The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic: how have immunology societies contributed?

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is shining a spotlight on the field of immunology like never before. To appreciate the diverse ways in which immunologists have contributed, Nature Reviews Immunology invited the president of the International Union of Immunological Societies and the presidents of 15 other national immunology societies to discuss how they and their members responded following the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Fig. 1. Immunology societies have been vital to the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The diverse ways in which immunology societies have contributed during the COVID-19 pandemic are illustrated. Immunology societies have supported their members in their efforts to develop testing, therapeutics and vaccines; they have continued to fight for funding and for rigorous peer review of publications; they have organized online webinars, conferences and training programmes; and they have provided scientific advice to governments and policymakers. Immunology societies and their members have been vital for public education and for countering misinformation that has arisen during the pandemic. Finally, the immunology societies have championed equal rights and global solidarity. Recent events have drawn attention in particular to the Black lives matter movement; a number of immunology societies have published statements in support of their commitment to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion in our immunology research communities.

Fig. 2. The presidents of the immunology societies.

A short biography and an image of the current president of each immunology society featured in this Viewpoint are shown. FAIS, Federation of African Immunological Societies; ILC, innate lymphoid cell; IUIS, International Union of Immunological Societies; NK, natural killer; NLR, NOD-like receptor; WHO, World Health Organization. Credits: Faith Osier; Jenny P. Y. Ting, The American Association of Immunologists; John Fraser, TIGERTIGER; Bart N. Lambrecht; Ricardo T. Gazinelli; Arne N. Akbar, British Society for Immunology; Kamala D. Patel; Yuzhang Wu; Ana B. Perez; Thomas Kamradt, Jena University Hospital; Mira Barda-Saad; Angela Santoni; Hiroshi Kiyono, Japanese Society for Immunology; V. A. Chereshnev; Alioune Dieye; Melinda Suchard, KEMRI Wellcome Trust.