As summer continues, we are pleased to welcome you to the August edition of the EFIS NwesFlash.
This month, we bring you a selection of news and opportunities from across the EFIS community, including the announcement of the Else Kröner Fresenius Prize for Medical Research, the latest updates from our official journal, the European Journal of Immunology, and news from our national member societies about their upcoming conferences and activities.
We also remind our member societies to start considering nominations for the EFIS Lifetime Achievement Award 2027 and encourage them to review the award criteria and nomination process on the EFIS website.
Happy summer from all of us at EFIS!
Nominations for the Else Kröner Fresenius Prize is open
The Else Kröner Fresenius Prize for Medical Research 2027 recognizes outstanding scientific achievements in the field of cell-based immunotherapies. Awarded every two years and endowed with €2.5 million, the prize celebrates pioneering contributions that advance medical research and innovation. EFIS is pleased to support the nomination process by co-nominating and endorsing candidates put forward by our national societies. Nomination deadline is August 27, 2026.
EJI celebrates the work of 1st time authors and ECRs. Here’s what Federico Perdomo-Celis and Fabiola Martel said about their recent first-time author publication at EJI: ‘’We are thrilled to publish our work in the European Journal of Immunology for the first time. It reflects years of training, mentorship, and persistence, and reinforces our trajectory toward an independent research program at the interface of viral immunology and T cell biology. This recognition also highlights the collaborative effort of our co-authors, whose contributions were essential in shaping this work.’’ Read more about EJI’sfirst-time author policies for young immunologists and ECRs!
The Congress of the German Society for Immunology, taking place in September 2026 in Munich/Germany, brings together scientists and clinicians interested in better understanding the overarching principles that apply to immunity to infection, immuno-oncology, immunotherapy, autoimmunity, and transplantation and that determine organ-specific protective and pathological immune responses. With this specific focus, we aim to broaden our horizon by connecting basic immunological science and organ-specific pathology with translational activities and novel and emerging technologies. Your participation will help foster a dynamic connection between science, technology, and industry in a vibrant and memorable atmosphere, just ahead of the Munich Oktoberfest.
The DGfI Commission on Gender Equality and Career Development provides a forum for excellent female immunologists. They will share their exciting research, but also talk about their experiences in forming a career as women in STEM (=MINT). This time with Prof. Dr. Elvira Mass, discussing"Ontogeny programs core functions and self-renewal in macrophages". The lectures are held online and free of charge.
The next Spring School will take place from March 8-12, 2027 in Ettal, Bavaria. Registration is open!
The Spring School is an intensive course designed for final-year PhD students, early-career postdoctoral researchers, clinical scientists and researchers from industry who have a keen interest in cutting-edge immunology. During the five-day course, German and international experts from basic and clinical immunology research will deliver in-depth lectures on their current research areas, covering a broad spectrum of current topics in immunology – from molecular and cellular mechanisms to translational and clinical applications. Various formats have been incorporated into the program to encourage active exchange among participants.
The Spring School takes place on the premises of Ettal Abbey and offers ample time for meetings and discussions with the lecturers, as well as excellent opportunities for networking and exchange among young researchers in the immunology community. This school is the founding school of the Academy of Immunology of the German Society for Immunology (DGfI).
The French (SFI) and Portuguese (SPI) Societies for Immunology are organizing a joint SFI-SPI conference in Toulouse, France, between 4-6 November 2026. The meeting will showcase recent advances in fundamental, translational and clinical immunology through 5 plenary (with invited speakers from multiple European countries/ societies) and 27 parallel sessions, as well as keynote lectures by Shimon Sakaguchi and Pamela Schwartzberg. The program also includes sessions dedicated to Young Immunologists and to career development, highlighting the strong commitment of both societies to early-career researchers.
The Turkish Society of Immunology, in collaboration with the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry (ISAC) and İzmir Institute of Technology, will host the 9th Turkish–US Cytometry Workshop in İzmir, Türkiye, from 8–11 September 2026. This well-established international workshop offers lectures, hands-on training, data analysis sessions, and interactive discussions led by leading experts in flow cytometry. Designed for graduate students, early-career researchers, clinicians, laboratory professionals, and experienced scientists, it provides an excellent opportunity to develop practical skills, exchange ideas, and build new collaborations in cytometry community in the region and beyond. The Turkish Society of Immunology warmly invites the immunology and cytometry communities to join this unique educational event in İzmir.
Introducing Hungarian Young Immunologists (HYI) at the 55th Annual Meeting of the Hungarian Society for Immunology
We are delighted to announce that Hungarian Young Immunologists (HYI), the newly established early-career section of the Hungarian Society for Immunology (HSI), will make its debut with a dedicated program at the 55th Annual Meeting of HSI, taking place on 14–16 October 2026 in Kecskemét, Hungary. The HYI program will feature a presentation-skills workshop, a scientific session with flash talks by young researchers from immunology laboratories across Hungary, an invited presentation by a former yEFIS spokesperson on international networking opportunities, and a Networking Corner throughout the meeting. In addition to the HYI activities, the conference will bring together leading Hungarian and international experts, including Professor Werner J. Pichler, who will deliver the EFIS-IL Lecture. The broader scientific program will cover allergy, neuroimmunology, autoimmune disease biomarkers, cancer immunology, tissue immunology, microbial immunology, and extracellular vesicle research.
We warmly invite colleagues from across Europe to join us in Kecskemét.
11th International Conference "Bridging Science and Practice in Allergy"
The Kosovo Association of Immunology, Allergy and Asthma (AKIAA) is pleased to announce the 11th International Conference "Bridging Science and Practice in Allergy", taking place on 23–24 September 2026 in Prishtina, Kosovo. The conference will bring together specialists, researchers, healthcare professionals, and early-career scientists to discuss the latest advances in allergy, immunology, and asthma. The scientific program will feature topics including allergy diagnostics, immunological disease mechanisms, asthma management, pediatric and adult allergy care, and the translation of new scientific evidence into clinical practice.The meeting provides an excellent opportunity to exchange knowledge, strengthen international collaborations, and promote advances in allergy and immunology care across the region.
Save the Date for ECI 2027!
The European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS) and the Italian Society of Immunology, Clinical Immunology, and Allergology (SIICA) invite you to the European Congress of Immunology 2027 - ECI 2027, held in the breathtaking city of Florence from September 5th to 8th, 2027.
At ECI 2027, we will present the next advancements in the field of Immunology, like:
● Next-generation Cell Therapies: Moving beyond current boundaries to immunomediated disorders and tumors.
● Precision Immunology: Utilizing AI and high-dimensional single-cell technologies to tailor treatments to the individual.
● Systems Immunology: Understanding the complex networks that govern our immune response through advanced computational modeling.
Join us in Florence and let us write together the next chapter of the immunological Renaissance.
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July Highlights from the EFIS Community As summer gets underway, we are pleased to welcome you to the July edition of the EFIS newsletter. This issue celebrates excellence across our community with the announcement of the Eastern Star Award winners and the 2026 ACTERIA Doctoral Thesis Prize recipients. We also look back on the recent yEFIS Symposium, reflecting on the inspiring discussions, new collaborations, and enthusiasm of early-career immunologists from across Europe. In addition, we...
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