Welcome Address

Welcome to our meeting on “Signaling in Cell Death, Cancer and the Immune System”.

Signaling transduction is a fundamental process in Cell Biology. It is responsible for transmitting the information found in the extracellular compartment to the cell interior, enabling cells to communicate effectively with their neighboring environment. This is particularly important for complex multicellular organisms to maintain homeostasis and integrity in not-so-hospitable surroundings. Components of the Immune System has a major role in this incredible process, as they act together as a surveillance and combat/repair team protecting the organism against every kind of potential harmful agent, including foreign physical and chemical stresses, different classes of pathogens, and deregulated self, such as cancer cells.

This meeting will focus on the molecular mechanisms involved in the control of cell death, tumorigenesis and regulation of the immune response. To fully understand the particularity of the biochemical pathways triggered by each of our membrane-associated and cytoplasmic receptors is a major goal towards the development of better strategies to improve health of the human beings. In keeping with this view, we decided to bring to you topics at the forefront of the fields of Cell Death, Cancer and the Immune System. We are delighted to have among us several leaders of these fields, who were kind enough to spare some of their time to present us their most recent data and personal view.

The format of the meeting includes two Keynote Lectures, thirty-nine Talks and sixteen Short-Talks by Ph.D. students or post-docs selected from submitted abstracts, besides a permanent Poster Session with views and discussion during two nights.

We hope you all enjoy the science and social life during your stay in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL!

Organizing Committee