János Szöllősi - candidate for President of ISAC

János Szöllősi studied physical chemistry and obtained his M.Sc. in 1976. In 1980 he received his Ph.D. at the Department of Biophysics headed by Sándor Damjanovich (Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen). On the basis of international collaborations of Sándor Damjanovich, János was able to go abroad as post-doctoral fellow, first to Göttingen (Germany) with Thomas M. Jovin (1982/83), then to the University of California in San Francisco with Mack J. Fulwyler (1985/86), Larry J. Marton, Burt G. Feuerstein (1988-90), and Frederick M. Waldman (1994). Since 1976 he has had a permanent position in the Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, University of Debrecen, Hungary, first as an assistant lecturer and lately as full professor (1997). Since 1999 he has been the Chairman of the Biophysics Divison of the Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology at the University of Debrecen.

His scientific interests include: studying biophysical aspects of transmembrane signaling: spatio-temporal organization of the earliest events, coupling between physical parameters and chemical signaling reactions with special interest in immunocompetent cells; investigating the topography of cell surface elements using flow and image cytometric fluorescence energy transfer (FRET); developing and improving various approaches of the FRET technique; studying the role of membrane potential and fluidity in the regulation of lateral and rotational diffusion and interactions of lymphocyte antigens and receptors. Lately he has been involved in studying the cell surface distribution of the ErbB2 oncoprotein on metastatic and non-metastatic breast tumor cells; investigating the interactions of epidermal growth factor receptor (ErbB1) and ErbB2 proteins; revealing the involvement of lipid rafts in signal transduction processes induced through ErbB protein interactions.

János has published over 105 peer reviewed papers and 18 book chapters. His outstanding research activities were recognized by the Academy Award of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, his teaching activities were acknowledged by the Pro Scientia Award of the Ministry of Education.

STATEMENT OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Leadership experience

The first occasion when I was really hooked by the great potentials of flow cytometry was at the ISAC meeting in Schloss Elmau in 1982. Since then I have been amazed by the continuous development in the field of flow and image cytometry. I have served on the editorial board of Cytometry since 1993, and I was appointed European Editor of Cytometry in 2002. In 2006, together with Tom Jovin, we edited a special issue of Cytometry in memory of Mack J. Fulwyler. My relevant experience as an active ISAC contributor includes: membership of various committees such as Conference Evaluation Committee (1991-1998); Scientific Advisory Board (1994-1996; 2002-); Council of Associated Societies (1995- ); chair of the Council of Associated Societies (2006-), and I have also become a council member of ISAC (2004-). I am the founder and current chairman of the Cell Analysis Section of the Hungarian Biophysical Society. I have organized four cytometry meetings in Eastern Europe on both clinical and basic research topics; one of these was an ISAC supported international meeting (1999: Future Trends in Quantitative Cytometry at Hortobágy-EPONA, Hungary). From many proposals, the Council selected the application of the Hungarian Society, so the ISAC XXIV Congress in 2008 will be held in Budapest, Hungary. As a member of the Program Organizing Committee and the chair of the Local Organizing committee I do my best to organize and host a remarkable International Congress of ISAC at Budapest.

Campaign Statement

I feel most privileged to be nominated for the position of President-elect of ISAC. The above mentioned activities gave me the experience, skills, and insights that I would like to bring to the ISAC as President-elect in 2008. My primary goal if chosen as President-elect to continue the process of strategic planning put in place by Maria Pallavicini the present past President and Paul Robinson the present President. As a councilor I have been involved in the planning process are familiar all the concrete steps identified at the strategic planning meetings to achieve our goal, revitalization of ISAC.

In accordance with the strategic plan, several key initiatives should be undertaken to rejuvenate ISAC, which are:

1. ISAC should represent the whole field of cytometry, in addition to the “classical” flow cytometry, the latest developments in image cytometry, cell based high throughput screenings and chip-based approaches used to study cellular parameters should be incorporated. Our society should serve as an integration platform of various branches of cytometry, it should provide an environment that supports and encourages these new developments. ISAC should be a forum for scientific fields essential to cytometry –basic sciences, engineering, mathematics, informatics, applied and translational research.
2. Expanding the membership of the society will be of central importance; ISAC’s recruitment activities should go beyond the traditional approaches. We must make a concerted effort to keep the old members and to involve newer and younger members of ISAC in the affairs of the Society. Young members should have a special way to be represented in the council as well. ISAC could benefit from embracing young talented academics and entrepreneurs from all continents.
3. The current membership can be best served by quality organization of annual ISAC meetings. Introduction of annual instead of bi-annual meetings would also decrease the fluctuations in membership number. Enhancing communication among flow and image cytometry oriented members both at the annual meetings and at regional meetings and web forums can also broaden the profile and expand the role of ISAC.
4. Raising the educational role of the Society will seamlessly create new young membership in the long run. Tutorials, ISAC-sponsored courses, establishment of standards in flow and image cytometry and data management should provide essential tools in this respect. The educational role of the Society must also be extended to the general (scientific) public.
5. Extending the educational and mentorship role of ISAC will enhance the impact of the CYTOMETRY Journal. My vision includes transferring skills to young scientists about data collection and interpretation in the field of flow and image cytometry in order to improve the overall quality of scientific papers submitted by junior scientists. In addition, significant efforts will be made in order to recruit excellent quality review papers for CYTOMETRY.
6. Maintaining constant communication with the membership is essential. I will report directly to the membership on a frequent basis, and I will seek the opinions and ideas of the members. I plan to extend the present isac-net.org web page as a platform for two-way communication.
7. Decreasing the cost of our meetings to an acceptable level will be highly important, partly because the cost of recent meetings was unreasonably high, and partly since I want to introduce regular annual meetings. Toward this end I will cooperate with the treasurer and the councilors in order to be more careful with YOUR money.

These are my priorities for ISAC as a candidate for President-elect. I ask for you support in realizing these strategic initiatives that would build an even more successful and efficient society.