mAbs’s communication networks

Abstract

Since its start in 2009, mAbs has actively contributed to the communication networks among our readers. One way we achieve this is by publishing highly detailed reports of numerous meetings, conferences, summits, forums and congresses focused on antibody research and development (R&D) that are held in the US and Europe. The meetings serve critical informational and educational functions and are valuable networking opportunities, and mAbs is pleased to serve the antibody community by providing published records of the proceedings. PDFs of the meeting reports are generously made open access by the publisher of mAbs.

Since its start in 2009, mAbs has actively contributed to the communication networks among our readers. One way we achieve this is by publishing highly detailed reports of numerous meetings, conferences, summits, forums and congresses focused on antibody research and development (R&D) that are held in the US and Europe. The meetings serve critical informational and educational functions and are valuable networking opportunities, and mAbs is pleased to serve the antibody community by providing published records of the proceedings. PDFs of the meeting reports are generously made open access by the publisher of mAbs.

In 2011, mAbs published reports of meetings held in Geneva,1 San Diego,2 Freiburg,3 Frankfurt4 and Tours.5 Presentations at the meetings covered many aspects of antibody R&D, including engineering and design; selection strategies; antibody-drug conjugates and bispecific antibodies; and preclinical, clinical and regulatory issues associated with the development of antibody therapeutics for cancer, immunological disorders, infectious disease, as well as other indications. We continued the tradition in the January/February 2012 issue by publishing a report on the World Bispecific Antibody Summit held in Boston.6

In this issue, we feature reports of the 7th Annual European Antibody Congress (EAC) 2011 held in Geneva7 and IBC's 22nd Annual Antibody Engineering and 9th Annual Antibody Therapeutics (AE/AT) International Conferences and 2011 Annual Meeting of the Antibody Society held in San Diego.8 In total, these two meetings were attended by over 1,000 participants who were updated on the latest news in antibody R&D by ∼130 speakers based in university, government and company laboratories located world-wide. An important aspect of both meetings was the emphasis on networking breaks, lunches and evening receptions where old colleagues could meet and new contacts could be made.

As is the case with all meetings, the success of the annual EAC and AE/AT conferences is a direct result of the efforts not only of splendid conference organizers (Terrapinn and IBC Life Sciences, respectively), but also dedicated groups of advisors. Alain Beck (Pierre Fabre), who kindly serves as mAbs Associate Editor; Paul Parren (Genmab) and Clive Wood (Bayer Healthcare), who serve on the editorial board of mAbs; and Robert Lutz (ImmunoGen) are substantial contributors to the organization and success of the European Antibody Congress. Richard Begent (University College London), Andrew Bradbury (Los Alamos National Laboratories), Dennis Burton (The Scripps Research Institute), James Huston (Boston Biomedical Research Institute, Huston BioConsulting), James Marks (University of California, San Francisco), Andreas Plückthun, (University of Zürich), Jamie Scott (Simon Fraser University) and Louis Weiner (Georgetown University), who serve on the board of directors of The Antibody Society and the editorial board of mAbs, have coordinated sessions at the AE/AT conference for many years. Themes common to the meetings include science and medicine, but also dedication to the antibody field, passion for the development of antibody-based and alternative scaffold therapeutics, and active involvement, which forges bonds and facilitates networking.

In 2012, mAbs looks forward to continuing our tradition of contributing to the antibody community's communication network by participating in meetings and publishing conference proceedings. Please consult the list published in the Editor's Corner of each issue of mAbs for dates and locations of meetings to be held in the next 4–6 months. We hope to see you at an upcoming meeting!