Program

16:30-20:00
Registration Desk 
 

17:30-18:30
Opening Conference: Unlocking the power of trained immunity in pulmonary infections
Pr. Maziar Divangahi, McGill University, Canada 

The constant exposure of humans to potentially life-threatening respiratory challenges pose a major public health problem, with an estimated 20% of all deaths annually worldwide resulting from lung diseases. The lungs, which are constantly exposed to the outside environment, can become a “portal” entry to infectious agents, toxic gases, and particulate matters as we breath approximately 11,000 liters of air every day. To overcome these environmental insults lung innate immune defense system must be tightly regulated; eliminating invading pathogen, minimizing collateral damage, and preserving lung physiology to perform its main task of gas-exchange. These wide range of innate regulatory circuits also promote lung adaptation throughout the lifespan. Understanding the long-term impacts of constant exposure to environmental challenges, vaccines, the on/off inflammation on the lung regulatory networks, and subsequently the generation of “lung memory” is crucial for developing novel therapeutic interventions.
 

18:30-21:30
Welcoming Reception

07:30-18:00
Registration Desk 
 

08:30-09:30
Keynote: Homeostasis: Just a level of inflammation
Pr. Paul Kubes, University of Calgary, Canada 

Immunophysiology is a relatively novel concept that implies that the immune system is integrated into tissues and cooperates with other parenchymal cells to maintain homeostasis. Disruption of this exquisite machinery leads to inflammation. For example, alveolar macrophages migrate from alveolus to alveolus clearing debris and disruption of this process recruits neutrophils to induce acute inflammation. In liver, Kupffer cells reach out of their vascular niche and communicate with hepatocytes, endothelium and stellate cells. Fibrosis forms walls between Kupffer cells and other cells and causes these specialized macrophages to lose their contacts with other cells and as such lose their identity leading to recruitment of monocytes. Regardless of tissue, the immune cells contribute to homeostasis and their perturbation leads to inflammation. 
 

09:30-10:45
Simultaneous symposia by GREMI (France) and the USA  
 

1. Symposium sponsored by the GREMI, French Society of Inflammation and Ambiotis: Novel Points of Control of Lung Inflammation 
Chairs: Dr. Véronique Witko-Sarsat, Dr. Mustapha Si-Tahar 

During this symposium, the speakers will highlight recent advances in strategies to understand and regulate lung inflammatory processes. Topics include the "role of CFTR in neutrophil functions in cystic fibrosis" and the "neonatal cross-talk of alveolar macrophages and neutrophils regulating lung inflammation" offering insights into potential therapeutic breakthroughs. The symposium will also cover the "metabolic control of virus-induced lung inflammation" and "specialized pro-resolving mediators in respiratory diseases," presenting innovative approaches to manage lung inflammation. By uncovering these new control points, the speakers aim to redefine current approaches, opening avenues for breakthroughs in therapeutic interventions.

Effect of CFTR modulators on lung inflammation and neutrophil functions in cystic fibrosis 
Dr. Véronique Witko-Sarsat, Institut Cochin, France

Neonatal cross-talk of alveolar macrophages and neutrophils regulate lung inflammation 
Dr. Erwan Pernet, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada

Metabolic control of virus-induced lung inflammation 
Dr. Mustapha Si-Tahar, Inserm-CEPR, France

Specialized pro-resolving mediators in respiratory diseases 
Pr. Bruce Levy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, USA

2. Symposium USA-1: Translational resolution of chronic inflammation 
Chair: Dr. Liwu Li

Chronic inflammatory memory underlies the pathogenesis of devastating diseases in vital organs such as heart and lung. This session will present a timely discussion regarding novel conceptual breakthroughs related to the fundamental principles of dynamic inflammatory signaling networks, as well as significant translational advances with precision molecular and cellular targeting in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. 

Systems approach in dampening lung inflammation
Dr. Joe ‘Skip’ Garcia, University of Florida Health Sciences, USA

Systems analyses at single cell level for cardiovascular inflammation
Dr. Ying Shen, Baylor College of Medicine, USA

The yin and yang of mTOR and lysosomal nutrient sensing in macrophages and atherosclerosis
Dr. Babak Razani, University of Pittsburgh, USA

Rejuvenation of innate homeostasis in the treatment of disease
Dr. Liwu Li, Virginia Tech, USA

10:45-11:00
Coffee break & exhibition  
 

11:00-12:00 
Simultaneous oral presentations: Short talks from selected abstracts  

Parallel 1 
Lung 1 - Chair: Dr. Xavier Norel

Junichi Kikuta (Japan), Barbara Porto (Canada), Thayse Bruggemann (USA), Gaelle Merheb (France)

Parallel 2 
NETs - Chair: Dr. Sylvain Bourgoin

Vanessa de Carvalho Oliveira (Canada), Debdeep Mitra (India), Martin G. Sirois (Canada)

Parallel 3
Stimulating the resolution of inflammation - Chair: Dr. Liwu Li

Amiram Ariel (Israel), Helen McGettrick (UK), Jianmin Chen (UK), Rachel Bayer (USA)

Parallel 4
Systemic inflammation and intervention 1 - Chair: Dr. Mauro Teixeira

Praveen Papareddy (Sweden), Marc Clement (France), Anatolii Kubyshkin (Russia), Pierre-Yves von der Weid (Canada)

Parallel 5 
Late-breaking - Chair: Dr. Nicolas Flamand

Franciska Southan (USA), Chakib Hamoudi (Canada), Rene Maltais (Canada), Patrice Decker (France)

12:00-12:45 
Lunch  
 

12:45-13:45 
Plenary lecture: Decoding the resolution response: Resolvin & cys-SPM functions in inflammation novel molecular links to tissue regeneration and wound healing
Pr. Charles Serhan, Harvard Medical School, USA 

Specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPM) actively promote resolution of inflammation, tissue regeneration, and are organ protective , controlling infections via specific actions on leukocyte trafficking-functions that will be presented. This presentation will over review the biosynthesis and function of the SPM in resolution of Inflammation. The SPMs include resolvins, protectins, maresins and their newly identified cysteinyl-containing conjugates active in tissue regeneration.
 

13:45-15:00
Simultaneous symposia by Brazil - GREMI (France) and Canada  
 

1. Symposium Brazil - GREMI (France) sponsored by Solutex: Lipid mediators for resolution and beyond 
Chairs: Dr. Mauro Teixeira, Dr. Xavier Norel 

This symposium will present recent studies on the mechanistic involved in the shift from the production of proinflammatory to proresolving molecules and ensuring the restoration of homeostasis. In particular, the speakers will address research concerning: 

• The therapeutic potential of annexin A1, lipoxin A4 and resolvin D1 or analogues targeting the FPR2-ALX receptor, identified as anti-inflammatory endogenous mediators in diabetes and their roles in cystic fibrosis;
• The role and actions of Specialized Pro-resolvin Mediators (SPMs) in atherosclerotic and cardiovascular physiopathology, assessing the potential of utilizing SPMs for both prevention and resolution of cardiovascular inflammation.

SPMs in atherosclerosis and aging
Dr. Gabrielle Fredman, Albany Medical College, USA

Maresin and SPMs in human arteries and heart, interactions with PGE2 pathway
Dr. Xavier Norel, INSERM U1148, Sorbonne Paris Nord University, France

Novel molecules and mechanisms resolving inflammation, suppressing fibrosis
Dr. Catherine Godson, University College Dublin, Ireland

Abnormal resolution of inflammation in Cystic Fibrosis: A role for Specialized Proresolving Mediators
Dr. Valérie Urbach, INSERM, Université Paris-Est-Créteil, France 

2. Symposium Canada-1: New targets in mucosal inflammation 
Chair: Dr. Adriano Rossi, University of Edinburgh, UK

Investigating the role of ELA2, an epithelial elastase, in impaired muscosal healing in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases: Insights and therapeutic prospects
Dr. Céline Deraison, Inserm, France

Beyond the gluten-free diet: Therapeutic targets in celiac disease
Dr. Elena Verdu, McMaster University, Canada

Novel approaches to target initiation, propagation and resolution of mucosal inflammation
Dr. Adriano Rossi, University of Edinburgh, UK

Thrombin stories at gut mucosal surfaces
Dr. Nathalie Vergnolle, Digestive Health Research Institute, INSERM U-1220, France.

15:00-15:15
Coffee break & exhibition
 

15:15-16:30
Simultaneous symposia by Japan and Italy
 

1. Symposium Japan: Inflammatory diseases involving bones, skin and beyond: Systemic and systematic approaches
Chairs: Dr. Tetsuya Taga, Dr. Kenji Kabashima

The most frequently affected organs in inflammatory conditions include skin and bone. It is known that autoinflammatory bone disorders are associated with inflammation of the skin and it is found that chronic skin inflammation leads to systemic bone loss. With focuses on these issues, this symposium covers inflammatory diseases involving bone, skin and beyond. We will discuss recent advances in interdisciplinary efforts on systemic and systematic approaches including originally developed intravital imaging, immune cell transfer, functional genome analysis, etc.

Understanding inflammatory diseases involving bone, skin and beyond: An overview
Dr. Tetsuya Taga, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan

Immune and inflammatory regulation of bone and inter-organ crosstalk
Dr. Hiroshi Takayanagi, University of Tokyo, Japan

Imaging of inflammatory effector cell responses in bone, skin and beyond
Dr. Masaru Ishii, Osaka University, Japan

Inter-organ crosstalk view of skin inflammatory disorders
Dr. Kenji Kabashima, Kyoto University, Japan

Key immunological pathways in systemic autoimmune disease revealed by functional genome analysis
Dr. Keishi Fujio, University of Tokyo, Japan

2. Symposium organized by Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF): Microglia as a new target for therapeutic approach to neuroinflammation-based brain disorders
Chair: Pr. Mariarosario Bucci, University of Naples "Federico II", Italy

This symposium will discuss new therapeutic approaches targeting microglia in neuroinflammatory-brain disorders. It is hoped the symposium serves to stimulate collaborations and synergies amongst its participants to promote discoveries in the filed of neuroinflammation.

The FGF/FGFR system in the microglial activation caused by neuroinflammatory brain disorders
Dr. Emanuela Esposito, University of Messina, Italy

Role of the microglia cells in models of nociplastic pain
Dr. Livio Luongo, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Italy

Glia reactivity and neuroinflammation in neurodegeneration: From cellular changes to possible therapeutic approaches
Dr. Caterina Scuderi, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Italy

ADAM10 at the crossroad of synaptic failure and inflammation in Alzheimer's Disease
Dr. Elena Marcello, University of Milan, Italy

16:30-17:30
Plenary Talk: Osteoimmunology
Pr. Hiroshi Takayanagi, University of Tokyo, Japan

Summary TBA

17:30-19:00
Poster session 1 & exhibition  

08:30-09:30
Plenary lecture: Taming inflammation to treat infection
Dr. Mauro Teixeira, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil

An adequate inflammatory response is necessary to control infection acutely and to prime the immune system for an adequate adaptive immune response. However, an altered inflammatory response during infection may cause tissue damage that is frequently accompanied by significant disease and eventually death. We have recently found that mediators of resolution of inflammation are produced during the course of various severe infections and control the inflammatory response in such a way as to prevent tissue damage but allowing adequate acute and adaptive immune responses. Indeed, in the absence of receptors for pro-resolving molecules - such as in FPR2-deficient mice - inflammation during bacterial or viral infections is enhanced. This is not accompanied by better control of infection but by tissue damage and dysfunction. On the other hand, administration of pro-resolving molecules, such as angiotensin 1-7 or annexin-A1, is associated with decreased inflammatory response in models of viral (influenza, dengue and coronavirus) and bacterial infections. We will discuss potential mechanisms associated with beneficial effects during infection and the potential for the development of these drugs for the adjunct treatment of infectious diseases.
 

09:30-10:45
Simultaneous symposia by Brazil, the USA and Canada
 

1. Symposium Brazil-2: Inflammatory responses in infectious diseases
Chairs: Dr. Mauro Teixeira, Dr. Fernando Cunha

In this symposium, we will investigate mechanisms - specifically the role of the inflammasome, nets, platelets and metabolism - associated with tissue damage during infectious diseases. Taming altered inflammatory responses may be an useful adjunct therapy for the adequate treatment of severe infectious diseases.

COVID-19: Involvement of NET in organ lesions
Dr. Fernando Cunha, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Infection diseases: Role of thromboinflammation in infection diseases
Dr. Patricia Bozza, Fiocruz Foundation, Brazil

Infection diseases: Participation of inflammasome in immunopathology of infections
Dr. Dario Zamboni, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

2. Symposium USA-2: Innate immune memory dynamics in health and disease
Chair: Dr. Liwu Li

In response to dynamic environmental cues with varying intensity and duration, key innate immune cells such as monocytes and neutrophils can adopt rudimentary memory states with distinct functional behaviors. This session will discuss key functional states of innate leukocytes that include chemotaxis and swarming; efferocytosis; tissue repair; inflammatory polarization and death. In addition to fundamental principles of innate memory dynamics, their translational implications related to infection and inflammation during organ damage and repair will be discussed by leading experts in the field.

Neutrophil-neutrophil communication, swarming, and anti-fungal actions: A rapidly changing paradigm in the lab and in the clinic
Dr. Daniel Irimia, Harvard Medical School, USA

Stepwise transcriptional reprogramming directs neutrophil trafficking and function in inflamed lungs
Dr. Hongbo Luo, Harvard Medical School, USA

Finding and pushing the limits of macrophage efferocytosis
Dr. Hanrui Zhang, Columbia University Medical School, USA

Title: TBA 
Dr. Kathryn Gallagher, University of Michigan, USA

3. Symposium organized by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR): Evidence to Impact: CIHR Inflammation Teams in Translational Research
Chairs: Dr. Charu Kaushic, Scientific director, CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity (CIHR-III), Dr. Marc Ouellette, former Scientific director of CIHR-III (2010-2018)

Recipients of the Team Grants Preparation to Trial in Inflammation for Chronic Conditions come together in a panel discussion to discuss how this initiative has helped to foster a team science approach to positioning new interventions for inflammation in chronic conditions into a trial-ready state.

Welcome & Overview
Dr. Charu Kaushic, CIHR-III, Canada

 Therapeutically targeting vascular inflammation in the settling of metabolic stress: Translational opportunities & challenges
Dr. Katey Rayner, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Canada

Regulatory NK cells as therapy for chronic graft-versus-host disease and autoimmunity
Dr. Kirk Schultz, University of British Columbia, Canada

Targeting cerebral small vessel disease by inhibition of the soluble epoxide hydrolase
Dr. Walter Swardfager, University of Toronto, Canada

Plasma endocannabinoidome lipids and fecal microbiota composition in people with HIV under antiretroviral therapy with diagnosed subclinical coronary artery disease: Results of the Canadian HIV and aging cohort
Dr. Cristoforo Silvestri, Université Laval, Canada

Treg/Th17 balance at mucosal surfaces in HIV and IBD
Dr. Lyle McKinnon, University of Manitoba, Canada

10:45-11:00
Coffee break & exhibition
 

11:00-12:00 
Simultaneous oral presentations: Short talks from selected abstracts  

Parallel 1 
Lung 2 

Ziyi Li (Canada), Hanan Elimam (Egypt), Karine Bouchard (Canada), Hichem Badji (France)

Parallel 2 
Immunometabolism 

Rebecca Mosig (USA), Pegah Poursharifi (Canada), Volatiana Rakotoarivelo (Canada)

Parallel 3
Redox - Chair: Dr. Véronique Witko-Sarsat

Cynthia Paz-Trejo (Canada), Catherine Lê (Canada), Marina Barroso (France)

Parallel 4 
Systemic inflammation and intervention 2 - Chair: Dr. André Buret

Elodie Labit (Canada), Charles Bodet (France), Ioannis Parodis (Sweden), Anatolii Kubyshkin (Russia)

12:00-12:45 
Lunch  
 

12:45-13:00
A tribute to Pr. Pierre Borgeat
 

13:00-14:00
Plenary lecture: Into thin air: Hypoxia and inflammation
Pr. Cormac Taylor, University College Dublin Conway Institute, Ireland

Summary TBA
 

14:00-15:15
Simultaneous symposia by Canada and Australia

1. Symposium Canada-2: Steps along the pain pathway
Chairs: Dr. Daniela Salvemini, Dr. Jason McDougall

This symposium will lead the audience along the pain pathway starting with the modulation of neuronal cation channels on peripheral nerve terminals as a means of controlling arthritis pain.

Nociceptor desensitization as a first step to control inflammatory pain
Dr. Jason McDougall, Dalhousie University, Canada

Neuron-macrophage communication in the dorsal root ganglia modulates chronic pain
Dr. Marzia Malcangio, King's College London, UK

Discovery of novel spinal inflammatory pathways that contribute to pain
Dr. Daniela Salvemini, Saint Louis University, USA

How microbial pathogens affect pain and itch
Dr. Isaac Chiu, Harvard Medical School, USA
 

2. Symposium Australia: Targeting immunometabolism in inflammatory diseases
Chairs: Pr. Matt Sweet, Pr. Phil Hansbro, Centenary Institute and University of Technology Sydney, Australia

Over the last decade, it has become clear that immune cell function is intimately linked to cell metabolism. Both innate and adaptive immune cells must reprogram metabolic pathways to enable responses to environmental cues. It has also become clear that immunometabolism represents a tractable pathway for anti-inflammatory design in a spectrum of inflammation-driven diseases. This symposium will feature cutting-edge immunometabolism research in different immune cell types and/or inflammatory disease states.

Metabolic features of mucosal tissues shaping inflammatory disease
Pr. Gabrielle Belz, Frazer Institute and The University of Queensland, Australia

Clonal haematopoiesis is influenced by metabolic disorders
Pr. Andrew Murphy, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Australia

An innate immune signalling axis that controls inflammatory cytokine production via regulated immunometabolism
Pr. Matt Sweet, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australia

Oxidized Cholesterols Drive Macrophage Recruitment and Inflammation in the Lung
Pr. Katharina Ronacher, Mater Research-UQ, Australia

15:15-15:30
Coffee break & exhibition

15:30-16:45
Simultaneous oral presentations: Short talks from selected abstracts

Parallel 1 
Inflammation and musculoskeletal disorders - Chair: Dr. Martin Pelletier

Miryam Paola Alvarez-Flores (Brazil), Marilena Christoforou (UK), Julius Lindblom (Sweden), Flavia Neto de Jesus (Canada), Helya Mortazavi (Canada)

Parallel 2 
Specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) - Chairs: Dr. Nan Chiang & Dr.  Melissa Simard

Frederik Desmarais (Canada), Dipak Panigrahy (USA), Ana Cláudia Andrade (Canada), Salma A. Rizo-Tellez (Canada), Robert Nshimiyimana (USA)

Parallel 3
Phagocytes 

Ian Cartwright (USA), Jean-Philippe C. Lavoie (Canada), Andréa Murru (Canada), Hoiward Kipen (USA), Debra Laskin (USA)

Parallel 4
COVID-19 - Chair: Dr. Nathalie Grandvaux

Vivian Costa (Brazil), Renfeng Guo (USA), Cheng Xiang Foo (Australia), David Marsolais (Canada), Firas El-Mortada (Canada)

Parallel 5 
Gut - Chair: Dr. Dana Philpott

Amber Hann (Canada), Romain Gauthier (France), Rebecca Mosig (USA), Nathalie Vergnolle (France), Alexia Dumas (France)

16:45-18:00
Poster session 2 & exhibition
 

19:30-00:00
Banquet

08:30-09:30
Plenary lecture: Microbiota and intestinal inflammation
Pr. Harry Sokol, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Ap-HP, France

The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is related to an activation of the gastrointestinal immune system towards the gut microbiota in genetically susceptible hosts and under the influence of environmental factors. The microbial community of the human gastrointestinal tract is fundamental to health and is influenced by environmental and genetic factors. The loss of the delicate balance of this complex ecosystem, called dysbiosis, is implicated in many diseases, including IBD. IBD patients show an altered composition of the gut microbiota, with notably a decrease in the abundance of anti-inflammatory bacteria such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Besides changes in composition, many microbiota functions are altered in IBD. These data are now converted into new biomarkers and treatments.
 

09:30-11:00
Simultaneous symposia by Canada
 

1. Symposium Canada-3: Microbiota control as a way out of intestinal inflammation: Highlight on young investigators
Chairs: Dr. Elena Verdu, McMaster University, Canada

This session highlights cutting-edge presentations by early career investigators on the emerging role of microbial proteases and microbial dietary protein metabolism, in driving inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). New evidence on the physiological role for cell-gut microbiota interactions in orchestrating the spatial organization of mucosa-associated microbiota in the colon will be presented. 

The emerging role of microbial proteolytic activity in inflammatory bowel disease
Heather Galipeau, Canada

Thrombin tension at host-microbiota interface: A role in Crohn's disease?
Jean-Paul Motta, France

Microbial antigen metabolism in adverse reactions to foods and intestinal inflammation
Alberto Caminero, Canada

Neutrophils: From IBD to the gut microbiota
Camille Danne, France

2. Symposium Canada-4: Brain-Gut actors of inflammation
Chair: Pr. Premysl Bercik

This symposium will review the recent evidence linking the brain-gut axis to chronic intestinal inflammation and explore putative mechanisms that underlie chronic abdominal pain, anxiety and depression. We will present and discuss data from clinical studies and preclinical models investigating the role of environmental factors, such as stress, diet and microbiome on immune homeostasis and chronic intestinal inflammation

Microbiota-gut-brain axis: From Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Pr. Premysl Bercik, McMaster University, Canada 

Neuroimmune mechanisms of visceral sensitization
Dr. Christophe Altier, University of Calgary, Canada

Role of stress and the brain-gut axis in inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders
Dr. Muriel Larouche, UCLA, USA

The role of the brain-gut axis in the development of chronic pain in IBD
Dr. Qasim Aziz, University College London, UK
 

11:00-11:15
Coffee break & exhibition
 

11:15-12:30
Travel & Presentation Awards: Awards for oral presentations, posters, new investigators
Life Achievement Award
Women in Science Award 
 

12:30-12:45 
Closing remarks
 

14:00-16:00
Social activity - WALKING TOUR