About Professor Vincenzo Cerundolo:

Professor Vincenzo Cerundolo FRS (1959-2020) was Director of the MRC HIU from 2010-2020 and a leader in the field of immunology, whose research advanced our understanding of antigen processing and presentation to immune cells.

Vincenzo Cerundolo, also known as Enzo, is distinguished for his discoveries in processing and presentation of peptides and lipids to T cells. He was first to demonstrate that TAP genes within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) transport peptides presented by MHC class I molecules and describe a novel clinical syndrome in patients with defective TAP genes. Cerundolo characterised the relationship between the length of peptides and their binding affinity to MHC class I molecules, explaining the homogeneous length of peptides isolated from MHC class I molecules.

He demonstrated that proteasome dependent degradation of antigenic proteins plays a key role not only in controlling presentation of intracellular, but also of extracellular proteins taken up by antigen presenting cells, hence defining the mechanism for the process known as cross-presentation. He characterised the structural and kinetic mechanisms by which lipids bind to CD1 molecules and are recognized by T cells and demonstrated that harnessing CD1 restricted NKT cells enhances antigen specific antibody and T cell responses. These seminal findings have opened up novel therapeutic strategies to enhance immune responses against cancer and pathogens.

References:

https://royalsociety.org/people/vincenzo-cerundolo-13802/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41590-020-0617-5

About the Vincenzo Cerundolo Lectureship Award:

Established in 2022 by CD1-MR1 conference organizers, as well as the CD1-MR1 scientific advisory board, the Vincenzo Cerundolo Lectureship Award recognizes newly independent investigators, remembers the contributions to our field by the late Vincenzo Cerundolo, and further aims to contribute to the rich collegial spirit of the CD1-MR1 community. 

One or two awards will be awarded at each CD1-MR1 conference. The award will provide financial support for attendance at the meeting with equivalent monetary value offered to that of invited plenary speakers (expenses of registration, including the welcome reception, speakers’ dinner and conference dinner), a contribution towards accommodation and travel, a marquee speaking slot (~35 min) as the named Cerundolo Lecturer, a physical momento, and a stipend of ~ $500 USD to invite 6 scientists that 'you don't yet know but would like to get to know’ to dinner at the CD1-MR1 conference. The concept is to have a joyful remembrance of Vincenzo Cerundolo, as well as his ability to bring people together and support young scientists. 

Please note: Invited speakers who wish to apply for the lectureship award are required to submit an abstract and an application through the abstract submission/registration portal.

Eligibility:

• Mid-career researcher (MCR) conference attendees who conduct independent scientific investigation (but are not yet a full Professor) and submit abstracts are eligible to apply.

Application procedure:

•   Self- or third-party nominations followed by an application as part of the abstract submission. Application includes attachment of a word document with five past publications in Pubmed format. Download the template here.

• Deadline: 27 Oct 2023 (the abstract submission deadline).

• Outcomes announced: December 2023

Selection criteria/process:

• Quality, impact and originality of past (publication score) and current (abstract score) scientific work.  

• The selection committee comprises the conference organizers, together with several named lectureship supporters*.

* Named lectureship supporters:

Paul Klenerman, Graham Ogg, Mariolina Salio, Susanna Cardell, Johan Sandberg, Mikael Karlsson, Branch Moody, Mitchell Kronenberg, Richard Blumberg, Jose Villadangos, Jenny Gumperz, Michael Brenner, Gennaro De Libero, Lucia Mori, Paolo Dellabona, Giulia Casorati, Dirk Elewaut, Lydia Lynch, James McCluskey, Dale Godfrey, Chung-Ru Wang, Steven Porcelli, Mark Exley, Olivier Lantz.