It is 20 years since the definition of chemokines as a functionally and biochemically distinct family of proteins. In this time the family has expanded from a small number of members to the current situation where almost 50 chemokines have been identified. In the intervening years much progress has been made in characterising the structure of chemokines, identifying their receptors and the unravelling the complex biologies in which they participate. As a result of these studies it is now clear that chemokines and their receptors are pivotal players in the orchestration of ‘immune’ tissue organogenesis as well as of the innate and adaptive immune responses. Thus chemokine biology now underpins a broad range of biological specialities.

Importantly, ‘translational’ studies have provided incontrovertible evidence of the importance of chemokines and their receptors in a range of prominent pathologies. Thus essentially all immune and inflammatory pathologies have, at their heart, a dysfunction of some sort in either chemokine or chemokine receptor expression or responses. In addition, 2 chemokine receptors (CCR5 and CXCR4) have been shown to play profound roles in HIV pathogenesis through their ability to act as co-receptors for viral entry. Finally, details of the roles for chemokines and their receptors in cancer and cancer metastasis have provided important insights into the orchestration of the complex processes of tumorigenesis. Importantly, these pathology-focused studies have highlighted chemokines and their receptors as prominent therapeutic targets and over 10 years of work in this area is now being reflected in a number of chemokine receptor blockers being approved for clinical use.

This Gordon Conference will therefore be a celebration of 20 years of research and innovation in the chemokine field. We will explore the complex and diverse biologies of chemokines and their receptors and will integrate this with an up-to-date understanding of the regulation of these molecules. In addition we will examine recent therapeutic developments and will provide updates on the clinical progress of chemokine-based therapeutics. We hope that this will be a forward looking conference with opportunities for in depth analysis of where our field will be heading in the future.

Importantly, whilst the science is key to the success of the conference, we will be holding the meeting in Il Ciocco, Italy. This is a beautiful site and the promise of quality red wine and Italian hospitality can only help to make this a successful meeting.

We look forward to seeing you in Il Ciocco in May 2010.

Gerry Graham and Antal Rot