About BIRAs
Aims and activities
The British Inflammation Research Association (BIRAs) is a UK based
association
dedicated to the science of inflammation. However, membership
is open to interested individuals outside of the UK, although there are
other
similar associations around the world.
BIRAs was established in 1988 by several
members of the UK pharmaceutical industry working in inflammation science.
An initial questionnaire elucidated the nature and level of interest in
such an organisation, and the direction that it might take. With the aid of start-up
funding provided by UK companies the Association held its inaugural meeting in London,
in December, 1988. BIRAs is organized by a committee consisting of an equal
mix of industrial and academic researchers. As a member, you are welcome to become
more involved in the activities of BIRAs, either through joining the committee or
organising a meeting. If you are interested in these activities, please contact the
Chair. Its primary aim is to couple
its scientific activities closely to the discovery and exploitation of
therapeutically relevant modulations of underlying, fundamentally important,
physiological and pathological mechanisms. Inflammation is interpreted to
include:
- arthritis
- broncho-pulmonary and gastro-intestinal inflammation,
- inflammation of the skin and gingiva,
- related syndromes in other tissues and systems,
- related aspects of immunology and cell biology.
The involvement of common themes, events, cell types and mediators in
these different manifestations of a fundamental body reaction to damage and
invasion are emphasized wherever possible, in the expectation that advances in
our understanding of one sub-field of inflammation science can benefit
workers in
other areas of the field. It is an integral feature of the Association
that a productive and stimulating dialogue should be encouraged between the
industrial and academic facets of the inflammation research community. This is
particularly important in the UK, where the total research community is relatively
small. Thus it is important that an approximate equal balance between the
number of industrial and academic researchers is maintained on the committee.
The primary means of furthering the Association's scientific aims is
through the organization of short meetings,
usually
lasting a single day and each being on a single area of relevant science. The
Association aims to remain firmly tied to the science of inflammation, and
thereby
to remain both practically orientated and of real benefit to those active in the
field. Meetings are therefore organized to have a "workshop" flavour, and to remain
accessible, both geographically and financially, to as many interested scientists
as possible. As part of a policy to encourage young scientists to enter
the field, and to participate actively in BIRAs meetings, registration (but
not food or accommodation) at all meetings is free of charge to bona
fide
MSc and PhD students who are members of BIRAs. Such students also enjoy a reduced
membership of the Association itself during the term of their studentship (up
to a maximum of 4 years ). The Association is also a founder member of
the International Association of Inflammation Societies (IAIS), an organization
that is also committed to fostering high quality, reasonably costed scientific
interchanges amongst the international inflammation science community. This is
achieved through improved communications and integration of the activities of
local societies, and through the organisation of international congresses or
satellite symposia.
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