Basic and Translational Cellular Metabolism in Immunity

Historically, immunity and metabolism were considered separate and largely tangential disciplines. In the past several years, however, this paradigm has been shattered with the realization that cellular bioenergetics serves as both a sensor and fundamental effector of the immune response. Metabolic programming of immune cells is now thought to underlie many disease states, including autoimmunity, cancer, allergy, infectious disease, atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative disease, obesity, and diabetes. Interventions upon metabolism in immunologic disease are thus being actively explored. Despite recent advances, it is increasingly recognized that our understanding of the metabolic wiring of immune cells is still primitive. Moreover, research findings have already begun to be sequestered within subfields of immunology, and communications between academia and industry have been limited. To support this critical juncture in the young field of ‘immunometabolism,’ we are assembling international experts from academia and industry on the role of cellular metabolism in the programming of myeloid and lymphoid immune cells in immunity and disease. The conference will address emerging methods, findings, and paradigms. Molecular, cellular, animal, and human data will be presented, aiming to galvanize steps forward in the mechanistic understanding of how cellular metabolism programs immune responses, and how these insights may be therapeutically targeted. We expect to foment productive, high-level discussions and new collaborations, and to create a nurturing and supportive environment for early-career investigators and trainees who represent the next generation of scientists in this critical cross-disciplinary field.