The Ulster Immunology Group (UIG) is a Regional Affiliate of the British Society for Immunology (BSI). Its objective is to provide a forum for scientists in Northern Ireland to foster common interests in the broad area of immunology. UIG is led by a small active committee that organises a monthly seminar series, periodic ad hoc symposia and annual student prizes honouring the best graduates in immunology from both Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster.
The seminar series implicates local, national and international scientists invited to share their research with our members. Periodic ad hoc symposia are organised in collaboration with BSI depending on available funding. Symposium topics are selected on the basis of areas of interest to as wide a range of scientists as possible. The annual student prizes are presented to the best graduates with immunology components in their degrees. The UIG also maintains close relations with the Irish Society for Immunology, which involves collaborating on annual ISI symposia and research collaboration between our members. Individuals with interest in immunology are warmly welcome to join. Ideas for future activities are also welcome and should be forwarded to the UIG Secretary.
Ulster Best Immunology Student Award
2020
The Ulster Immunology Group award for the best two undergraduate students in immunology in Northern Ireland has been awarded to Emma McKay (Queen’s University Belfast) and Antonio Singco, Jr. (Ulster University). The virtual ceremony took place on 9 July 2020.
2019
The Annual Awards Seminar for the best undergraduate student in immunology (Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University) was held on the 14 June 2019 as part of this year’s symposium ‘Immunology without Borders’.
The 2019 UIG student prize was presented by Dr Karim Dib. The Awardee for Best Student of Immunology from Queens University was Niamh O’Malley and from Ulster University was Fiona McMahon. Congratulations to both!
Monthly seminar series
Venue (unless otherwise stated): Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Lecture Hall, Basement
2020
January
Understanding the unconventional biology of interleukin-1
Professor David Brough, University of Manchester
Hosted by Dr Michelle Naughton in conjunction with the WWIEM Postdoctoral Research Symposium
13:00-14:00 on 24 January 2020
TIR-domain biology in retinal degeneration
Dr Sarah Doyle, Trinity College Dublin
Hosted by Dr Michelle Naughton in conjunction with the WWIEM Postdoctoral Research Symposium
15:00-16:00 on 24 January 2020
March
Professor Catherine Lubetzki, Professor of Neurology, Sorbonne University and Salpêtrière Hospital, France
Hosted by Professor Denise Fitzgerald in conjunction with NI MS Research Network Symposium
13:00-14:00 on 31 March 2020
May
Seeing is believing: transparent zebrafish reveal neutrophil functions in vivo
Prof Stephen Renshaw, University of Sheffield, UK
Hosted by Dr K Dib
13:00-14:00 on 19 May 2020
June
Symposium and Student Awards
Immunology without borders: Innate and adaptive immunity cross-talk
18-19 June 2020, Conor Lecture Theatre, Ulster University
August
Professor Jenny Ting, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
Hosted by Dr Yvonne Dombrowski
13:00-14:00 on 11 August 2020
Committee
President: Yvonne Dombrowski
Secretary: Karim Dib
Website officer: Emeir McSorley
Member: Denise Fitzgerald
Member: Rebecca Ingram
Member: Bettina Schock
Member: Ultan Power
Member: Philip Allsopp
Member: Louise Cosby
Member: Rebecca Coll
Postdoc representative: Michelle Naughton
PhD representative: Joanna Jurek