The Henry Kunkel Society was founded in 1990 with the goal of bringing together researchers with a strong interest in both immunology research and clinical aspects of immune-system mediated diseases. The Society is named for Henry G. Kunkel, M.D., who was a physician and professor at Rockefeller University in New York. Dr. Kunkel's illustrious scientific life was distinguished by the ability to delineate principles of fundamental human biology through meticulous study of patients with a variety of disorders of the immune system. His ability to bring the study of the patient into the laboratory resulted in fundamental insights into the nature of the immune system and diseases characterized by autoimmunity, immunodeficiency and malignant proliferation of the elements of the immune system. Several generations of physician scientists who worked in his Rockefeller laboratory were influenced by Dr. Kunkel's unique mentorship style and disseminated his research approach to institutions throughout the United States and Europe.

An annual meeting of the Henry Kunkel Society is the core activity of the Society, with the aim of presentation and discussion of current research relevant to the pathogenesis and therapy of human disease, and with a particular focus on diseases mediated by the immune system. The meeting is preceded by the presentation of the Henry Kunkel Lecture, delivered by a distinguished investigator. Every third year the annual meeting is held at an international location and is open to all investigators whose research interests coincide with the mission of the Kunkel Society. Previous international meetings were held in Oslo, Grenada and Cambridge. The next international meeting will take place in Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy and is entitled, "Autoimmunity, inflammation and lymphoproliferative diseases". The Kunkel Lecture will be presented by Dr. John Atkinson, who will speak on "Lessons from innate immunity interacting with altered self". As is the case for all Kunkel Society meetings, the meeting format will feature invited lectures as well as presentations selected from submitted abstracts. The emphasis is on "bench to bedside" and "bedside to bench" research. The discussion will span the most relevant current research addressing genetics and immunopathogenesis of autoimmune, inflammatory and lymphoproliferative diseases and will extend to the newest advances in the treatment of those diseases. Discussion among investigators from basic immunology and clinical research fields will suggest new concepts in disease mechanisms as well as novel therapeutic strategies.

Invited speakers have been selected by a Program Committee and will include Kunkel Society members and non-members. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit abstracts from which additional oral and poster presentations will be selected.