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 share an update from Immunology Letters on the adoption of Elsevier's new peer review experience, designed to make the review process more streamlined, transparent, and efficient.

The EFIS Board also invites member societies to submit nominations for the EFIS Lifetime Achievement Award 2027, which recognises an outstanding career of scientific excellence and exceptional contributions to advancing the European immunology community through innovation, leadership, mentorship, and impactful research. Further information on the award, eligibility criteria, and the nomination process is available on the EFIS website.

As many prepare for a well-deserved summer break, we thank you for your continued engagement and wish you a relaxing and enjoyable summer. We look forward to reconnecting with you in the months ahead.

Happy summer from all of us at EFIS!

Security Alert: Fraudulent Emails

EFIS has been made aware of fraudulent emails sent to members by individuals impersonating EFIS President Professor Bojan Polić. These messages originate from unofficial email addresses (including Gmail accounts) and typically ask recipients if they are available to help with an urgent matter before requesting a bank transfer or other financial assistance on behalf of the Board.

Please be aware that these emails are fraudulent. EFIS and its officers will never ask members to make personal payments or bank transfers by email.

If you receive such a message, do not reply, do not send any money, and report it as phishing.

EFIS warmly congratulates all awardees and wish them continued success in their research and future endeavors. Read more here about awardee's research topics.

More information about Eastern Star Awards is available here.

Announcing the 2026 ACTERIA Doctoral Thesis Prize Awardees

The Fondation ACTERIA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 ACTERIA Doctoral Thesis Prizes awarded by EFIS. More information about ACTERIA Prizes and this year's awardees is available on the EFIS website.

EFIS Journal News

Immunology Letters adopts Elsevier's new peer review experience in Editorial Manager

Starting next week, Immunology Letters rolls out Elsevier's enhanced peer review experience. The new experience brings the whole review process into one place, placing reviewer comments, editor notes, and author responses side by side so the exchange is clearer and easier to follow; no more switching between documents or cross-referencing line numbers. Editors can still reply to and edit comments; making feedback clearer, and decision-making more efficient. Reviewers can also upload files such as images and figures.

Read More

Immunology Letters has also had Elsevier's new submission experience since fall 2025, which takes authors step by step through submission, asking only for the information needed at each step; redundant data entry is eliminated, helping save time. Read more about the new submission experience here.

EFIS Task Force News

yEFIS Task Force

What an unforgettable three days in Prague!

From 29 June to 1 July 2026, the 3rd yEFIS Symposium brought together ECRs across Europe to share science, spark new ideas and strengthen our young immunology community. The numbers: 150 participants, 80+ posters, 20 oral presentations, 10 flash talks, 4 keynote lectures!

A sincere thank you to EFIS President Bojan Polić for opening the ceremony and highlighting the importance of bringing the EFIS and yEFIS communities together.

A heartfelt thank you to EFIS for its commitment to supporting ECRs through the EFIS/EJI Travel Grants. Congratulations to all the EFIS/EJI Travel Grant awardees—we're excited to celebrate your achievements!

Beyond the inspiring science, participants enjoyed a fantastic series of workshops on publishing with EJI, AI, career development, science communication and others!

Thank you to the organizing committee and everyone who joined us in Prague and contributed their energy and enthusiasm!

EFIS Events

Adriatic School on Immunometabolism

This school, focused on the rapidly growing field of immunometabolism and aimed for early-career scientists, will be held in Veli Lošinj, Croatia, from October 18 to 22, 2026. Don't miss this unique program bringing together leading experts in an interactive setting designed to foster close scientific exchange. Registration is still open!

Find out More

EFIS Society News

Congress of the German Society for Immunology - September 15-18, 2026 - Munich

Scientific discoveries do not follow deadlines - abstract submission deadline is extended until August 10th.

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.

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Meeting of the AK Clinical Immunology

The next AK Meeting will take place on September 15, 2026 as a satellite symposium within the Annual Meeting of the DGfI in Munich at the TUM in Freising.

All participants registered for the DGfI Annual Conference can attend the satellite symposium free of charge. On the one hand, this orientation of the AKKI annual meeting takes into account the increasing importance of clinical immunology for scientific immunology. This year focus will be on genomic newborn screening for genetic errors of immunity and we are proud to present Stefan Kölker, Heidelberg, and Joshua Milner, New York, as keynote speakers. See program here.

Satellite Symposium Inborn Errors of Immunity at the Translational Interface: Connecting Basic Immunology and Pediatric Clinical Care

TUM main building, Arcisstrasse 21, on Tuesday, Sept. 15th, from 13:30–14:50

The AKPI focuses on translational research related to the diagnosis and care of pediatric patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI). Our interests range from basic immunology to clinical care for patients with IEI. Therefore, our community consists of scientists and physicians with a strong focus on translational research. At our satellite symposium, we would like to provide a platform of interaction between basic and clinical scientists. We particularly encourage junior basic and clinician scientists to submit their work for oral presentation; decisions will be made based on scientific quality and alignment with the scope of the AKPI.

Autumn School of the DGfI

The DGfI Autumn School invites you to embark on an up-to-date educational journey through the immune system. Students, postdocs, group leaders and industry representatives with a background in natural sciences or medicine are welcome to this immersive program engaging lectures by internationally renowned experts in the field. The curriculum of the DGfI Autumn School will cover basic and advanced concepts of innate and adaptive immunity from the textbook up to recent achievements, in developmental immunology, clinical translation and technologies. Participants will benefit from student presentation opportunities and interactive networking sessions with speakers and industry partners, strengthening connections within our vibrant immunological community.

Registration Deadline: July 31^st, 2026

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