In spring 2003, at the 1st B Cell Forum organised by Michael Reth (Freiburg), Andreas Radbruch (Berlin) and Hans-Martin Jäck (Erlangen) in Titisee, the idea was developed to establish a study group with the topic ‘B-lymphocytes’. At the DGfI annual meeting in Berlin in September 2003, the DGfI advisory board approved the establishment of the “Biology of B lymphocytes” study group. The study group was officially established during the 2nd B Cell Forum organized by Andreas Radbruch and Claudia Berek in Potsdam from March 11-13, 2004. The then 50 members elected Hans-Martin Jäck (Erlangen) and Claudia Berek (Berlin) as spokespersons and deputy spokespersons respectively.
The main objective of the study group ‘Biology of B-lymphocytes’ was to establish a network in order to better coordinate B cell research at the national level and to further consolidate and expand the internationally excellent reputation of German B cell immunologists. An important instrument is the annual B Cell Forum, which serves as a platform for the presentation of new groups and projects as well as for the discussion of current topics in the field of humoral immunity. Future activities besides the B Cell Forum are the organisation of workshops and symposia during the DGfI annual meeting as well as the coordination of joint regional and supraregional research proposals.
