Commentary in 2015

If research and technology are to become the driving force for turning Greece into a productive society, evidence-based governance, strategic restructuring of infrastructure and a substantial inflow of fresh human capital is urgently needed.

Advances in human genomics, when validated functionally, can lead to new insights into how the immune system works. Notably, previously unknown mechanisms revealed by genomics can lead to the development of precision medicine unanticipated on the basis of phenotype alone.

Everyone and everything seems to go 'big data' these days. The task ahead will be to train young immunologists to formulate intelligent hypotheses using big data resources.

Women are underrepresented in the science and engineering fields. Difficulties in balancing family life and work have a big role in women's opting out of scientific career paths. Institutions and funding agencies need to work harder to reverse this disparity.

Genetic, environmental and socioeconomic factors render humanity remarkably diverse. '-Omic' and sensor technologies permit the capture of this diversity with unprecedented precision. Leveraging these technologies in clinical decision making will help to bring about the long-heralded personalization of medicine.

Leaders gathered at the US National Institutes of Health in November 2014 to discuss recent advances and emerging research areas in aspects of maternal-fetal immunity that may affect fetal development and pregnancy success.

There are clear epidemiological links between nutrition and immunological function, but a dearth of mechanistic insights has made this topic controversial. Veldhoen and Veiga-Fernandes discuss this controversy and explore ways to take this research forward.

The NIH, FDA and CDC offer a wide spectrum of job opportunities focused on improving public health through the discovery and translation of research, the regulation of safe and effective medicines, and the protection of health security.