Society Information

The International Immunocompromised Host Society (ICHS) is the premier, international, multi-disciplinary forum for scientific and clinical interchange to improve understanding and management of the immunocompromised host.

The International Immunocompromised Host Society (ICHS) was incorporated in 1985 for the purpose of creation and dissemination of clinical and scientific information pertaining to the treatment of the immunocompromised patient. ICHS has an active membership of approximately 600 members; mainly practicing clinicians and researchers. ICHS holds an International Symposium on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host (ISIIH) every other year, the 2008 Symposium was its 15^th such Symposium.

The ICHS is governed by a Council and Executive Committee of the Council who are voted into office by the membership.

The ICHS holds biennial Symposia on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host.  The next Symposium will be in 2010.

Our Symposia are unique. Today most major scientific meetings have grown into large sprawling affairs where many sessions overlap and delegates are forced to choose between various activities.  In contrast, our Symposia are focused, consecutive sessions without overlap.  The Symposia are held in an environment where discussion and dialogue between all levels are encouraged.

The ICHS format is one of plenary lectures, workshops, meet-the-expert sessions and poster display.  We encourage submission of abstracts for the poster sessions. All accepted abstracts are published in a peer review journal as a supplement.

The 16^th Symposium on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host will be held in Budapest, Hungary, 27-30 June, 2010.

ICHS partners with other societies and conferences to actively support education about the immunocompromised patient.  Joint workshops, symposia, meet-the-experts sessions are held in conjunction with ICAAC, IDSA, ECCMID and TIFI.

ICHS sponsors awards for the best abstract on the immunocompromised host at specific conferences, e.g. ECCMID. 

ICHS has co-sponsored a series of initiatives on Mycology.  The Mycology Initiative is an accredited education program for physicians, health-care practitioners and medical students. It is designed to provide leading edge information in the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of invasive fungal infections in the immunocompromised host. 

There are three Mycology Initiatives published, with several more planned for the future.  Members receive copies of the monographs and have access to download the slides from the Members Section of the web site.

Mycology Initiative Program One: Opportunistic Fungi in the Immunocompromised

Mycology Initiative Program Two: Opportunistic Fungi in Cancer and Hematopoietic in Stem-Cell Transplant Patients

Mycology Initiative Program Three: Fungal Infections in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

Sharing a common interest in infections in the immunocompromised host, the Society has over 600 Members from over 60 countries.  Membership is open to individuals whose occupation concerns the immunocompromised patient in any of the following areas:

• Clinical Care (medicine, nursing, allied health)

• Basic or Clinical Research

• Teaching

• Administration

• Drug Development & Delivery

Why become a member?

There are many benefits of becoming a Member of the ICHS:

• Reduced registration to our biennial meetings

• Access to Member Section on the ICHS web site allowing Members to connect and network

• Members receive hard copies of the Mycology Initiative Monographs. The slide sets, with notes, are available for Members to download from the Members Section of the web site.

• Members receive early information on all future activities of the society

• Quarterly Society newsletter for Members

Several types of membership are available:

Regular Member:

A person, who shares the stated purpose of the ICHS and fulfills the requirements of Society bylaws, is eligible for membership.  A Regular Member may participate in the scientific and business sessions of the society and is eligible for election to office. 

Trainee Member

The principle requirement for Trainee Membership is a genuine and active interest in the aims and purposes of the Society. Trainees are defined as full time students or post-doctoral trainees within three years of obtaining a professional degree.  The fee for membership is ½ of the Society’s dues for a Member.  Trainee Membership is renewable each year in June for up to three years after receiving a degree.  Application for a Regular Membership in the ICHS is then required.  Trainee Membership does include voting privileges in the Society.

Emeritus Member

A Regular Member in good standing for ten years, who has retired or attained the age of 65, may apply to the Society for election to Emeritus status.  An Emeritus Member pays no dues but has all the rights and privileges of Regular Members.

Why become a member?

There are many benefits of becoming a Member of ICHS:

• Reduced registration to our biennial meetings

• Access to Members Section on the ICHS web site allowing Members to connect and network  

• Members receive hard copies of the Mycology Initiative Monographs, and the slide sets, with notes, are available for Members to download from the Members Section of the ICHS web site the web site

• Members receive early information on all future activities of the society

• Quarterly Society newsletter for Members

1^st International Symposia on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host: 1980 Veldhoven, The Netherlands

2^nd International Symposia on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host: 1982 Stirling, Scotland

3^rd International Symposia on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host: 1984 Toronto, Canada

4^th International Symposia on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host: 1986 Ronneby Brunn, Sweden

5^th International Symposia on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host: 1988 The Netherlands: President – Paul Quie

6^th International Symposia on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host: 1990 Peebles, Scotland: President – Jack Remmington, USA

7^th International Symposia on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host: 1992 Boulder, USA: President – Jan Verhoef, The Nertherlands

8^th International Symposia on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host: 1994 Davos, Switzerland: President – John Gallin

9^th International Symposia on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host: 1996 Assisi, Italy: President – Phillip Peterson, USA

10^th International Symposia on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host: 1998 Davos Switzerland: President – Michel Glauser, Switzerland

11^th International Symposia on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host: 2000 Halifax, Canada: President - Phil Pizzo,

12^th International Symposia on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host: 2002 Bergen, Norway: President – Curtis Gemmell, Scotland

13^th International Symposia on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host: 2004 Granada, Spain: President – Carol Kauffman, USA

14th International Symposia on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host: 2006 Crans-Montana, Switzerland: President Thierry Calandra, Switzerland

15th International Symposia on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host: 2008 Thessaloniki, Greece, Steven Holland, USA

Membership Page

Revised: 02/02/10