The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) was established in 2008 as a public-private partnership between the European Union and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations with the mission to promote the development of novel therapies through collaborative efforts based on the concept of pre-competitive research. Several consortia supported by IMI are dedicated to immuno-inflammatory disorders, immune-based biopharmaceuticals and vaccines. Herein, we present the key principles underlying IMI, briefly review the status of projects related to translational immunology, and present future topics of interest to immunologists.
Immunodeficiency means when the body's immune response is reduced or absent. As the immune system protects the body from harmful substances called antigens like microorganisms, cancer cells, blood or tissues from another person and toxins, it is mediated by the immune response that includes responses by white blood cells which is composed of neutrophils and lymphocytes. Neutrophils engulf the foreign particle and destroy them by a process called phagocytosis. Lymphocytes can be divided into two types: T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes. T lymphocytes directly attack antigens (cellular immunity). B lymphocytes produce antibodies (humoral immunity) that attach to the antigen or foreign particle and make phagocytes and body chemicals, such as complement proteins, that helps in the destruction of the antigen or foreign particle. In immunodeficiency there is the failure of one or more parts of the immune system. It can be divided into two categories primary immunodeficiency and acquired immunodeficiency. Primary immunodeficiency is caused by congenital/inherited defects and in primary immunodeficiency there is either deficiency in B cells, T cells or both B and T cells or due to defective phagocytes. Whereas acquired immunodeficiency is caused by a disease that affects the immune system. There are certain tests that can diagnose immunodeficiency disorder. The tests that indicate immunodeficiency disorder are low white blood cell count, low antibody or immunoglobulin levels, low complement levels. Immunodeficiency can be treated by gene therapy or bone marrow transplantation as no drug can be helpful in this disorder. A journal is a periodical publication intended to further progress of science, usually by reporting new research. Most journals are highly specialized, although some of the oldest journals publish articles, reviews, editorials, short communications, letters, and scientific papers across a wide range of scientific fields. Journals contain articles that peer reviewed, in an attempt to ensure that articles meet the journal's standards of quality, and scientific validity. Each such journal article becomes part of the permanent scientific record.