The largest annual immunology event worldwide, the AAI Annual Meeting is where the leading researchers come to learn the latest in their field. With major lectures from some of the world’s most prominent immunologists and oral and poster presentations of abstracts, IMMUNOLOGY 2010™ will feature cutting-edge developments from scientists at every career stage.  

The IMMUNOLOGY 2010™ Scientific Program will feature more than 550 AAI members and guests speaking in over 100 sessions and over 1600 poster presenters sharing their latest findings. 

Registration is open to both AAI members and non-members with specially discounted pricing for trainees and members. 

IMMUNOLOGY 2010™ attendees will enjoy:

• Unparalleled opportunities for networking, collaboration, and personal scientific development
• More than 100 sessions representing the latest in immunology and related fields
• 5 days of symposia, posters, plenary sessions, and events
• Participation by scientists from more than 30 countries
• Award programs recognizing scientific achievement and offering travel support for junior and senior immunologists
• Career development sessions for trainees and investigators
• Special sessions highlighting national policy issues important to immunologists
• A special workshop for local high school teachers to learn about immunology curricula for the classroom
• More than 100 exhibitors displaying innovations in a wide variety of equipment, publications, supplies, and services to benefit your research

• Register for the meeting (Registration opens November 15, 2009.)
• Make hotel reservations (Housing block opens November 1, 2009.)
• Arrange travel
• Request visa

Registration 

·    Registration – Charles Street Lobby
Registration will be open:
Friday, May 7, 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday, May 8 through Monday, May 10, 7:30 AM -- 5:00 PM
Tuesday, May 11, 7:30 AM – 11:00 AM

·    Registration Fees Onsite
AAI Member……………………………………………………...….…………….$425
AAI Graduate Student Member*……………………………………………..….$145
Nonmember……………………………….…………………………………...….$565
Nonmember Graduate Student*…………………………………..……….……$210
Emeritus AAI Members……………………….……………………………….....$180

Complimentary registration available to Undergraduate Students, High School Students, and High School Teachers (must register on-site).

*Student registrants must have a principal, department head, or research advisor certify student’s eligibility. If registering at the meeting, bring a student ID or a signed letter. Postdoctoral fellows, hospital residents, interns, and laboratory technicians do not qualify as students.

Single day registration is not available.

·    Press Passes
Press badges will be issued at the Registration Desk to pre-approved members of the working press and freelance writers bearing a letter of assignment from an editor. To registration, please send a copy of your letter of assignment along with your contact information to meetings@aai.org.

Representatives from allied fields (public relations, public information, public affairs, scholarly journals or publishers) may register online at /Registration.htm.

·    Refund Policy
To receive a refund, please send a letter requesting a refund along with your confirmation number to:

IMMUNOLOGY 2010 Registration Office
9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20814

Please note that a $40 processing fee will be deducted from your refund.

·    Refunds will not be issued after April 7, 2010. 

·    Program and Badge Distribution – Charles Street Lobby
Registrants will pick up their meeting badges, tickets, and printed programs onsite in Baltimore. Registrants confirmed before May 1 will receive a confirmation email with instructions for obtaining meeting materials and pre-purchased tickets.

Registrants are reminded to bring a printed copy of their confirmation email with them to the meeting. 

Exhibits – Exhibit Halls A-D 

·    Exhibits will be open as follows: Saturday, May 8, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM; Sunday, May 9, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM; Monday, May 10, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Click here to view a complete list of exhibiting companies and their products. Admission to the Exhibit Hall is by official badge only. Badges must be visible for attendees to gain access to the exhibits and posters.

·    Exhibitor Workshops
Take advantage of the opportunity provided by the Exhibitor Workshops to explore exhibitors’ latest technologies, products, and services. Workshops are planned and conducted by exhibitors; the listing of these workshops does not constitute endorsement of any products or services by AAI.

·    Product Showcase
Don’t miss your opportunity to catch the presentations and demonstrations of exhibitors’ new products scheduled in 15-minute intervals on the Exhibit Hall Stage. Click here to view the complete listing of presentations. Presentations are planned and conducted by exhibitors; the listing of these presentations does not constitute endorsement of any products or services by AAI.

Poster Sessions

·    The most interactive part of the meeting! Discuss data and research issues directly with authors at the poster sessions. Scientific posters will be on display as follows:

 Saturday, May 8, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
 Sunday, May 9, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
 Monday, May 10, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM 

·    Authors will be present to discuss their work during the poster presentation time from 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM daily.

·    Poster Presenters
Authors are to place posters on assigned boards in the Exhibit Hall starting at 8:00 AM on the day of presentation. Please remove poster materials promptly at 4:30 PM. Please do not leave belongings, poster containers, or any material under the poster boards or in the poster area as they may be discarded. AAI is not responsible for articles left in the poster area. 

Speaker Ready Room – Room 304 

·    The Speaker Practice Room will be open as follows:

Friday, May 7, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday, May, 8 through Monday, May 10, 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday, May 11, 7:30 AM – 11:00 AM 

·     All speakers are requested to go to the Speaker Practice Room to review and check the compatibility of their presentation at least 4 hours prior to their session.

·    Speakers must arrive in the session room at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the session to allow the operator time to load the presentations onto the computer. The operator will be seated at the table next to the stage. AAI is not responsible for flash drives, CDs, laptops, or cables left in the session rooms.

·    Speakers are not required to bring a laptop. All session rooms will be equipped with a data projector and a Mac computer. Bring your presentation on a USB flash drive or CD-ROM. We recommend that you bring a back-up presentation format. 

Continuing Medical Education (CME)
Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits are not offered for this meeting. However, AAI adheres to conflict-of-interest policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. AAI requires all speakers at AAI-sponsored meetings or programs to inform their audiences of their academic and professional affiliations, and to disclose any significant financial interest or other relationships they may have with the manufacturer(s) of any commercial product(s) discussed in their presentation. This information is required to be provided to AAI and will be included in the Scientific Program.  

Recording
Recording any presentation or session (oral or poster) by any means, (photographing, audio taping, and videotaping) is prohibited except by an AAI authorized agent for official purposes or by first authors who want to photograph their own poster presentations. 

Cell Phones
Cell phone use in sessions is prohibited. Please turn off all cell phones and pagers prior to entering a session room. If you must leave the session early to take or make a call, please use the rear entrance and exit quietly. Please do not talk on your way out of session rooms. 

Publications

·    Additional Programs
Additional copies of the Program may be purchased at the Publications Desk in the Charles Street Lobby for $20.

·    Printed Abstract Books
AAI offers a book containing all of the full-text abstracts to be presented at this year’s meeting. You may purchase a copy of this book while registering for $20, or copies will be available onsite at the Publications Desk in the Charles Street Lobby for $30.

Abstract Citation

·    The proper manner of citation of an abstract

(1) after it has been accepted but before it is posted online as part of The Journal of Immunology website/AAI Annual Meeting archive:

(ex) Snider, H.M., J. Barbi, and A.R. Satoskar. 2009. Macrophages contribute to pathogenesis of visceral leishmaniasis via a STAT1-dependent mechanism. Presented at:  IMMUNOLOGY 2009™, 96^th Annual Meeting of  The American Association of Immunologists, May 8-12, The American Association of Immunologists, Inc., Seattle, Abstract 131.10

·    (2) after it is posted online as part of The Journal of Immunology website/AAI Annual Meeting archive:

(ex) Snider, H.M., J. Barbi, and A.R. Satoskar. 2009.  Macrophages contribute to pathogenesis of visceral leishmaniasis via a STAT1-dependent mechanism. J. Immunol. 182: 131.10 (Abstr). 

Child Care

·    We encourage families to travel to Baltimore and enjoy the many family-oriented activities in the area.  Please note however, that onsite child care will not be provided during IMMUNOLOGY 2010™. If you require a childcare provider during the meeting, arrangements should be made by contacting your hotel concierge for recommendations. It is advised that you make arrangements in advance of the meeting. AAI and its officers, employees, and agents assume no responsibility and accept no liabilities with respect to these services.

·    Family Room
To accommodate those traveling with young children or family members, a family room is available. It is located off the Charles Street Lobby in the Baltimore Convention Center. This room is provided as a convenience for registered attendees and their family members, and will be equipped with tables, chairs, and private nursing stations. This room is not for use as a daycare facility by hired childcare providers. This room will not be staffed. AAI and its officers, employees, and agents assume no responsibility and accept no liabilities with respect to the use of the family room.

·    Children Attending IMMUNOLOGY 2010^TM
Children under the age of 13 are not permitted to attend IMMUNOLOGY 2010^TM or to enter the Exhibit Hall, session rooms, or hallways in the meeting area.  High school students (age 13 and older) are welcome to attend the meeting and will receive complimentary registration if they are accompanied by a registered adult.  Students must provide a school ID to register. High school teachers are also welcome to attend and will receive complimentary registration with proper ID. Students must be accompanied by a registered adult at all times. Appropriate behavior by all students is required.  

Disabilities and Special Needs 

·    If you have a disability and need assistance, please contact the AAI Meeting Office at the time of registration at (301) 634-7399 or email cmoore@aai.org. We must also be notified at the time of registration about bringing service animals to the meeting. Any service animals must be accompanied by appropriate medical and veterinary documentation.

·    Wheelchairs, scooters, and other transport equipment are not available at the Baltimore Convention Center. Below is a list of companies that may rent equipment for a fee.

AVRS Inc.
Manual Wheelchair Rental/Scooter Rental
1509 Vera Avenue
(410) 242-0057

Fairfield Medical, Inc.
Manual Wheelchair Rental Only
2052 Lord Baltimore Drive
(410) 298-5500

James Pharmacy
Manual Wheelchair Rental Only
1117 Light Street
(410) 752-5810

Kirson Medical Equipment Company
Manual Wheelchair Rental Only
8801 Kelso Drive
(410) 391-1811

L & M Medical, Inc.
Manual Wheelchair Rental Only
10600 York Road
(410) 683-9600

Medi-Rents
Manual Wheelchair Rental Only
743 South Conklin Street
(410) 327-7252

Scoot Around America
(888) 441-7575
About the Convention Center 

ATMs
There are two ATMs in the Baltimore Convention Center. One is in the Charles Street Lobby by the men’s restroom, and the other is in the Pratt Street Lobby by the Starbucks kiosk.  

Business Center – 300 Level
The Center maintains exclusive in-house business center services. The Business Center is located on the 300 Level adjacent to the Pratt Street Lobby. The services include: photocopying, faxing, word processing, shipping (hand carry items only), computer access and rental, notary public, and cellular phone leasing.  

Cafés and Dining Options
Concession stands are located in the Exhibit Hall. These are open daily from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. A Starbucks kiosk is located on the third floor in the Pratt Street Lobby and will be open 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM and 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM on Tuesday May, 11. Go Gourmet located on the Mezzanine level will also be open from 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM for breakfast and from 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM serving beverages and snacks only. 

Internet Access/Wireless Access
The Baltimore Convention Center does not have wireless internet available. There are free wi-fi spots located in many of the public areas, most notably near the Einstein Bagel and Starbucks kiosk located on the third floor in the Pratt Street Lobby. 

Baltimore Visitor Center & Concierge Service 

·    The center offers assistance with sightseeing, tour information and reservations, dining recommendations and reservations, maps and in-depth travel assistance, and brochures regarding restaurants, shopping, arts, and more.

·    Stop by and see the display of coupons for local restaurants and attractions. Operated as a complimentary service by Visit Baltimore, the visitor center is located on the 200 Level Mezzanine directly above the Charles Street Lobby near the Skywalk of the Baltimore Convention Center. The visitor center is open Friday – Thursday from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

·    For more information prior to your arrival in Baltimore, please visit www.baltimore.org/pages/aai.  

Local Information 

·    Temperature
Average high temperature in May is 74°F (23°C), low temperature is 53°F (12°C).

·    Tax
In Maryland, there is a 6 percent sales tax on all merchandise except grocery items and medications. Baltimore City also has an additional 7.5 percent hotel occupancy tax.

·    Time Zone
During IMMUNOLOGY 2010™ Baltimore will be on Eastern Daylight Savings Time. 

Parking

There are a number of affordable parking garages located throughout downtown Baltimore. There are 5 garages within a half-mile of the convention center: 

·    1^st Mariner Arena Garage – 99 S. Howard St.
·    11 S. Eutaw St.
·    414 Water St.
·    15 Guildford Ave.
·    210 St. Paul St.

For a map of garage locations, please visit http://baltimore.org/maps#. 

Tipping Guidelines

Tipping is voluntary. Below are some guidelines to follow: 

·    Waiters/Waitresses usually receive 15-20 % of the bill. In some cases, the tip is automatically added to your bill. You should always check before adding gratuity.

·    Maids usually receive $1-2 per room per day. You should leave the tip daily and not at the end of your stay.

·    Taxi drivers usually receive 15% of the fare.

·    Doormen, Skycaps, and Porters usually receive $1/bag. 

Transportation 

·    Shuttle Bus Service
As all meeting hotels are within walking distance to the Convention Center, shuttle bus service will not provided.

·    Airport Transfers
The Baltimore Convention Center (BCC) is located in downtown Baltimore, just 15 minutes from the Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI). There are various ways to transfer from the airport to downtown:

Airport Shuttle - $11
Individual Taxi - $20-25
Sedan, Limousine, or Van - $40 and up
Public Transportation (bus or light rail) - $1.60
MARC Train (Penn Line) - $4

For more information on Ground Transportation from BWI, please see http://www.bwiairport.com/en/travel/ground-transportation

·    Airport Shuttle Service
BWI Airport offers two shuttle services that run to downtown Baltimore City. SuperShuttle and The Airport Shuttle.

For details contact:

The Airport Shuttle
The Airport Shuttle is offering a $7 discount on shuttle service for all attendees, click here or call (800) 776-0323 and say “My profile number is 148453”.

SuperShuttle
SuperShuttle is offering a 5 % discount on round trip car service as well as a discount for shared ride shuttle service. To receive discount visit, http://www.supershuttle.com/default.aspx?GC=9RPDW, or call (800) BLUE VAN (258-3826) and mention the code “9RPDW”.

There are 2 other airports that may service Baltimore City:

Washington-Dulles International (IAD) located in Dulles, VA, which is approximately 60 miles from downtown Baltimore. For more information on IAD, please visit the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority at http://www.mwaa.com/dulles.

Reagan National Airport (DCA) located in Washington, DC, which is approximately 45 miles from downtown Baltimore. For more information on DCA, please visit the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority at http://www.mwaa.com/reagan.

·    Train
There are 3 trains that service Baltimore City as well as BWI airport. For information on the Baltimore Light Rail and Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC) trains, please refer to the public transportation section.

Amtrak trains provide service to the BWI Marshall Rail Station, where free shuttles serve the airport terminal. For more information on Amtrak Train service please visit www.amtrak.com.

·    Public Transportation
Baltimore offers various public transportation options. All have stops or stations located within blocks of the convention center.

Baltimore Light Rail – The Light Rail station located at the corner of Pratt St. and Howard St., which is right next to Camden Yards. Fares are $1.60 one way or $3.50 for a day pass. The Light Rail runs from

o         6:00 AM – 11:00 PM Monday-Friday
o         7:00 AM – 11:00 PM Saturday
o         11:00 AM – 7:00 PM Sunday

Charm City Circulator – The Charm City Circulator (CCC) is a free service that runs every 10 minutes. There is a stop right outside the Convention Center at W. Pratt St. & S. Sharp St. For more detailed information please visit http://www.charmcitycirculator.com.

Local Bus – The local bus system runs local, express, and neighborhood routes. There are numerous bus stops located outside the Convention Center. Fares are $1.60 one way, $3.20 round-trip, and $3.50 for a day pass.

Baltimore Metro Service – The Metro Subway system operates from the Owings Mills corporate and shopping complex in Baltimore County, through the heart of Downtown Baltimore’s business, shopping and sightseeing districts, to world-renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital. Fares are $1.60 one way or $3.50 for a day pass.

MARC (Maryland Area Regional Commuter) Train – The MARC Train Service operates the two main lines to access Baltimore – Penn Line and the Camden Line. MARC Train operates on weekdays only with limited service on select holidays.  

 o         Penn Line - The Penn Line of the MARC Train Service operates primarily between Baltimore’s Penn Station, BWI Marshall Rail Station, and Union Station in Washington, D. C. The Penn Line is the only line of the MARC Train Service to offer mid-day trips between Baltimore and Washington.

o         Camden Line - The Camden Line operates out of Camden Yards in Downtown Baltimore City and travels to Union Station in Washington, D.C. Stops include Dorsey, Laurel, and College Park, Maryland.

o         For more information on any form of public transportation in Baltimore, including schedules and detailed route maps, please visit www.mtamaryland.com.  

·    Taxi Cabs and Limousines
The taxi stand is located just outside of the baggage claim area of the Lower Level of the BWI terminal. BWI taxicabs are prohibited from charging flat rates. For more information, call (410) 859-1100 or visit www.bwiairporttaxi.com. The fare to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is approximately $35.

Sedans, private cars, and limousines are available for rental through Private Car/RMA Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation. Please make reservations online at www.rmalimo.com or call (800) 878-7743, all major credit cards accepted.

·    Shuttle Bus Service is not provided between AAI Hotels and the Convention Center.
 

• 2010 Exhibitor Prospectus

• View 2009 AAI Meeting Abstracts from IMMUNOLOGY 2009™

• Baltimore Information
  

©The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.
9650 Rockville Pike | Bethesda, Maryland 20814
Phone: (301) 634-7178 | Fax: (301) 634-7887
Email: infoaai@aai.org | Web: www.aai.org
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Updated 04/22/2010