Dear colleagues,
It is a great pleasure for me to invite you to the 1st International Congress of Micro-Immunotherapy (ICoMI), which will be held between 18-20 May, 2017 in the beautiful city of Palma de Mallorca. The main topic of the congress is: “Immunomodulation and chronic diseases through the prism of autoimmunity: new concepts, new perspectives”.
Why is it important to address this topic? According to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), more than 50 million Americans suffer from different types of autoimmune disorders, and the prevalence is rising. Autoimmune diseases are one of the top 10 leading causes of death in women aged more than 64 . On the other hand, chronic diseases and conditions – such as cardio-vascular diseases, cancer, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, etc. – continue to increase dramatically, and represent a major health and economic burden. A better understanding of the risk factors, of the common pathogenic mechanisms and the natural history of these diseases will help establish preventive care practices, and improve the actual therapeutic strategies.
In this regard, it has become more and more evident that inflammatory processes and immune dysfunction promote the development and progression of numerous chronic pathologies. This has lead to a more precise understanding of the pathophysiology of these disorders (including the role of barrier function) and to the establishment of a new concept of autoimmunity.
Therefore, it is essential to restore the balance of the immune system in order to obtain sustainable results. Immunomodulation, by means of Immunotherapy or other therapeutic approaches based on low doses like Micro-Immunotherapy, can make an important contribution to the treatment of those diseases.
Several of those aspects will be presented and discussed during the congress in 2017. I look forward to welcoming you there and interchanging ideas in the above-mentioned field for the benefit of patients.
Sincerely yours,
Pascal Mensah, Scientific Director of the ICoMI 2017