As autumn gets underway, we are pleased to welcome you to the October edition of the EFIS NewsFlash.
This month, we celebrate the winner of the EJI Ita Askonas Prize, and highlight the opening of the call for nominations for the ACTERIA Early Career Research Prizes. We also bring you messages from EFIS official journals, news and upcoming events from our EFIS National Societies, including two national congresses taking place in December, EFIS Study Groups as well as an exciting update on ECI 2027 as preparations for the congress in Florence continue.
We also would like to 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.
We hope you enjoy this month’s updates and look forward to sharing more news from across the EFIS community in the months ahead.
Rejane Rua receives the
2026 EJI Ita Askonas Award
EFIS is pleased to award Rejane Rua from the Center for Immunology of Marseille-Luminy with the 2026 EJI Ita Askonas Prize which recognizes female group leaders in immunology who have run an independent laboratory for four to ten years, in recognition of an outstanding scientific track record.
This prize will be formally conferred during a dedicated awards ceremony at the Eighth European Congress of Immunology (ECI 2027) in Florence. Read more here for Dr. Rua's research and EJI Ita Askonas Award!
Nominations for the 2027 ACTERIA Early Career Research Prizes is now open!
ACTERIA Early Career Research Prizes awarded by EFIS will honor young immunologists and allergologists for their achievements and research efforts conducted in a European university/research organization.
Deadline for nominations is December 31, 2026. Nominations will be accepted exclusively from EFIS-affiliated National Societies. Application guidelines and eligibility criteria can be found here.
EFIS Journal News
An EJI editor will be on site to answer your questions and share what you need to know about scientific publishing in 2027 at the DGfI's Spring School – Deep Dives into Immunology, an advanced immunology training. Register now!
Helena A. Carslaw tells us what it means to publish her first time first-author paper in EJI:
‘’I am incredibly pleased to have published my first first-author paper in the European Journal of Immunology. It is a significant milestone in my career and to publish in such a long-standing and well-regarded journal I hope will put me in a strong position as I move forward…’’
Read more about our first-time author policies for young immunologists and ECRs!
Elsevier's Publisher, Yanan Li, will be at the booth to discuss the journal, its scope, and the publishing opportunities it offers.Visitors can also learn about the journal's recently adopted enhanced peer review experience and new submission experience, both designed to make the process clearer and more efficient for authors, reviewers, and editors.
We warmly invite all attendees to visit the Elsevier booth (# C13), meet Yanan Li, and find out more about Immunology Letters.
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. Taking place on the premises of Ettal Abbey, the School offers ample time for meetings and discussions with the lecturers, as well as excellent opportunities for networking and among young researchers. This school is the founding school of the Academy of Immunology of the German Society for Immunology (DGfI).
Celebrating BSI's 70th Anniversary at the BSI Congress 2026
Join over 1,500 attendees from the immunology community to SEC Glasgow for BSI Congress 2026. The event includes four days of cutting-edge science, hands-on workshops, and invaluable networking opportunities. This year's programme spans the breadth of immunology, with sessions led by internationally renowned experts from around the world. We're delighted to welcome Adrian Hayday (Francis Crick Institute and King's College London) as our keynote speaker. His pioneering discoveries have transformed our understanding of gamma delta (γδ) T cells and their role in cancer, inflammation and tissue immunity. Beyond the scientific programme, BSI Congress offers opportunities to connect, collaborate, and upskill. Meet sponsors and exhibitors, present your work in poster sessions, and take part in dedicated professional development sessions. This year is extra special as we’re celebrating the British Society for Immunology's 70th Anniversary.
Save the date: NVvI Annual Meeting 2026, 9 & 10 December
On 9 and 10 December 2026, the Dutch Society for Immunology (NVvI) hosts its Annual Meeting in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands. Around 600 academic and industry scientists, clinicians, technicians and many PhD students will join this meeting.
A strong programme Four keynote speakers will open up the latest developments in the field: Christina Zielinsky (Cambridge, UK), Chiara Romagnani (Berlin, Germany), Leif Ludwig (Berlin, Germany) and David Sancho (Madrid, Spain). They are joined by the Van Loghem lecture, eight invited speakers, and oral presentations selected from submitted abstracts, in plenary sessions as well as in break-out rooms. We will also celebrate the work of our early career researchers and members. The Van Loghem Award honours an outstanding NVvI member, while the Van Bekkum thesis award and the Bright Spark award for the best early career presentation are up for competition.
New this year: EFIS on Tour This year's programme is extra rich thanks to EFIS on Tour. A delegation of the board of the European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS) will visit our meeting and host a dedicated session with Frederica Sallusto as Keynote speaker. Since 2016, this symposium series has been bringing EFIS closer to its member societies and it has visited 16 countries so far. Now it's the Netherlands' turn. For you, this means broader perspectives and a direct connection with the wider European immunology network.
On behalf of the programme committee, we warmly invite you to join us. We look forward to seeing you in Noordwijkerhout this December!
ECI 2027 - Abstract Submission Opens October 15, 2026!
The European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS) and the Italian Society of Immunology, Clinical Immunology, and Allergology (SIICA) invite you to participate in the European Congress of Immunology 2027 (ECI 2027), taking place in Florence (Italy) from September 5th to 8th, 2027.
Share your latest research and contribute to the scientific programme of ECI 2027. This is your opportunity to present your work to the European and international immunology community and be part of the next chapter of immunological discovery.
At ECI 2027, we will explore the next advances in Immunology, including:
· Next-generation Cell Therapies: Moving beyond current boundaries in immunomediated disorders and tumors.
· Precision Immunology: Harnessing AI and high-dimensional single-cell technologies to tailor treatments to individual patients.
· Systems Immunology: Understanding the complex networks governing our immune responses through advanced computational modelling.
Join us in Florence and share your science, connect with the immunology community, and help write the next chapter of the immunological Renaissance.
Important Dates
15 October 2026 - Opening of Abstract Submission.
31 March 2027 - Deadline for Abstract Submission.
10 May 2027 - Notification of General Acceptance or Rejection.
Mid-June 2027 - Notification of Specific Acceptance (Oral or Poster Presentation).
EFIS Study Groups News
T Cell Connect Europe - Online Immunology Lecture Series
The EFIS - Immunology Letters study group “T-cell Connect Europe” (TCCE) hosts a monthly online lecture series on T-cell biology and immunity. Lectures always take place on the first Tuesday of each month and include two 25-minute presentations followed by discussion.The next lecture will be held on 3 November 2026 with Birgit Sawitzki and Carina Saggau. Schedule for the rest of the year and to register, please visit their webiste.
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September Highlights from the EFIS Community As autumn approaches, we are pleased to welcome you to the September edition of the EFIS NewsFlash. This month, we highlight the Scientific Publishing Workshop with EJI editors, organised by the European Journal of Immunology at the DGfI Annual Meeting, which starts on September 15th. We also share news and upcoming events from our member societies, yEFIS and the wider immunology community, including the upcoming call for nominations for the...
August Highlights from the EFIS Community 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...
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...
