ISAC E-News Extra Edition

• Progress in Refining ISAC Five-year Strategic Plan
• ISAC proposes Sale of Cytometry Part B to the Clinical Cytometry Society
  • Background
  • Proposal
• Cytometry – A Report from the Editor
• ISAC Awards: A Summary.
  • President’s Award for Excellence
  • Best Paper in Cytometry 2005
  • Janis Giorgi Scientist of the Year Award
  • Distinguished Service Award
  • Membership Award
  • New Investigator/Student Awards
• Meetings and Courses Spring Update

Editor’s Note: Due to the nature of the following material this “Extra” edition of ISAC E-News was assembled to provide timely information for ISAC members. SC

Progress in Refining ISAC Five-year Strategic Plan

by Maria Pallavicini, President, ISAC
mpallavicini@sci.ucmerced.edu

We reported on the May 2005 strategic planning meeting of the ISAC Council in the 2005 summer issue of ISAC E-News. The excitement about working toward achieving goals identified in the strategic planning meeting has not diminished. At the October Council meeting, enthusiasm was high to further refine and develop priority areas that will move the Society forward to achieve its long-term goals. I would like to give you an update and progress report on the priorities and activities of ISAC Council members related to strategic planning.

The Council identified six priority areas for the Society for the next several years. (A seventh priority area was proposed, but upon further deliberation this area was subsumed by the remaining six).

The six priority areas include:

• The journal: Increase the number of high-quality papers that are published in Cytometry and the citation rate
• Organization: Develop a more flexible organizational structure that is able to generate outputs/products rapidly
• Membership: Increase the numbers of members, particularly students, post docs and those from developing countries, as well as the benefits members receive from the Society
• Collaboration: Leverage our resources to advance the field of cytometry through increased collaboration with organizations who have complementary interests with ISAC
• Education and training: Raise the standards and practices of cytometry among members of the cytometry community through additional learning opportunities
• Standards: Develop and disseminate standards for instruments, processes and users of cytometric technologies.

The following members of ISAC Council assumed a leadership role in developing detailed strategies to accomplish these goals:

• The Journal: Bob Murphy
• Organization: lex Nakeff
• Membership: Laura Teodori
• Collaboration: Paul Robinson
• Education and training: Lori Krueger
• Standards: Bob Zucker

These individuals formed working group of ISAC members and worked with existing ISAC administrative committees to develop a detailed plan for each of the priorities, including financial considerations. Each of the proposed plans is being considered by the ISAC Council from multiple perspectives, including the likelihood of achieving the stated outcomes, financial considerations, and timelines. Steps have been taken to implement some components of these plans. Some of these activities include:

The financial implication of implementing detailed plans for the priority initiatives is under careful consideration by Council. It is likely that a significant investment of the reserve funds that ISAC has built up over the years will be needed to carry out these plans. Thus, Council (with special thanks to our Treasurer Frank Traganos and the Finance Committee) is reviewing these initiatives to ensure that ISAC's resources are invested in the best possible way to achieve maximum results.

The plan, priorities and financial considerations associated with implementing the strategic plan must be approved by ISAC Council. Final approval and presentation of the plan will occur at the Congress in Quebec City. I look forward to sharing this new plan with you at the business meeting at the Congress and in future issues of ISAC E-News.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our members, particularly Council members, and those on committees and working groups, for their outstanding effort during the past year. This truly is a team effort and it is very rewarding to see that the enthusiasm and loyalty of our members is translated into leading the Society in new directions, even if it involves a lot of work! There are many opportunities for becoming involved in/with our Society leadership. Please contact me and/or Paul Robinson, President-elect, if you would like to be involved.

I look forward to seeing you at our Congress in May.

Best wishes,
Maria Pallavicini

ISAC proposes Sale of Cytometry Part B to the Clinical Cytometry Society

by Robert F. Murphy, Chair, ISAC Scientific Communication Committee,
J. Paul Robinson, President-Elect, ISAC,
and Maria Pallavicini, President, ISAC

Background

It is the desire of ISAC to advance all aspects of cytometry and to have good working relationships with other groups for that purpose.

Cytometry is the official journal of ISAC and is owned by ISAC. It is currently published through a contract with Wiley-Liss, Inc. that was recently renewed through the end of 2011. The contract provides for significant revenue to ISAC that is essential to the Society’s operation.

Cytometry Part A primarily publishes research papers focused on development and application of cytometry technologies. Cytometry Part B: Clinical Cytometry is the official journal of the Clinical Cytometry Society (CCS) and is published jointly by ISAC and CCS through a contract that will expire at the end of 2006. Part A and Part B are considered separate journals by the Institute for Scientific Information for the purposes of calculating impact factors.

CCS would like to own and publish its own journal and is currently exploring the possibility of creating a new journal when the current agreement regarding CytometryPart B expires. CCS and ISAC leadership have met to discuss the goals and needs of both societies.

With respect to Cytometry Parts A and B, ISAC’s goal is to continue the publishing tradition of quality sister-journals due to the role they play in the cytometry community as well as the income stream provided for ISAC activities. It is ISAC’s belief that CCS has an interest in maintaining the stability of Cytometry for the same reasons.

Proposal

In consideration of the needs of both ISAC and CCS, ISAC has submitted to CCS a proposal for transfer of ownership of Cytometry Part B: Clinical Cytometry (hereinafter “Part B”) from ISAC to CCS under the followed suggested terms:

That three mutually contingent and simultaneous agreements be made:

• An agreement between CCS and Wiley to continue publishing Part B as the official journal of CCS until the completion of publication year 2011, the terms and policies of such agreement to be similar to the terms under which ISAC will continue to publish Cytometry Part A pursuant to the ISAC-Wiley agreement signed in May 2005.
• An agreement between CCS and ISAC to transfer title to Part B to CCS effective 1 January 2007, in return for payments from CCS to ISAC consisting of 50 percent of the net revenues received by CCS for Part B for the five-year period January 1, 2007 through 31 December 2011. CCS agrees not to change the name of Part B for the period of the agreement except with the permission of ISAC. Title to Part B to revert to ISAC upon CCS’ failure to make any required payment in a timely manner.
• An amendment to the agreement between ISAC and Wiley signed in May 2005 to effect any changes required to be consistent with the above agreements.

ISAC has requested a response to this proposal by 1 February 2006. ISAC leadership hopes that the proposed agreement will be agreeable to CCS and looks forward to collaborating in areas of mutual interest.

Cytometry – A Report from the Editor

By Charles Goolsby
c-goolsby@northwestern.edu

As Cytometry editor, I wanted to take this opportunity to let the ISAC membership and our readers know about a number of upcoming special issues of the journal during 2006. An exciting issue titled, “Multiplexed and Microsphere-based Analyses” with John Nolan, Marie Iannone, and Gerard Lizard as guest editors is nearing completion and will be published soon in Cytometry Part A. An issue focused on spectral imaging is being guest edited by Steve Lockett, Robert Zucker and Jeremy Lerner. This is shaping up to be a superb, high-quality special issue that should be completed in the near future and is also planned for Part A. Dr. Attila Tarnok and Guenter Valet have enthusiastically supported the journal over the last several years through spearheading two highly successful and well-received cytomics-related special issues (“ Cytomics -- New Technologies: Towards a Human Cytome Project” Cytometry Part A 59A #2, June, 2004; “Cytomics in Predictive Medicine” Cytometry Part B 53B #1, May, 2003). This series will continue in 2006 with a third special issue for Cytometry Part A titled “Slide Based Cytometry for Cytomics.” In addition, arising from the 10 th in the series of highly successful Liepziger Workshop conferences, a collection of peer reviewed manuscripts will appear in the Cytometry Part A March issue. Finally, a special issue focusing on ZAP70 measurements in chronic lymphocytic leukemia is underway for Cytometry Part B (Clinical Cytometry). The guest editors for this issue are Gerald Marti and Alberto Orfao. I want to thank all the guest editors involved in these projects. Their enthusiasm and hard work in bringing these special issues to completion is greatly appreciated and represent very significant contributions to the health and development of the journal. Lastly, I would like to use this opportunity to encourage all of the ISAC membership to submit their work to Cytometry. This is your journal and society with the health of both depending on your support.

ISAC Awards: A Summary.

President’s Award for Excellence

This award is presented to a single applicant. Finalists are notified prior to the conference and make a formal oral presentation of their work at the New Investigator/Student Symposium. The recipient will serve as co-chair of the New Investigator/Student Symposium (presided over by the chair of the ISAC Membership Services Committee). More information is available at: http://www.isac-net.org/. An application should be submitted as part of the abstract submission process before the deadline of February 1, 2006

Best Paper in Cytometry 2005

This award is given in recognition of the best paper appearing in Cytometry in 2005 as judged by the editors and associate editors.

Janis Giorgi Scientist of the Year Award

This award was created in honor of long-time ISAC member Janis Giorgi who passed away in 2000. She devoted a great deal of time mentoring younger members and was a role model to a generation of female scientists. The award recognizes an outstanding junior scientist who has made seminal contributions to the field of cytometry/cytomics.

Distinguished Service Award

This award was established to honor those individuals who have served the Society in a major role providing significant support to the society and its members or who have made a significant contribution to the success of the Society. Recipients of this award receive lifetime membership in the Society. For more information see the December 2005 ISAC E-News or contact Harry Crissman (hcriss@adelphia.net).

Membership Award

This award is given in recognition of exceptional service to the cytometric community. The recipient of this award is selected from a list of individuals nominated by the ISAC membership. A recipient need not be a member of the Society. The award includes lifetime membership in the Society. For more information see the September 2005 ISAC E-News or contact Harry Crissman (hcriss@adelphia.net).

New Investigator/Student Awards:

• Exceptional Student Award. This award will be presented to one or more applicants in recognition of their continuing outstanding performance in the field of analytical cytology. Finalists will be notified prior to the Congress and will make a formal oral presentation of their work at the new Investigator/Student Symposium. Student members selected for the award will be presented with a certificate and a check for $1,000 and recognition in the Society’s online newsletter. More information is available at: http://www.isac-net.org/. An application should be submitted as part of the abstract submission process before the deadline of 1 February 2006.
• Outstanding Poster Award. This award by competition will be presented to one or more student poster presenters. Finalists will be notified prior to the Congress and presented their poster during judging by the Membership Services Committee. Students selected for the award will receive a certificate of accomplishment and a check for $100.

Meetings and Courses Spring Update

(See ISAC E-News December 2005 for more detail on some of these events)

• Flow Cytometry Hands-On Course, 31 January - 03 February 2006 (and 20-23 June). ontact: Peter O’Toole ( pot1@york.ac.uk) Or see: http://www.york.ac.uk/depts/biol/tf/ic_flowcourse or contact Margaret Newton +44 (0) 1904 328821, men1@york.ac.uk
• Multiparameter Flow and Compensation,  1 February 2006. Contact: Sue DeMaggio ( flocyte@flocyte.com) and register via the Web site: www.FloCyte.com. Taught by Dr. Jennifer Wilshire.  Hosted by Dr. Jan Hendrikx at MSKCC in conjunction with the MetroFlow Users Group meeting 2 February 2006.
• DNA and Multiparameter Cell Cycle Analysis Course,  3 February 2006. Contact: Sue DeMaggio ( flocyte@flocyte.com) and register via the Web site: www.FloCyte.com. Taught by Dr. Frank Traganos.  Hosted by Dr. Jan Hendrikx at MSKCC in conjunction with the MetroFlow Users Group meeting 2 February 2006.
• 6 th Indo-US Cytometry Workshop, 5-12 February 2006. “Applications of Cytometry for Stem Cell Analysis, Monitoring of Stem Cell Phenotype, Proliferation and Apoptosis”
• Contact: Atwar Krishan (akrishan@med.miami,edu) or Dr. Kalyanakrishnan at lissykk@mail.sctimst.ac.in
• Multiparameter Flow and Compensation Course, 16 March 2006.Contact: Sue DeMaggio ( flocyte@flocyte.com) and register via the website: www.FloCyte.com Taught by Dr. Jennifer Wilshire Hosted by Allen Kachelmeier at OHSU  in conjunction with the Northwest Flow Cytometry Users Group meeting 17-18 March 2006. 
• Standards, Numbers, and New Technology: Flow Cytometry Evolving, Cascade Cytometry User's Group, in conjunction with Northwest Cytometry User's Group 17-18 March 2006, Portland, Oregon. Contact: Allan Kachelmeier (kachelme@ohsu.edu)
• Basic Course in Flow Cytometry. The Royal London Hospital, 26 - 27 April 2006. Contact Dr. Marion Macey: marion.macey@bartsandthelondon.nhs.ukOr see: http://www.immunology.org/education/basic_course_flow_cytometry.htm
• 11 th Leipziger Workshop/4 th International Workshop on Slide Based Cytometry 27-29 April 2006. Contact: Attila Tarnok ( tarnok@medizin.uni-leipzig.de), o r see: http://www.uni-leipzig.de/veranst/herzzentrum-workshop/
• Annual Flow Cytometry Course, Bowdoin, Maine, 10-16 June 2006. Contact: Bruce Bagwell ( cbb@vsh.com), or see: http://www.vsh.com/bowdoin/
• 16th Cytometry Development Workshop: Technologies for Cell Analysis Asilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove, California, 20-22 October 2006. Contacts: Bob Murphy (murphy@cmu.edu) and Howard Shapiro (hms@shapirolab.com). Or see: http://murphylab.web.cmu.edu/CDW.