member Societies, by organizing stimulating scientific events featuring eminent representatives of host Societies and the EFIS Board. We see this as a key to understanding the strengths and the needs of our Members, and warmly invite our Societies to come forward and to propose an “EFIS on Tour Symposium” in their country. EFIS also intends to collaborate to a greater extent with the European immunology community by sponsoring international Study Groups in niche areas of immunological science, in the attempt to better coalesce similar initiatives already underway amongst our Members. And, as always, EFIS welcomes the opportunity to participate in contemporary debates and causes raised by its Members: for instance, EFIS has endorsed the position of the Spanish Society to safeguard immunology as a key element in the Spanish university medical curriculum [4], and also more recently actively embraced the British Society’s appeal against Brexit [5, 6]. It’s all about community building, and we look forward to receiving input and feedback from European immunologists about what needs should be addressed and what can be done to better orient future initiatives. Indeed, this is the premise underlying the decision by EFIS to conduct a Europe-wide survey to map our community and define the landscape, to learn about and ultimately contribute to enhancing immunology education and research across the continent. Lest it go unacknowledged, however, all of these efforts would not be possible were it not for the generous collaboration of EFIS’ Official Journals, one of which, of course, is the European Journal of Immunology (EJI). Thanks to the EJI, EFIS has been in the position to allocate more than three-quarters of a million Euros in funding to the European immunology community over the past three years in pursuit of its goals. But ensuring this commitment requires a reciprocal effort from EFIS Societies to actively stimulate their members to consider the EJI for the submission of their manuscripts and to cite the Journal in their articles regardless of where they publish. It’s my sincere hope that everyone reading this message will take up the challenge.