About BIRAs

Aims and activities 

The British Inflammation Research Association (BIRAs) is a UK basedassociation dedicated to the science of inflammation. However, membership is open to interested individuals outside of the UK, although there areother similar associations around the world. 

BIRAs was established in 1988 by several members of the UK pharmaceuticalindustry working in inflammation science. An initial questionnaire elucidated the nature and level of interest in such an organisation, andthe direction that it might take. With the aid of start-up funding providedby UK companies the Association held its inaugural meeting in London, inDecember, 1988. 

BIRAs is organized by a committee consisting of an equal mix of industrialand academic researchers. As a member, you are welcome to become more involvedin the activities of BIRAs, either through joining the committee or organisinga meeting. If you are interested in these activities, please contact the Chair . 

Its primary aim is to couple its scientific activities closely to thediscovery and exploitation of therapeutically relevant modulations of underlying,fundamentally important, physiological and pathological mechanisms. Inflammationis interpreted to include: 

  • arthritis 
  • broncho-pulmonary and gastro-intestinal inflammation, 
  • inflammation of the skin and gingiva, 
  • related syndromes in other tissues and systems, 
  • related aspects of immunology and cell biology. 
The involvement of common themes, events, cell types and mediators in these different manifestations of a fundamental body reaction to damage and invasionare emphasized wherever possible, in the expectation that advances in ourunderstanding of one sub-field of inflammation science can benefit workersin other areas of the field. 

It is an integral feature of the Association that a productive and stimulatingdialogue should be encouraged between the industrial and academic facetsof the inflammation research community. This is particularly importantin the UK, where the total research community is relatively small. Thus it is important that an approximate equal balance between the number ofindustrial and academic researchers is maintained on the committee.  

The primary means of furthering the Association's scientific aims is through the organization of short meetings,usually lasting a single day and each being on a single area of relevant science. The Association aims to remain firmly tied to the science of inflammation,andthereby to remain both practically orientated and of real benefit to thoseactive in the field. Meetings are therefore organized to have a "workshop" flavour, and to remain accessible, both geographically and financially,to as many interested scientists as possible. 

As part of a policy to encourage young scientists to enter the field,and to participate actively in BIRAs meetings, registration (but notfood or accommodation) at all meetings is free of charge to bonafide MSc and PhD students who are members of BIRAs. Such students alsoenjoy a reduced membership of the Association itself during the term oftheir studentship (up to a maximum of 4 years ). 

The Association is also a founder member of the International Association of Inflammation Societies (IAIS), an organization that is also committedto fostering high quality, reasonably costed scientific interchanges amongst the international inflammation science community. This is achieved through improved communications and integration of the activities of local societies,and through the organisation of international congresses or satellite symposia. 

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ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION 

The Association's meetings programme and general organization is run by a Committee of no more than fifteen research scientists, drawn from both the pharmaceutical industry and from academia. The elected Committee has the authority to co-opt members to maintain a fair and balanced representation of the interests of the Association's members, within the spirit of these Guidelines.The committee should consist of approximately equal numbers of scientists from academia and industry. The details of the process of the election of committee members also forms part of these articles.The organization of the British Inflammation Research Association is subject to the views and votes of the business meeting at the AGM. Any member of the British Inflammation Research Association is entitled to raise issues at the AGM, or, preferably, prior to it so that the agenda topics can be circulated beforehand to all BIRAs members (please send items to the Chairman). An AGM will be held annually. All members will be informed, and invited to the AGM, at least 8 weeks in advance, either by through email or other form of mailing.The British Inflammation Research Association will communicate with its members through: 
  • This web site.Regular mailings, carried out by email, or fax or post where a member does not have access to email.The AGM 
BIRAs wishes to be seen to be independent of any overriding commercial concern and thus does not accept sole sponsorship of any of its activities.  
Sponsorship will be accepted provided the meetings are free from any constraints on their content, and this freedom will be emphasised to all members of the Association. No advertisement or presentation of pharmaceutical company interests (e.g. drugs pertinent to the subject of the meeting) is allowed. Other forms of acceptable sponsorship are: 
  • sponsorship (travel, accommodation, etc.) of an individual speaker at one of its meetings
  • commercially-orientated displays or stands, such as those by suppliers of reagents or publishers of scientific or medical textbooks, are permissible where they offer a genuinely useful and unbiased service to the researchers likely to attend the meeting. 
  • mailshots to its members
  • contribution(s) to the cost of its activities, e.g. this web site. If so desired by the sponsoring company, such contributions will be recognised at the end of any relevant literature or, in the case of this web site, under the list of sponsors given. 
Inflammation Research is the official journal of BIRAs. The Association does not currently have charitable status. 
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