Science, Mentorship, and 80 Years of Discovery: Richard A. Flavell Symposium

This scientific symposium is convened to honor Dr. Richard Flavell’s extraordinary contributions to the life sciences. The program will bring together former and current trainees and esteemed colleagues to celebrate Richard’s transformative impact on scientific progress spanning multiple decades and his mentorship of multiple generations of molecular biologists and immunologists. We seek to reflect on the evolution of the scientific fields Richard has helped to shape and engage in forward-looking discussions on immunological and molecular research, by featuring dynamic presentations from leading experts in molecular biology fundamentals, genetic and metabolic regulation, microbiome and mucosal immunology, infection biology, cell fate, systems immunology, cancer immunity, and humanized mouse models.

Professor Richard Flavell started his career in molecular biology. He was the first to perform reverse genetics in the early 1970s and was a co-discoverer of introns in eukaryotic genes in the late 1970s. Since 1980, his laboratory has used reverse genetics to study innate and adaptive immunity, T cell tolerance, apoptosis and autoimmunity, and the regulation of T cell differentiation. Professor Flavell’s focus has been on genetic approaches in mice, beginning with some of the very first Immunology transgenesis experiments. A major focus of the laboratory for the last 25 years are the inflammasomes, NLR family of innate sensors and their role in mucosal immunity and tissue biology, anti-infective responses, and inflammatory disease. A prevailing theme of his work has been the mechanisms of autoimmune disease. To study human autoimmune diseases in mice, since 2015 his lab has been developing an entirely novel humanized mouse model capable of supporting a human immune system. This mouse strain has been re-engineered via a human/mouse homolog gene replacement strategy to provide 6 human factors that are expressed physiologically, enabling generation of a humanized adaptive and innate immune system. Compared to other existing humanized mouse models, these mice, named MISTRG, have a functional adaptive immune system and a more comprehensive innate immune system. These mice have been successfully used to model several aspects of human diseases (infections, cancer, fibrosis, and hematopoiesis to name a few). Another focus has been the advancement of single cell genomics to identify high values targets for future study with the goal of advancing translational therapies. Richard has published more than 1200 papers in peer reviewed journals, his H-index is 286, and he is the top cited immunologist in the USA and second most cited immunologist in the world.

Below is a link to book hotel rooms at the Omni Hotel for the Flavell Symposium from September 17-19th (the Symposium itself will be taking place 18-19th, and the Omni has confirmed they will be able to hold luggage after checkout on 9/19 as needed).

I am also providing the name and contact information for our contact at the Omni- if you have any issues accessing the link, she will be happy to help you.

https://bookings.omnihotels.com/event/new-haven-yale/richard-flavell-80th-symposium-room-bloc

Contact at the Omni Hotel: Ashley Tucker/ Maura Schmaling, Convention Services Manager
Direct: 203.974.6727
ashley.tucker@omnihotels.com
Maura.Schmaling@omnihotels.com

We have additionally reserved a block of rooms at the New Haven Hotel for the same nights, with the same arrangement to hold bags on the 19th if needed. The link to book here instead is listed below, as well as the email of our contact there, Victoria.

New Haven Hotel - Reservations - Scientific Symposium 25.

Alternately, you can make your reservations over the phone at 203-498-3140 using the code: SCISYMP25

Contact: sales@newhavenhotel.com

There are several other options in the New Haven area, who we do not have contracts with, including:

• The Blake Hotel- https://theblakenewhaven.com/new-haven-hotels-the-blake/
• The Study at Yale- https://www.thestudyatyale.com/
• Hotel Marcel New Haven- https://www.hotelmarcel.com/
• Graduate by Hilton New Haven-https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/hvngngu-graduate-new-haven/
• Cambria Hotel New Haven-https://www.choicehotels.com/connecticut/new-haven/cambria-hotels/ct181