HISTORY

The European Veterinary Immunology Group (EVIG) was founded under the auspices of the European Federation of Immunologic Societies (EFIS) in 2001.

EVIG intends to be a platform for communication and exchange, enhancing European research in particular. While we were not particularly keen to add new meetings to the ever-crowded scientific calendar we felt that a European Veterinary Immunology Workshop provides the best platform for direct scientific exchange.

With regard to the formal organization of the EVIG, it has to be noted that veterinary immunology does not have active or even formal groupings in most European countries (EFIS members). Accordingly, we cannot build on any delegate system from which we elect our boards. The only alternative we had, was to co-opt established veterinary immunologists from the scientific community in Europe. Members for the boards should be independent in their work, active in the scientific community, have experience in scientific organisations, represent various scientific areas by methods and species and their countries. Additionally member states should include north, south, east and west Europe. Last and not least, many if not all farm and companion animal species including fish and wildlife should be covered.

A more detailed review on the founding of EVIG was published (Steinbach et al., 2004; Vet ImmImm, 100, 99-103).

1^st European Veterinary Immunology Workshop, Berlin, 27.-28.09, 2003

2^nd European Veterinary Immunology Workshop, Paris, 04.09-06.09, 2006

3^rd European Veterinary Immunology Workshop, Berlin, 10.-13.09.2009