The field of immunology is one of the fastest growing disciplines in biomedical research. Immunology comprises a multifaceted research agenda that has roots in the clinical challenges of host defense against infection, transplantation, autoimmunity, tumor immunology, and allergy. To date, it also becomes clear that outside the traditional immunological diseases, dysregulation of immune responses is associated with the development of many metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. These exciting findings in basic immunology research provide momentum in clinical immunology research that offers substantial therapeutic promise and brought novel interventions for the treatment of many human diseases.

In the past decade, researchers in Taiwan have made several outstanding discoveries and breakthroughs in both basic and clinical immunology. Multiple institutes in Taiwan, including Chang Gung University, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital System, have devoted an enormous effort to nurture and support fundamental and clinical research of immunology. However, as the subject of immunology becomes more complex, it is imperative to train the next generation of immunologists to stay at the forefront of their respective lines of research in this ever-evolving field. Moreover, it is also well recognized that multidisciplinary collaborations both locally and internationally become increasingly important to deal with the massive data sets acquired by ever-advancing technology. In light of this, several Taiwanese immunologists from Chang Gung University/Hospital System as well as many other research institutes and universities at home and abroad have worked together to organize this first-ever immunology spring school and symposium, Formosa Immunology Spring School and Symposium (FISS) - Emerging Concepts in Immunology. The goals of this event are to foster biomedical research for our next generation and to provide a platform to bridge local scientists with world-renowned immunologists.

Back in 2019, under the coordinated efforts between Chang Gung Memorial Hospital system and many Taiwanese immunologists from several other institutes either in Taiwan or aboard, we have successfully held the inauguration of FISS. With the participation of ten world-renowned immunologists, including Jean-Laurent Casanova (Rockfeller University), Alexander Rudensky (MSKCC), Jedd Wolchok (MSKCC), Marco Colona (Washington U. at St. Louis), Hilde Cheroutre (Lo Jolla Institute), Mitch Kronenberg (Lo Jolla Institute), Jonathan Sprent (Garvan Institute of Medical Research), Burkhard Becher (University of Zuirch), Arthur Weiss (UCSF), and Shie-Liang Hsieh (Academia Sinica), FISS 2019 made a successful debut with the high quality of presentations and interactions among international and local immunologists. In 2023, we look forward to extending the momentum of FISS 2019. Once again, we have successfully invited numerous world-class immunologists who are leaders in their respective immunology fields to join us. We genuinely believe that like the meeting in 2019, the FISS 2023 is going to be another excellent opportunity for researchers in Taiwan and look forward to your participation.

See you in 2023 Spring!