Immune Cell Interactions in Development, Homeostasis and Immunity

Date: 23–26 February 2025

Location: Fanhams Hall, Hertfordshire, UK

Organisers: Philippe Bousso, Gillian Griffiths, Milka Sarris & Michael Sixt

Immune cells are present in every tissue in the body and their communication with other cells has very broad functional implications, not only for shaping immune responses but also for development and physiology. Here we want to bring together researchers interested in immune cell interactions in different biological contexts, in order to foster more exchange across different communities. For example, we would like to bring together immunologists interested in the cell interactions underpinning immune responses with developmental biologists investigating immune cell interactions in developmental and physiological processes and relevant evolutionary archetypes. These pools of scientists do not get many opportunities to meet through other conferences.

To maximise diversity of topics and perspectives, we propose speakers with different scientific backgrounds (e.g. stem cell biology, morphogenesis, cell migration, innate and adaptive immunity, neurobiology) working in different model systems (e.g. mammalian and non-mammalian). A connection point will be the dynamic understanding of cell interactions in the immune system and the use of live imaging technologies, though we would like to also combine this with complementary innovative approaches to interrogate cell interactions.

We anticipate a range of topics to be covered including:

Immune cell interactions in innate and adaptive immunity
Immune cell migration and collective behaviours
Evolution of immune cell interactions
Immune cell interactions in development and homeostasis
Neuroimmune and tumor-immune interactions

We anticipate that through the shared interests and complementary perspectives, this meeting will be very productive in terms of generating new ideas and fields of research.

Organisers & speakers

Philippe Bousso Institut Pasteur, France
Gillian Griffiths University of Cambridge, UK
Milka Sarris University of Cambridge, UK
Michael Sixt Institute of Science and Technology, Austria

Marc Bajenoff Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, France
Jason Cyster University of California San Francisco, USA
Anna Huttenlocher University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
Patrycja Kozik MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, UK
Tim Lämmermann University of Muenster, Germany
Aya Ludin Tal Harvard University, USA
Thorsten Mempel Harvard Medical School, USA
Hélène Moreau Institut Curie, France
Scott Mueller The University of Melbourne, Australia
Sussan Nourshargh Queen Mary University of London, UK
Juhee Pae The Rockefeller University, USA
Francesca Peri University of Zurich, Switzerland
Verena Ruprecht Centre for Genomic Regulation, Spain
Filip Swirski Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA
Orion Weiner University of California San Francisco, USA
Will Wood The University of Edinburgh, UK

Early-career researchers

We offer 10 funded places for early-career researchers (PhD, postdocs and PIs in the first three years of their first appointment) to attend our Workshops along with the 20 invited speakers. We just ask that you pay for your own travel costs. If you would like to attend please complete the online application form and include a one page CV and a letter of support from your supervisor. If your supervisor would prefer to send the letter directly to us please ask them to email it to workshops@biologists.com

All attendees are expected to actively contribute to the Workshops by asking questions at presentation sessions and taking part in discussions, as well as giving a short talk on their research.

At some Workshops, early-career researchers are given additional responsibilities to promote their involvement, such as:

Write a blog post for one of our community sites: The Node, FocalPlane or preLights
Summarise the previous day’s themes to set the scene for the next day’s sessions
Propose future directions and collaborations
Make a short two minute video on their experience at the Workshop

Most of these activities would be carried out in pairs or small groups and often with the support of more senior scientists present.

About Fanhams Hall

The Workshop will be held at the beautiful Fanhams Hall in Hertfordshire. An exceptional combination where old tradition meets the 21st century, Fanhams Hall Hotel is a Jacobean Manor House. Set in 27 acres of stunning Grade I listed grounds it boasts many features including a Grade II listed Japanese Tea House and formal gardens.

The hotel’s Hertfordshire location is just a short distance from all the major routes into London, Stansted, M1, M25 or simply the A10 just around the corner.

Fanhams Hall
Fanhams Hall Road
Ware
Hertfordshire
SG12 7PZ
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1920 460511