SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM

Monday, May 12, 2025

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

SPEAKERS

About speakers

Prof. Christian Münz is a Professor and Co-director of the Institute of Experimental Immunology at the University of Zürich, Switzerland. He is known for his pioneering work in viral immunobiology and tumor immunology, especially in relation to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Prof. Münz’s team works on developing the immunotherapies and vaccination strategies to restore immune function in patients with virus-associated malignancies. His research team has characterized protective antigens of EBV, which are now widely used in current vaccine candidates. He extensively investigates immune mechanisms related to dendritic cell, NK cell, and T cell response, exploring antigen processing via autophagy and developing immunotherapies for virus-associated cancers, and providing insights how a comprehensive immune control could be re-established in cancer patients through vaccination. Prof. Münz has notable awards, including the Burroughs Welcome Fund Investigators in Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease Award and Sobek Award, recognizing his contributions to infectious disease pathogenesis and tumor immunology

Prof. Bhupesh K. Prusty is a Professor of Science at Rīga Stradiņš University, Latvia, where he leads a laboratory dedicated to studying the role of viral infections in post-viral chronic illnesses and autoimmune diseases. Prof. Prusty began his academic journey in rural India and earned a prestigious doctoral fellowship from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India. His Ph.D. research at the Institute of Cytology and Preventive Oncology has been focused on the role of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) in cervical cancer, earning him multiple awards, including the Young Scientist Award from the Indian Science Congress and the Shakuntala Amir Chand Prize from the Indian Council of Medical Research. He conducted postdoctoral research at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in the laboratory of Nobel Laureate Prof. Harald zur Hausen. He later established his independent research group at Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, where he earned recognition for his groundbreaking studies on human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) pathophysiology. His work has been supported by numerous international grants and awards, such as the prestigious Experiment! research grant from Volkswagen Stiftung and the Ramsay Research Award from Solve ME/CFS Initiative. After receiving his habilitation in Virology from the Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, Prof. Prusty joined Rīga Stradiņš University and opened here a new laboratory to study the pathophysiology of latent viral infections.

Prof. Felix M. Wensveen is a Professor at the Department for Histology and Embryology at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Rijeka, Croatia. He is a member of EFIS Vaccine Task Force and the Past-President of the Croatian Immunological Society. He received his PhD in 2010 from the University of Amsterdam. Following his doctoral studies, he completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Rijeka and then established his research group in 2015, expanding his expertise initially in NK cell biology and later transitioning to systemic immunometabolism (sickness metabolism). Currently, Prof. Wensveen investigates sickness metabolism of the liver and the endocrine systems. His work has provided important insights with therapeutic potential for both metabolic and infectious diseases. In recognition of his research, Prof. Wensveen received the prestigious EFIS Eastern Star Award in 2022

Prof. Janusz Marcinkiewicz is currently affiliated with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Agriculture in Kraków, Poland. He worked at the Department of Immunology at Jagiellonian University Medical College (UJCM) in Kraków from 1975 until 2024, leading this department from 1999 to 2022. Prof. Marcinkiewicz is recognized on the 2024 Stanford/Elsevier prestigious list of the World’s Top 2% Scientists for his outstanding contributions to immunology. His research is focussed on innate immunity and inflammation. His work includes the discovery of selective suppression of Th1-type cytokine synthesis by prostaglandins and contribution to the identification of nitric oxide (NO) as a key regulator of immune responses. His research also revealed the hyperinflammatory response of biofilm-stimulated macrophages, which has implications for understanding chronic infections. He demonstrated the role of herd trained immunity in defending against bacterial infections, that are not protected by antigen-specific adaptive immunity. As former President of the Polish Society of Experimental and Clinical Immunology (2008–2014), Prof. Marcinkiewicz actively promoted immunology research in Poland. His extensive career has established him as a respected mentor and leader in studying immune mechanisms in health and disease.

Dr. Inga Ivaškevičienė is the Head of the Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases at Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos since 2008. She is an expert in paediatric infectious diseases and immunology. She graduated at the Faculty of Medicine and completed her residency in the Department of Paediatric Diseases at Vilnius University, then advanced her training with a two-year postgraduate course in paediatric infectious diseases at the University of Oxford (2009-2010). Since 2007, Dr. Ivaškevičienė has built her academic career at the Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, starting as a junior researcher and advancing to her current role as an Associate Professor. She is actively involved in numerous national and international scientific societies, contributing to research, monitoring and policy of paediatric infectious disease. She is a member of the Lithuanian Paediatric Society, the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID), and a member of the Group of Independent Experts of the National Immunoprophylaxis Programme at the Ministry of Health of Lithuania. She is also involved in the Paediatric Tuberculosis Network (pTBNet), the Central European Vaccination Awareness Group (CEVAG), and the Awareness of Influenza Strategies in Europe (RAISE) group.

Elizabet Beržanskytė is a science journalist and editor at the Lithuanian National Radio and Television news network. She holds a Bachelor's degree in molecular biology from Vilnius University Life Sciences Center, where she also conducted lab research on stem cells. Alongside her studies, she was the organizer of the international life sciences conference “The COINS” in 2020. She started her career in video journalism in 2020, creating science communication series such as “The Paradox of Life” and “Lithuania is Closer to Space Than It Looks”. In collaboration with the European Commission representatives in Lithuania, she has also highlighted EU-funded research projects. After receiving her Master’s degree in analytical journalism from Vilnius University in 2023, she began her role as a science editor at the National Radio and Television presenting scientific innovations and conducting interviews with Lithuanian and foreign scientists. Her mission is to bridge the gap between science and the general public.

Dr. Ewa Więsik-Szewczyk is the Head of Out-Patient Unit of Clinical Immunology, Military Institute of Medicine, National Research Institute, Poland. She is a leading clinical immunologist and rheumatologist. With over two decades of experience, her research and clinical expertise focus on the management of primary and secondary immunodeficiencies, autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases, particularly in complex cases involving connective tissue diseases and pregnancy. Dr. Więsik-Szewczyk also participated in clinical trials aimed at optimizing treatments for various conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Her academic career includes the Associate Professorship and teaching roles at Warsaw Medical University. She actively contributes to the field of clinical immunology as a member of the European Society of Primary Immunodeficiencies, the Clinical Immunology Society, Polish Society of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, advisory committees on ultra-rare diseases and systemic vasculitis. Dr. Więsik-Szewczyk co-organized national conferences on immunology and rare diseases, promoting the translation of clinical insights into novel therapeutic approaches in immunology.

Prof. Brigita Gradauskienė is the Head of the Department of Immunology and Allergology at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences in Kaunas, Lithuania. Since 1999, she has gained extensive experience as an allergologist and clinical immunologist at Kaunas Medical University Hospital. Prof. Gradauskienė has led and contributed to over 50 international multicenter clinical trials since 1996. Her research interests include autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiencies, allergic airway diseases, and oncology. An influential figure in her field, she is an active member of prestigious organizations such as the U.E.M.S. Section and Board of Allergology, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the European Respiratory Society, and the Lithuanian Society of Pulmonology and Allergy. Prof. Gradauskienė’s career reflects her commitment to integrating clinical practice with research, fostering national and international collaborations, and training the next generation of specialists in immunology and allergology.

Prof. Manfred Hönig is a Senior Physician at the Clinics for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at University Hospital Ulm, Germany. He is a pediatrician and immunologist specializing in pediatric hematology, oncology, and immunodeficiencies. He began his career as a Pediatric Hemato-Oncologist in 1999 and currently holds the position of Vice-Director of the Pediatric Department at Ulm Medical Center. Prof. Hönig is actively engaged in scientific research with a strong focus on severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and complex immune disorders, where he has significantly advanced therapeutic approaches, particularly through hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. He efficiently integrates these research-driven insights into clinical practice.

Prof. Anastasia Bondarenko is the Head of the Department of Paediatrics, Immunology, Infectious and Rare Diseases at the European Medical School of the International European University in Kyiv, Ukraine. She is also a Professor in Dermatovenerology, Allergology, Clinical and Laboratory Immunology at Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine. Prof. Bondarenko began her academic journey at the National Medical University in Kyiv, receiving her medical degree in 2000. She completed her PhD in 2006 at Shupyk National Medical Academy, where she studied age-dependent aspects of meningitis in children. She later completed her Doctor of Medical Sciences degree, investigating primary immunodeficiency diagnostics and social support in children. With over two decades of experience, she had key teaching and research roles in paediatric infectious diseases and immunology fields, including the Assistant and Associate Professorships at Shupyk National Medical Academy. Prof. Bondarenko is a consultant in paediatrics, infectious and immunology-related diseases at Kyiv Children’s Hospital #1. Her research interests include primary immunodeficiencies and the immunoprophylaxis of infectious diseases, solidifying her role as an expert in both academic and clinical paediatric immunology in Ukraine.

Prof. Nataļja Kurjāne is the Head of the Center of Clinical Immunology and Allergology established in 2023 at Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital in Riga, Latvia. She is also a Professor at the Department of Biology and Microbiology at Riga Stradiņš University and serves as a lead researcher at the Scientific Laboratory of Molecular Genetics. As the President of the Latvian Immunological Society, Prof. Kurjāne plays a pivotal role in advancing the field of immunology in Latvia. Prof. Kurjāne's research addresses a range of immunological disorders, with a particular focus on primary immunodeficiencies, predominantly antibody deficiencies, as well as autoimmune diseases, hereditary angioedema, and chronic spontaneous urticaria. Her work also encompasses autoinflammatory syndromes, contributing significant insights into both the fundamental mechanisms and clinical management of these conditions. Through her research, Prof. Kurjāne has established herself as a leading expert in Latvia’s medical and scientific communities, advancing both academic knowledge and clinical practice in immunology.

Prof. Andreas Schlitzer is the Head of the Department of Quantitative Systems Biology at the Life & Medical Sciences Institute of the University of Bonn, Germany. He studied Molecular Biology at the University of Marburg, then Immunology & Immunogenetics at the University of Manchester (UK) and completed his PhD in myeloid cell biology in 2008 at the University of Marburg. He received notable awards, including EFIS Bright Sparks Award in 2014 and the Postdoctoral Award from Robert Koch Foundation in 2016. His lab investigates the development, functional specialization and spatial organization of mononuclear phagocytes and their role in inflammation and immunity. His research contributes to understanding how local molecular cues govern the differentiation and function of these cells in both health and disease, with a particular focus on the transition from acute inflammatory conditions to chronic diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriatic arthritis. Prof. Schlitzer is an Editorial board member of Frontiers in Immunology and a member of EFIS Study Group on “Innate immunity in sterile inflammation, autoimmunity, and their resolution”.

Prof. Femke van Wijk is a Professor in Tissue Immunology at the Center for Translational Immunology at the University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMCU) in the Netherlands. Her team aims to elucidate peripheral and local T cell responses in health and inflammation and to translate these insights into tools for (pre-clinical) disease monitoring and therapeutic targeting in chronic inflammatory diseases. She takes a disease- and age-overarching approach to decipher common and specific pathogenic processes underlying different inflammatory conditions and one of her specific interests is early imprinting of disease. Since 2022, Prof. van Wijk has been the manager of research for the division of paediatrics at the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital. In this role, Prof. van Wijk is responsible for research policy and talent management within the division and is committed to empowering the next generation of clinical scientists. Since 2020, Prof. van Wijk has also served as the scientific director of the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) Center of Excellence (FCE). Prof. van Wijk is an advocate for a transition in science towards less ego, more inclusivity, greater diversity, and more impact, as reflected in her inaugural lecture of 2023, titled “The Great Reset.” In 2023 she received the Athena award for outstanding female researchers from the Dutch Research Council.

Prof. Nelson Gekara is a Full Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Infection Immunology at the Medical Center of the University of Freiburg, Germany, and Stockholm University, Sweden. His research focus on understanding the regulation of the innate immune and DNA repair systems and exploring how these mechanisms can be manipulated to enhance health outcomes, particularly in infectious diseases, inflammation, and cancer. Prof. Gekara investigates the regulation of pattern recognition receptor signalling pathways and the implications of their dysregulation, which can lead to inflammation or weakened anti-microbial host defenses. His recent findings have elucidated how DNA damage and the ubiquitin system influence inflammatory responses, revealing complex interactions between immune and DNA repair systems. Prof. Gekara’s career includes prominent positions at leading institutions, including the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research and Umea University, advancing the understanding of immune regulation and host-microbe interactions. His research bridges fundamental cell biology and medical science with a translational focus.

Dr. Hung-Jen Chen, is a Postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine of Amsterdam University Medical Centers (AUMC’s), the Netherlands. He completed his MD at National Taiwan University and received his PhD from AUMC under the supervision of Prof. Menno de Winther. With expertise in macrophage biology, immunometabolism, epigenetics, and Fc receptor signaling, Dr. Chen leads a project within the Dutch Long COVID Foundation, investigating immune dysregulation in Long COVID. His research seeks to clarify immune mechanisms in chronic post-viral syndromes, providing insights for potential therapeutic approaches.

Prof. Maciej Kurpisz is the Head of the Department of Reproductive Biology and Stem Cells at the Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, in Poznań, Poland. Prof. Kurpisz and his team focus on the genetic and immunological underpinnings of male and couple infertility, particularly on developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for these conditions. His research advances the knowledge in reproductive immunology, aiming to unravel the genetic factors and immune processes that impact male infertility, including sperm function, redox balance, and inflammatory responses. Additionally, he explores new therapeutic approaches, such as probiotic treatments and innovative therapies for azoospermia. Since 1987, Prof. Kurpisz has been a licensed clinical andrologist at the Medical Center for Postgraduate Education in Warsaw. Over 35 years of clinical practice, he has introduced reproductive immunology in Poland, chairing the National Reproductive Immunology Group, and serving as President of the European Society for Reproductive Immunology (2002–2004). He also chaired the Polish Society for Fundamental and Clinical Immunology from 2021 to 2023. His work has earned him prestigious awards from the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Health. He was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by Lviv Medical University and received the prestigious prize Polonia Restituta Officer’s Cross for his contributions to Polish science.

Prof. Kai Kisand is a Research Professor in Cellular Immunology at the Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine at the University of Tartu, Estonia. After receiving her MD and PhD from the University of Tartu and completing postdoctoral training at Uppsala University, Sweden, Prof. Kisand has focused her research on molecular mechanisms of autoimmune diseases. She investigates monogenic autoimmunity and immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 vaccines. Her work has been pivotal in demonstrating the role of Th17 cytokines in protecting epithelial surfaces from Candida infection and the importance of type I interferons in preventing severe COVID-19. Alongside her research, Prof. Kisand is deeply committed to teaching immunology to postgraduate students, supervising numerous MSc and PhD projects. She was the President of the Estonian Society of Immunology and Allergology (2001–2004 and 2015–2018). In 2022, her contributions to immunology were recognized with the Estonian Natural Science Award in Medicine.

Prof. Olena Sharikadze is the Director of the Institute of Postgraduate Education at Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine. She is an expert of clinical immunology, paediatric respiratory diseases, and molecular allergy diagnostics. She also serves as a scientific consultant at the Paediatric and Endocrinology Department of National Children's Hospital ‘Okhmatdyt’, and works as an allergologist at Divero Medical Center, Ukraine. With over 20 years of teaching experience, Prof. Sharikadze has trained numerous students in the fields of clinical immunology and allergology. Her research is focused on the accuracy and safety of food allergy diagnosis, the mechanisms of food allergy and oral tolerance, the efficacy of allergen immunotherapy in children, and the management of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and chronic urticarial. She is an active member of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Dr. Agata Mlynska is a Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Immunology at the National Cancer Institute, Lithuania. She received her PhD from Vilnius University in 2018, where she advanced the understanding of how the tumor microenvironment and chemokine signaling influence ovarian cancer and melanoma progression and response to therapy. During her PhD and postdoctoral studies, she also conducted research in translational oncology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and Lausanne University Hospital. Her research is focused on the dynamic interactions between immune cells and cancer cells that shape the tumor microenvironment, with a strong emphasis on personalized cancer therapies. Dr. Mlynska is a Board member of the Lithuanian Society for Immunology and a member of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).

Prof. Sven Brandau is the Head of Experimental & Translational Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. He is an expert in tumor immunology, specializing in the immune response to cancer. His research focus on the role of myeloid cells in inflammation and cancer, particularly in head and neck tumors. Prof. Brandau has led international initiatives such as Mye-EUNITER and Mye-InfoBank, which aim to advance the understanding of myeloid regulatory cells and translate their molecular profiles into biomarkers for cancer and inflammation. His team conducts clinical studies, analyzing patient’ tissue and blood using digital pathology to assess biomarkers and immune function in cancer. These investigations contributed to biomarker identification and the development of standardized analytical methods for studying immune cells, including myeloid-derived suppressor cells.

Dr. Yuliia Shvets is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biomedicine at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine. She is also a scientific consultant for the neo-insurance company "Lilo", where she provides expertise on immunological aspects. After graduating in 1995 from Taras Shevchenko National University with a specialization in Microbiology and Immunology, she completed her PhD. in Oncology in 2000. Over her career, she has contributed extensively to the academic community, authoring numerous scientific articles and textbooks in medical microbiology and immunology, which are widely used by students in biological and medical fields. Dr. Shvets’s research focus on the critical intersection of human microbiome and tumor immunology, particularly investigating how the microbiome influences the effectiveness of anticancer immunotherapies. Recognizing the translational potential of this field, she is dedicated to advancing microbiome research in Ukraine, aiming to build a foundation for therapeutic innovations that can be applied in future treatment strategies. Dr. Shvets is strongly committed to fostering the growth of Ukrainian scientific research and actively works to inspire young scientists to pursue innovative biomedical research addressing both national and global health issues.