With this posting, allow me to introduce a new initiative of the
European Union (EU), scheduled to start at the beginning of April 1994,
called EUCAMBIS (= EU Concerted Action on the Molecular Biology of
Immunosenescence), of which I am the coordinator. This is one of a large
series of EU concerted actions covering many areas of biomedical science.
The concept of the concerted action is simply that it should be a
mechanism to facilitate the collaboration of different groups (in Europe)
on particular areas of research. In our case, we are concentrating on
immunosenescence of the T cell, employing an interdisciplinary approach
to define genetic events correlating with altered immune functioning
in aged individuals. This research network will bring together molecular
biologists, gerontologists and immunologists to study T cell function
in healthy aged people, patients with progeroid syndromes and other
genetic diseases known or suspected to manifest accelerated senescence
phenotypes, and to compare these with events occuring in vitro in a long-
term culture model of T cell ageing. The expression of growth arrest-
specific genes, known tumor-suppressor genes and cell cycle control genes
will be investigated in these materials and correlated to cellular
immunological function of the cells. We will attempt to isolate novel
genes that are upregulated during ageing and to identify senescence-
inducing genes or those that contribute actively to the senescent phenotype.
Molecular data will be correlated with alterations of function assesssed
by cytokine gene transcription and protein secretion, development of
cytotoxicity or suppressor capacity. The relationship, if any, between
senescence programs and those involved in the special type of T cell
growth arrest designated "anergy" will be investigated.
Obviously, such a project covers a multitude of sins, and we expect to
have to play it by ear. I am particularly keen to hear from non-European
scientists interested in any of these areas (but also of course,
European workers as well) to start a dialogue on these aspects of
immunogerontological research. In an attempt to broaden potential
collaboration from its purely European (and small!) base, I am particularly
interested to hear from any non-European scientists who might like to
work with us for a year or so in Tuebingen (small medieval south-west German
University city near Lake Constance, the Alps and the Black Forrest)
on this project. We would have to obtain dedicated funding for these persons,
but clearly I would assist in the preparation of any applications for funding
fellowships, stipendia etc.
Please feel free to contact me on the any of the above points, or to
request further information on any particular component.
With best regards to all readers of this notice,
Graham
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# Graham Pawelec, #
# Second Department of Internal Medicine, #
# University of Tuebingen Medical School, #
# D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany; #
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# Coordinator, European Union Concerted #
# Action on the Molecular Biology of #
# Immunosenescence, EUCAMBIS. #
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# e-mail INTERNET: pawelec at mailserv.zdv.uni-tuebingen.de #
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# Phone: +49-7071-29-2805 #
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# FAX: +49-7071-29-4464 #
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