Young Investigator's Forum Research Articles

Application of Genomic Medicine in Africa: 14th Conference of the African Society of Human Genetics and the 2nd International Congress of the Moroccan Society of Genomics and Human Genetics, Rabat, Morocco 2022.

The 14th African Society of Human Genetics (AfSHG) Morocco Meeting and 2nd International Congress of the Moroccan Society of Genomics and Human Genetics (SM2GH), held in Rabat, Morocco, from December 12 through 17, 2022, brought together 298 attendees from 23 countries, organized by the AfSHG in collaboration with the SM2GH. The conference's overarching theme was "Applications of Genomics Medicine in Africa," covering a wide range of topics, including population genetics, genetics of infectious diseases, hereditary disorders, cancer genetics, and translational genetics. The conference aimed to address the lag in the field of genetics in Africa and highlight the potential for genetic research and personalized medicine on the continent. The goal was to improve the health of African populations and global communities while nurturing the careers of young African scientists in the field. Distinguished scientists from around the world shared their recent findings in genetics, immunogenetics, genomics, genome editing, immunotherapy, and ethics genomics. Precongress activities included a 2-day bioinformatics workshop, "NGS Analysis for Monogenic Disease in African Populations," and a Young Investigators Forum, providing opportunities for young African researchers to showcase their work. The vast genetic diversity of the African continent poses a significant challenge in investigating and characterizing public health issues at the genetic and functional levels. Training, research, and the development of expertise in genetics, immunology, genomics, and bioinformatics are vital for addressing these challenges and advancing genetics in Africa. The AfSHG is committed to leading efforts to enhance genetic research, coordinate training, and foster research collaborations on the continent.

Advancing intercontinental collaboration in human genetics: success story of the African and European Young Investigator Forum.

Advancing intercontinental collaboration in human genetics: success story of the African and European Young Investigator Forum.

Scientific Overview on CSCI-CITAC Annual General Meeting and 2018 Young Investigators’ Forum

The 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Young Investigators’ Forum (YIF) of the Canadian Society of Clinician Investigators (CSCI) and Clinician Investigator Trainee Association of Canada/Association des Cliniciens-Chercheurs en Formation du Canada (CITAC/ACCFC) was held in Toronto, Ontario on November 19–20, 2018, in conjunction with the University of
 Toronto Clinician Investigator Program Research Day. The theme for the meeting was “Prepare for Success—Things to Master Now for Clinician Scientists in Training”; with lectures and workshops that were designed to provide knowledge and hands-on skills to navigate life as a clinician investigator. The opening remarks were by Jason Berman (President of CSCI), Josh Abraham (President of CITAC/ACCFC) and Nicola Jones (University of Toronto Clinician Investigator Symposium Chair). The keynote speakers were Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie (University of Manitoba), who received the Distinguished Scientist Award, Dr. Davinder Jassal (University of Manitoba), who received the CSCI-RCPSC Henry Friesen Award, and Dr. Aleixo Muise (University of Toronto), who received the Joe Doupe Young Investigator Award. Dr. Minna Woo (University of Toronto), Canada Research Chair in Diabetes Signal Transduction, delivered the keynote lecture “From Onion Cells to Single Cell Seq—A Constant Change in Lenses: A perspective of an evolving clinician scientist”.
 
 The workshops, focusing on career development for clinician-scientists, were hosted by Drs. Robert Chen, Stephen Juvet, Lorraine Kalia, Phyllis Billia, Neil Goldenberg, Nicola Jones, Srdjanaa Filipovic, Jason Berman, Josh Abraham, Melanie Szweras, Joseph Ferenbok and Uri Tabori. The AGM also included presentations from clinician investigator trainees from across the country, and these abstracts are summarized in this review. Over 80 abstracts were showcased at this year’s meeting during the poster session, with six outstanding abstracts selected for oral presentations during the President’s Forum.

Chapter 2. ESPGHAN: 50 Years Memories-The Early Years.

Thirty-six founding members from Europe were present in 1968, when the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology (ESGA) had its first meeting in Paris. The aim was to create a forum for presentations and discussions of research activities in paediatric gastroenterology in Europe. At the second meeting of ESGA 1969 in Interlaken, an important landmark was set for all gastroenterologists in the world. In this conference, the first ever criteria for "the Diagnosis of Coeliac Disease" (CD) were established. In 1990, the revised criteria for the diagnosis of CD were published. After the introduction of new noninvasive techniques, like tissue transglutaminase 2-antibodies and the HLADQ2/HLADQ8 determinations in blood, "new" criteria for the diagnosis of CD were published in 2012 by the European society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN). Close collaboration of ESPGHAN and the North American Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition led to mutual meetings. The first combined meeting was 1978 in Paris, followed by meetings in New York, Amsterdam, Houston, and last in Toulouse. The first World Congress of Paediatric Gastroenterology took place in Boston 2000 followed by congresses in Paris, Iguazu, Taipeh, and Toronto. The creation of specialised committees (Nutrition Committees, GI-Committee, and Hepatology-Committee) enabled the society to elaborate numerous guidelines for standards in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases within the subspecialties. The Journal of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, as organ of ESPGHAN and the North American Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition since 1991, serves as the voice for these worldwide accepted guidelines. Growing educational activities with summer schools, the Young Investigator Forum and the creation of working groups have distributed our current knowledge among the younger generation and led to fruitful reports, guidelines, and syllabus. In 1992, ESPGHAN was 1 of the founding 7 members of the United European Gastroenterology Federation (UEGF), which developed into a successful organisation for gastroenterology in Europe. This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of ESPGHAN at our annual Meeting in Geneva.

Editorial introductions

Current Opinion in Organ Transplantation was launched in 1996. It is part of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The field of organ transplantation is divided into 18 sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Section Editors for this issue. SECTION EDITORS R. Mark GhobrialR. Mark GhobrialAfter receiving his bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery degrees from Cairo University Medical School, Egypt, Dr. Ghobrial completed several surgical residencies in the United Kingdom and the United States. While a surgery resident at University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Texas, he completed a PhD in Immunology at the UT Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 1994. After residency, he accepted a position as Clinical Instructor in the Department of Surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and was awarded a dumont-UCLA transplant fellowship. He received his full professorship in 2005 and served as the Director of the Pancreas Transplant Program and Living Donor Liver Transplantation, and Service Director for Liver, Pancreas, and Small Bowel Transplantation. He was recruited to the Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas, USA in 2008. Florence LacailleFlorence LacailleIn her eyes, Dr Lacaille is a pediatrician who was trained in the most beautiful city in the world (Paris!) as a modest resident in Pr Alagille's unit among others. She travelled to Montreal, Canada, for a fellowship in paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition. Back in Paris, she established the unit of pediatric hepatology and liver transplantation in Necker-Enfants malades in 1992. The first world intestinal transplantation had been performed in this institution in 1987, and after a difficult start, a transplantation program developed from 1994. From 2004, Dr Lacaille cared for children who had undergone combined liver-small bowel transplantation and those who endured isolated small bowel transplantation. Dr Lacaille was also the co-editor of a French textbook on paediatric hepatology, with a new edition currently in preparation. She and her colleagues of the Network for Intestinal failure and Transplantation in Europe (NITE) organized two European workshops on intestinal transplantation in children in 2012 and 2014. Dr Lacaille also organized the ESPGHAN Summer school of Hepatology in 2012 and sat on the Council of ESPGHAN (European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition) and ITA (Intestinal Transplant Association). Dr Lacaille is currently Chairperson of the Young Investigator Forum (YIF) of ESPGHAN. Together with the President, George Mazariegos, and the Council of ITA, she is organizing the next ITA meeting in Paris in 2019. Norah A. TerraultNorah A. TerraultDr Norah A. Terrault is a Professor of Medicine and Surgery and Director of the Viral Hepatitis Center at the University of California, San Francisco, USA. She received her MD from the University of Alberta, USA, and completed fellowships at the University of Toronto, Canada, before joining the faculty at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research focuses on the natural history and treatment of viral hepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, especially in patients with cirrhosis and liver transplant recipients. She has conducted multiple clinical trials related to preventing and treating chronic hepatitis C and B, and is site PI for the NIH-supported HBV Clinical Research Network (HBRN) and NASH Clinical Research Network. She has authored over 250 peer-reviewed manuscripts, editorials, invited reviews, and chapters and is an Associate Editor for Hepatology and past Deputy Editor for Liver Transplantation. She has served on the AASLD governing board and as Councilor on the IASL governing board.

2017 in-training initiative of the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics: the JARG Young Investigator Forum.

The Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics introduces the JARG Young Investigator Forum, an in-training initiative aimed to expand opportunities for young investigators. The JARG Young Investigator Forum has three primary goals: first, to increase opportunities for trainees and young investigators to contribute as researchers and writers. Trainees will be invited to publish mini-reviews based on their area of research interest/expertise and will have the opportunity to indicate "in-training" when submitting manuscripts as first author Educational research pertaining to reproductive medicine training will be added to the purview of the journal. Second, the Young Investigator Forum will increase opportunities for trainees to serve as journal reviewers and will provide mentorship throughout the peer review process. Third, trainees will have the unique opportunity to gain editorial experience by serving as a "guest editor" of the Young Investigator Forum, overseeing all editorial aspects of their assigned particular issue. Through authorship, peer review, and editorial experience, we seek to nurture the academic skills that are critical to a well-rounded career. The JARG Young Investigator Forum aims to foster career development for a generation of trainees who represent the future of reproductive medicine, and here, we outline the primary goals and objectives of the initiative.

Mechanisms of Stress-Induced Visceral Pain: Implications in Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Visceral pain is a term describing pain originating from the internal organs of the body and is a common feature of many disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Stress is implicated in the development and exacerbation of many visceral pain disorders. Recent evidence suggests that stress and the gut microbiota can interact through complementary or opposing factors to influence visceral nociceptive behaviours. The Young Investigator Forum at the International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology (ISPNE) annual meeting reported experimental evidence suggesting the gut microbiota can affect the stress response to affect visceral pain. Building upon human imaging data showing abnormalities in the central processing of visceral stimuli in patients with IBS and knowledge that the amygdala plays a pivotal role in facilitating the stress axis, the latest experimental evidence supporting amygdala-mediated mechanisms in stress-induced visceral pain was reviewed. The final part of the session at ISPNE reviewed experimental evidence suggesting that visceral pain in IBS may be a result, at least in part, of afferent nerve sensitisation following increases in epithelial permeability and mucosal immune activation.

A National Survey of Mentoring Practices for Young Investigators in Circulatory and Respiratory Health.

Background. Improving mentorship may help decrease the shortage of young investigators (graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and new investigators) available to work as independent researchers in cardiovascular and respiratory health. Objectives. To determine (1) the mentoring practices for trainees affiliated with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH), (2) the positive attributes of mentors, and (3) the recommendations regarding what makes good mentorship. Methods. We conducted a survey and descriptive analysis of young investigators with a CIHR Training and Salary Award from 2010 to 2013 or who submitted an abstract to the ICRH 2014 Young Investigators Forum. Clinicians were compared to nonclinicians. Results. Of 172 participants, 7.0% had no mentor. Only 43.6% had defined goals and 40.7% had defined timelines, while 54.1% had informal forms of mentorship. A significant proportion (33.1%) felt that their current mentorship did not meet their needs. Among clinicians, 22.2% would not have chosen the same mentor again versus 11.4% of nonclinicians. All participants favored mentors who provided guidance on career and work-life balance. Suggestions for improved mentoring included formal mentorship, increased networking, and quality assurance. Conclusion. There is an important need to improve mentoring in cardiovascular and respiratory health.

Scientific overview: CSCI-CITAC Annual General Meeting and Young Investigator's Forum 2013.

The 2013 joint Canadian Society of Clinician Investigators (CSCI)-Clinical Investigator Trainee Association of Canada/Association des cliniciens-chercheurs en formation du Canada (CITAC/ACCFC) annual general meeting(AGM) was held in Ottawa, September 2013. The symposium focused on "Applications of the 'omics' to Clinical Practice", with presentations from Drs. William T. Gibson (University of British Columbia), Julie Ho (University of Manitoba) and David Hwang (University of Toronto), discussing topics of genome, proteome and the microbiome, respectively. Other highlights from the 2013 AGM include presentations by Dr. Salim Yusuf (McMaster University, 2013 CSCI-RCPSC Henry Friesen Award winner), Dr. Gary Lewis (University of Toronto, 2013 CSCI Distinguished Scientist Award winner) and Dr. Michael Taylor (University of Toronto, 2013 Joe Doupe Award winner). The CSCI/CITAC/Friends of CIHR Joint Symposium consisted of presentations from Drs. John Bell (University of Ottawa), Dan Drucker (University of Toronto) and Heather J. Dean (University of Manitoba). Finally, the meeting ended with the presentation "The Power of an Idea to Bring Ideas to Power" by Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg (President, U.S. Institute of Medicine), the winner of the 2013 Henry Friesen International Prize. Also presented at the conference was research by clinician investigator (CI) trainees from across Canada; ie., those enrolled in MD/MSc, MD/PhD or Clinician Investigator Program(CIP) programs. Canadian trainees' research extended beyond the pillar of biomedical research, covering the spectrum between basic and clinical research, with a focus on the causes of significant morbidity and mortality for Canadians, including cancers, infectious diseases and other maladies. It is this research that we have summarized in this review.

Scientific overview: CSCI-CITAC annual general meeting and young investigator's forum 2011

In 2011, members of the Clinician Investigator Trainee Association of Canada - Association des cliniciens-chercheurs en formation du Canada (CITAC-ACCFC) and the Canadian Society for Clinician Investigators (CSCI) held a joint Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Young Investigator Forum (YIF) September 12-14 in Ottawa, ON, Canada. The theme of the meeting was "The Role of Government and Regulatory Organizations in Shaping the Environment of the Clinician Scientist". The meeting was well attended by established clinician scientists and clinician investigator trainees from across Canada. The aim of this scientific overview is to highlight the research presented by trainees at both the oral plenary session as well as the poster presentation sessions of this meeting. This work covers a wide variety of medical disciplines, focusing on translational medicine, from the basic sciences to clinical application.

CSCI President’s Message

Dear Clinical and Investigative Medicine (CIM) readers, I write this message to solicit your help in making the Canadian Society for Clinical Investigation a vital society for medicine in Canada and to inform CIM readers about the CSCI. The CSCI plays an important role in maintaining the sustainability of our health care system. The only way to improve health care for Canadians is to continually optimize our methods of treatment and to gain a better understanding of the illnesses that face our population. Systematic research in all facets of healthcare, be it the molecular mechanisms of disease, the efficacy of treatment alternatives or the functioning of the health care system is the only way to guarantee a better system for the next generation of Canadians. As the only Society in Canada with a dedicated focus on the profession of clinician-researchers and our young clinician-investigator trainees, we provide crucial support for the enterprise of clinical investigation in Canada. The CSCI’s mandate is to promote clinical and basic research in the field of human health throughout Canada, to lobby for adequate research funding at the federal, regional and local levels, and to support Canadian researchers in their endeavours and at all stages of their careers. The CSCI organizes an annual meeting that highlights research work by its members and guest lecturers that speak with authority on issues that face Clinician-Investigators in Canada. CSCI is currently in the midst of a reorganization that started several years ago and has resulted in the establishment of an independent meeting, a renewed Young Investigators Forum and establishing close ties with the Clinician Investigator Trainee Association of Canada (CITAC). Reinforcing our efforts to revitalize our organization, we recently hired a new organization, Gallaher Membership Services and together we are streamlining our Society’s operations. The new CSCI website address is www.csci-scrc.ca. The website contains vital information about the CSCI, CIM and information about becoming a member of the CSCI. Our Society’s journal, Clinical and Investigative Medicine (CIM), has also undergone a transformation and is under the leadership of Dr. Jonathan Angel of Ottawa. We are proud of the changes that have occurred at CIM and look forward to the continued success of this journal. I sincerely hope that all Clinician-Investigators in Canada, irrespective of their stage of training or career, will adopt the changes that have been made and those that will continue to be made at CSCI by joining CSCI and participating in strengthening the voice for Clinical-Investigation in Canada. Joining CSCI allows members to publish in CIM at no charge. This is a tremendous value for our members. Communication with CSCI members will continue through CIM where we will give updates announcing further developments at the CSCI. I welcome any feedback or suggestions and hope that you enjoy reading CIM as much as I do. Sincerely, Brent W. Winston, MD, FRCPC, FACP, FCCM President, CSCI

Scientific overview: CSCI-CITAC annual general meeting and young investigator’s forum 2010

In 2010, the annual general meeting of the Clinical Investigator Trainee Association of Canada - Association des cliniciens-chercheurs en formation du Canada (CITAC-ACCFC) and the Canadian Society for Clinician Investigators (CSCI) was held between September 20 and 22 in Ottawa. Several globally-renowned scientists, including this year's CSCI/Royal College Henry Friesen Award recipient, Dr. Paul Kubes, Distinguished Scientist Award recipient, Dr. Gideon Koren and Joe Doupe Young Investigator Award recipient, Dr. Torsten Neil, discussed a variety of topics relating to the role of technology in medicine. The meeting was well attended by clinician scientists and trainees from across Canada and offered trainees mentorship and networking opportunities in addition to showcasing their research at the young investigator forum. The aim of this scientific overview is to highlight the research presented by trainees at both the oral plenary session as well as the poster presentation sessions of this meeting. Similar to last year's meeting [1], research questions being investigated by trainees covered the spectrum of medical disciplines, encompassing both basic science as well as clinical areas, and are summarized below.

Scientific Overview of the CSCI-CITAC 2009 Conference

From September 21st-23rd 2009, the Clinical Investigator Trainee Association of Canada - Association des cliniciens-chercheurs en formation du Canada (CITAC-ACCFC) and the Canadian Society for Clinician Investigators (CSCI), held their annual conference in Ottawa. Participants included clinician investigators and trainees from across the country. The conference featured many excellent guest speakers including this year's recipient of the Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research, Sir John Bell. There were several forums focusing on professional development, with topics such as "sustaining the clinician investigator in Canada", "succeeding as a clinician investigator", and "collaborating internationally with MD+ trainees", alongside networking opportunities to help establish relationships with potential mentors and collaborators. Further, the CSCI-CITAC annual conference featured some of the cutting edge research that MD+ trainees throughout Canada are engaged in. Trainees presented their research either at the Young Investigators Forum poster session or at the oral plenary. This scientific overview aims to highlight some of the research presented by trainees at the annual conference. The broad themes of scientific interest included topics from both basic science and clinical research. In this article, we summarize some of the major research questions that are being investigated by clinician-investigator trainees in the following areas: neurological sciences, cell biology, medicine, immunology, obstetrics, gynecology, neonatology, orthopedics, rheumatology, and public health.

YIF Poster Awards 2008

Award recipients from the Young Investigator Forum at the CSCI meeting in Toronto, September, 2008. The investigators were students from Canadian MD/PhD and Clinician Investigator Programs.

YIF Poster Awards 2007

The Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society for Clinical Investigation once again featured the Young Investigators Forum, an opportunity for students from Canadian MD/PhD and Clinician Investigator Programs to present their research in poster and oral format. Here are this year’s award recipients.

Microglia in cerebral ischemia: molecular actions and interactionsThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this Special Issue, entitled Young Investigator's Forum.

The precise role of microglia in stroke and cerebral ischemia has been the subject of debate for a number of years. Microglia are capable of synthesizing numerous soluble and membrane-bound biomolecules, some known to be neuroprotective, some neurotoxic, whereas others have less definitive bioactivities. The molecular mechanisms through which microglia activate these molecules have thus become an important area of ischemia research. Here we provide a survey review that summarizes the key actions of microglial factors in cerebral ischemia including complement proteins, chemokines, pro-inflammatory cytokines, neurotrophic factors, hormones, and proteinases, as well several important messenger molecules that play a part in how these factors respond to extracellular signals during ischemic injuries. We also provide some new perspectives on how microglial intracellular signaling may contribute to the seemingly contradictory roles of several microglial effector molecules.

Versican: signaling to transcriptional control pathwaysThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this Special Issue, entitled Young Investigator's Forum.

Versican, a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, is one of the main components of the extracellular matrix, which provides a loose and hydrated matrix during key events in development and disease. Versican participates in cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, and hence plays a central role in tissue morphogenesis and maintenance. In addition, versican contributes to the development of a number of pathologic processes including atherosclerotic vascular diseases, cancer, tendon remodeling, hair follicle cycling, central nervous system injury, and neurite outgrowth. Versican is a complex molecule consisting of modular core protein domains and glycosaminoglycan side chains, and there are various steps of synthesis and processes regulating them. Also, there is differential temporal and spatial expression of versican by multiple cell types and in different developmental and pathological time frames. To fully appreciate the functional roles of versican as it relates to changing patterns of expression in development and disease, an in depth knowledge of versican's biosynthetic processing is necessary. The goal of this review is to evaluate the current status of our knowledge regarding the transcriptional control of versican gene regulation. We will be focusing on the signal transduction pathways, promoter regions, cis-acting elements, and trans-factors that have been characterized.

Trends in event rate and case fatality of patients hospitalized with myocardial infarction between 1984 and 2001This paper is one of a selection of papers published in this Special Issue, entitled Young Investigator's Forum.

Between 1984 and 1993, prevalence and case fatality of hospitalized acute myocardial infarction (AMI) had declined in the population of Halifax County. We aimed to determine whether these trends continued into the 21st century by investigating patient characteristics, treatment methods, and fatality for hospital admissions of residents of Halifax County, aged 25-74, during 1984-1989 (period 1), 1990-1993 (period 2), and 1998-2001 (period 3) and diagnosed as AMI that were extracted from databases for the Halifax County MONICA and ICONS (Improving Cardiovascular Outcomes in Nova Scotia) Studies. Trends in patient characteristics and treatment methods were assessed by chi2 statistics. Their association with 28-day fatality was determined by logistic regression. Event rate declined during 1984-1993 but not into 1998-2001 (p = 0.206). Compared with 1990-1993, fewer AMI patients during 1998-2001 were > or = 55 years (73.3% vs. 69.9%), cigarette smokers (49.8% vs. 42.9%), had a history of myocardial infarction (28.9% vs. 24.9%), and had an admission heart rate >100 (34.8% vs. 17.4%). Additionally, more patients had a history of diabetes (22.5% vs. 28.1%). Case fatality declined progressively over the 3 study time periods (16.6%, 13.1%, and 9.4%, respectively). Changes also occurred in prevalence of Killip class 4 status during admission (20.2%, 10.3%, and 13.3%, respectively), use of thrombolysis (9.0%, 30.9, and 32.6%, respectively), and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (4.3%, 11.2%, and 22.4%, respectively) in the different periods. Significant associations were found between case fatality and patient history of diabetes, history of MI, age, elevated admission heart rate, Killip class 4 impairment, thrombolysis, and PCI. The ICONS registry of hospitalized acute myocardial infarctions was used to compare case fatality during 1998-2001 with that reported by the Halifax County MONICA Project for 1984-1993. Whereas the population rate of myocardial infarctions had declined between 1984-1993 but not subsequently, case fatality declined significantly throughout the study period. The continued decline in case fatality is likely explained by changes in patient profile on presentation and medical therapies, including the increased use of thrombolysis and PCI.

The ubiquitin–proteasome pathway in viral infectionsThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this Special Issue, entitled Young Investigator's Forum.

The cellular biological function of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway as a major intracellular protein degradation pathway, and as an important modulator for the regulation of many fundamental cellular processes has been greatly appreciated over the last decade. The critical role of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in viral pathogenesis has become increasingly apparent. Many viruses have been reported to evolve different strategies to utilize the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway for their own benefits. Here, we review the general background and function of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, summarize our current understanding of how viruses use this pathway to target cellular proteins, and finally, discuss the roles of this pathway in enteroviral infection, and the potential therapeutic application of proteasome inhibition in myocarditis.

Participatory role of natural killer and natural killer T cells in atherosclerosis: lessons learned from in vivo mouse studiesThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this Special Issue, entitled Young Investigator's Forum.

Atherosclerosis is a multifactor, highly complex disease with numerous aetiologies that work synergistically to promote lesion development. One of the emerging components that drive the development of both early- and late-stage atherosclerotic lesions is the participation of both the innate and acquired immune systems. In both humans and animal models of atherosclerosis, the most prominent cells that infiltrate evolving lesions are macrophages and T lymphocytes. The functional loss of either of these cell types reduces the extent of atherosclerosis in mice that were rendered susceptible to the disease by deficiency of either apolipoprotein E or the LDL (low density lipoprotein) receptor. In addition to these major immune cell participants, a number of less prominent leukocyte populations that can modulate the atherogenic process are also involved. This review will focus on the participatory role of two "less prominent" immune components, namely natural killer (NK) cells and natural killer T (NKT) cells. Although this review will highlight the fact that both NK and NKT cells are not sufficient for causing the disease, the roles played by both these cells types are becoming increasingly important in understanding the complexity of this disease process.