Immunology for the Practicing Physician

The field of immunology has grown extensively during the past decadeo The basic concepts and importance of these findings may have clinical application in the management, detection, and ex­ planation of human diseases. Therefore, when a topic was to be chosen for the dedication of the new Metropol itan Medical Center, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, immunology, and its relation to medi­ cine, was selected. In fact, "applied immunology has had great impact on all aspects of medical practice. This impact has taken several forms: modern immunology has defined areaS of new medical practice (in the immunodeficiency disease, for example); has lent strength to the development of other areaS (such as transplantation and tumor immunology); has provided understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of certain diseases; has provided investigative ap­ proaches in laboratory methods for the study of diseases; and may playa major role in diagnosis of treatment and cancer" (Lancet, April 19, 1976). The purpose of this symposium was to bring to the practicing phy­ sician the current "state of the art" of immunological research in an interesting and comprehensible manner. It waS our hope that practic­ ing physicians would be updated regarding new aspects of basic and clinical concepts of cellular immunology.