Advances in the ISAC Scholar Program: 1^st Workshop involving ISAC Scholars

Four young ISAC Scholars gathered in Rome last September to present their work in the 1st ISAC workshop specifically dedicated to ISAC young members. This event was a satellite workshop entitled ”Flow and Image Cytometry in Free-Radical Analysis” in the context of the congress on Movement as Prevention and Health (m-p-h) organized by the University of Rome Tor Vergata. The congress is endorsed and sponsored by all the local administrations (i.e., Regional Council of Lazio, Province and City of Rome).

The ISAC Scholars program, a new program designed to encourage and maintain membership in the organization by younger members, began in 2006 during the XXIII ISAC Congress in Quebec City (May 20-24 2006) by awarding ISAC membership to several people chosen from students, postdocs, and junior faculty members around the world. Companies are supporting this initiative, which is expected to develop with additional scholarships in the near future and contributions and opportunities for the existing members.

In this context, four European ISAC Scholars were invited to the outstanding Villa Mondragone (picture), on the hills facing Rome. The site was generously provided by the University of Rome Tor Vergata to host the 1st m-p-h meeting, dedicated to the field of modulation of free-radical concentration and its relationship to movement and health. The four speakers presented their work: a primate model of immune dysfunctions as characterized by multicolour flow cytometry analysis and intracellular cytokine staining (Reiner Schulte); a statistical analysis of flow histograms and measures to improve image quality (Tytus Bernas); a relationship between exercise and oxidative stress in physiological and pathological murine models (Dario Coletti); an interaction between a static magnetic field and oxidative stress responses in human cells (Claudio Panzarella)

In addition to presenting breakthrough data based on flow cytometry and image analysis approaches, the four ISAC Scholars had a chance to meet (picture) with each other, with President-elect Paul Robinson, and with chairs of ISAC committees, including Attila Tarnok (Germany), Zofia Maciorowski (France), and Laura Teodori (Italy). The last enthusiastically co-supported the happening with her own personal grants and had a pivotal role in the scientific and logistical organization of both the main meeting and the ISAC workshop – certainly a wonderful example of commitment to ISAC goals that could be emulated by other ISAC members during the organization of local events.

At Villa Mondragone young and senior ISAC members discussed strategies and initiatives to develop and improve the ISAC Scholar program. The creation of these web pages specifically dedicated to ISAC Scholars (and young members) represents the first act of future development. It is our intention to construct a catalytic site to boost the investment made in this initiative and to help exchange and interaction between young and senior ISAC members.