European Federation of Immunological Societies - EFIS

⏳ Less than 2 months to go! 2026 is almost here.

👀 webinar, social media campaigns & DoI Awards - something for everyone🧬

💡Share your plans - Let’s celebrate immunology together on April 29!

📣 Education Task Force invites you to another webinar in the “Landmark Discoveries in Immunology” series!

💡 During the session, Prof. Moretta will focus on NK cells as the major players of the innate immunity. For many years after their discovery in the mid seventies, they remained a mystery regarding their origin, function and ability to discriminate between healthy and tumor cells. In 1990, two distinct surface molecules (KIR) modulating NK cell function were identified and subsequently shown to be inhibitory receptors specific for allotypic determinants of HLA-I antigens, expressed on healthy cells but frequently lacking on tumor cells. Activating receptors recognizing ligands present in tumor, but not on healthy cells, that triggered NK cell function were soon identified .The interplay between inhibitory and activating receptors regulates NK cell function and their ability to specifically kill tumor cells. The unique properties of NK cells and their receptors have been successfully exploited to cure high risk leukemias in the haploidentical haemopoietic cell transplantation setting and represent a promising tool for the therapy of solid tumors.

💥 Registration is free 👇
🔗 https://www.efisedu.de/webinar
🗓️ March 5 at 17:00 CET

✨ Share and invite your colleagues!

🔷 Every follow, share, and comment strengthens our collective impact.
🤝 Your support and engagement help us amplify immunology and connect our growing community.
🔬As we approach , let’s expand our network and widen our reach together.
📲 Follow EFIS across our social media channels, join the conversation and be part of the movement.
✨ Connecting. Engaging. Advancing. Together 🧬

-immunology.bsky.social

https://www.linkedin.com/company/europeanfederationofimmunologicalsocieties

📣 We are happy to announce the EBCNet Forum a meeting organized by the EFIS-IL B Cell Study Group!

🗓️ June 29 - July 1, 2026
📍 Säröhus, Sweden
📚 Registration and abstract submission is now open!
🔗 https://ebcnet.mkon.se/

📢 Researchers - are you here? 👀

immunology

🔬 🌟 Join us at the 14th EFIS-EJI TATRA Immunology Conference 🌟 🔬

Proudly supported by , this renowned biennial conference, organized by the Austrian, Czech, and Slovak Immunological Societies, has united Europe’s rising immunology stars since 1994. Around 100 early-career researchers will explore cutting-edge topics—from immunity and cancer to novel therapies—in an inspiring and collaborative setting.

💡 What to expect:
• Top international speakers
• Selected abstract talks & interactive posters
• yEFIS session
• Unique networking opportunities
• Science combined with outdoor activities & scenic excursions

💶 Thanks to EFIS support, the all-inclusive registration fee is very affordable, with reduced fees and even free participation available—because great science should be accessible.

⏳ Places are limited!
📝 Register by February 22, 2026
👉 https://tatra.img.cas.cz

Be part of this vibrant community shaping the future of immunology—spread the word!

💡 Education Task Force is happy to invite you to the first webinar of 2026!

🔬 Join us for an inspiring webinar exploring landmark discoveries that have shaped modern immunology.

🗓️27 January 2026
⏰ 5:00 pm (CET)
💻 Online

🔗 Registration is free, but places are limited—secure your spot via the webinar webpage 👉 https://www.efisedu.de/webinar

🌏Please share with your colleagues and teams!

📣 Calling out to immunology leaders in Eastern Europe: do you know about the EFIS Eastern Star Award 🤔

🌟 We’re thrilled to highlight the EFIS Eastern Star Award — a funding initiative by designed to support high-impact immunological research.

🔬 Established in 2020, the Eastern Star Award aims to help research groups in Eastern Europe cover project-related consumables — a critical gap for labs with limited resources. Each year, up to three awards of €10,000 are granted to help advance innovative immunology research.

📍Eligible applicants must:
• Be a PI with a strong track record in immunology
• Be a member of an EFIS-affiliated society
• Work in one of the eligible Eastern European countries

📝 Submit the following by 31 January 2026 to [email protected]:
✔ Your CV
✔ Proof of EFIS-affiliated society membership
✔ List of your lab’s 5 most significant publications
✔ A brief one-page project outline with budget and expected impact

💡 This is an excellent opportunity to boost your research’s potential and visibility within the European immunology community! 🌍

👉 Learn more and apply: https://www.efis.org/efis/awards/eastern-star-award

🎊 Happy New Year from EFIS!🎊
🌟 As we welcome 2026, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the entire immunology community for your passion, dedication, and commitment to advancing our field.
🔬 EFIS is proud to support the immunology community, and we look forward to another year of strengthening connections, fostering excellence, and celebrating breakthroughs together.

🙌 Here’s to a bright, productive, and inspiring year ahead! 🎈

🎉Happy Holidays from EFIS!

✨Wishing our immunology community a joyful holiday season and a healthy, inspiring start to the new year.

🔬Thank you for your dedication, collaboration, and contributions to advancing immunological research across Europe and beyond.

🙌 Here’s to an exciting year ahead!



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🎉 Congratulations to the 2025 EJI Ita Askonas Prize Winner! 🎉

🌟 Following the recommendation of the EFIS Gender & Diversity Task Force, is pleased to announce that 2025 EJI Ita Askonas Prize is awarded to Anna Obenauf from the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) in Vienna.

📚 This prize will first be recognized at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Austrian Society for Allergology and Immunology (ÖGAI) in November 2026 and then formally conferred during a dedicated awards ceremony at the Eighth European Congress of Immunology (ECI 2027) in Florence where 2025, 2026 and 2027 prize winners will be invited to present their research.

🔗 To read more about Dr. Anna Obenuaf, her research and the Ita Askonas Prize: https://www.efis.org/news/2025-eji-ita-askonas-prize-awarded-by-efis



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💥 There are still places available to attend the Spring School on Immunology 2026, which will take place in Ettal, Bavaria, from 15.3. - 20.3.2026.

📚 Registration via email @dgfi.org until 7th of January 2026: .

ℹ️ This School is part of the Academy of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Immunologie e.V. (DGfI). It is an advanced intensive training course designed for late-stage PhD students, early postdocs, clinician scientists and researchers from industry with a strong interest in state-of-the-art immunology. Members and non-members of the DGfI are welcome to join.

🗓️ During the 6-day course, German and international experts in basic and clinical immunology research provide in-depth lectures on their current field of research covering a wide array of cutting-edge topics in immunology — from molecular and cellular mechanisms to translational and clinical applications.

📍 Held in the beautiful Ettal monastery in the Bavarian Alps, the Spring School provides since more than 20 years dedicated time to meet and discuss with the faculty members and offers excellent opportunities for networking and exchange among young researchers in the immunology community.

👉 More information: https://dgfi.org/akademie-fuer-immunologie/spring-school/



immunology

✨ New on the EFIS website!

💥EFIS has just published a special feature on the first-ever EFIS Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to Prof. Klaus Rajewsky during .

🏆The article reflects on this historic moment and includes the full video of Prof. Rajewsky’s inspiring presentation, along with highlights from the ceremony.

👉 Watch the video and read the full piece on our website: https://www.efis.org/news/celebrating-excellence-in-immunology-on-the-50th-anniversary-of-efis



immunology