YoungBIS

Highlights from the First Annual yBIS Meeting (October 23, 2024)

On October 23, 2024, the young Belgian Immunological Society (yBIS) hosted its first annual meeting at Campus Drie Eiken in Antwerp. The event exceeded all expectations, attracting over 150 attendees and receiving support from 10 generous sponsors. The organizing committee put in tremendous effort to make the day a success, and the result was a dynamic gathering of researchers, students, and professionals in immunology.

The organizing committee from left to right: Sanne Verberk (UHasselt, Communications), Donovan Flumens (UAnwerpen, Vice-Spokesperson), Hind Hussein (KU Leuven, Spokesperson), Delphine Quatannens (UAntwerpen, Events) and Anissa Zouzaf (KU Leuven, Secretary)

Keynote Lectures

The meeting featured three keynote lectures from prominent experts in the field:

• Maria Francesca Viola (University of Bonn, formerly KU Leuven) presented on Neuro-immune interactions in the myenteric plexus from development to aging
• Gregory Ehx (University of Liège) discussed the Identification of actionable targets for the development of immunotherapies for AML
• Kirsten Maertens (University of Antwerp) rounded off the keynote talks with her presentation on Vaccination during pregnancy from bench to bedside

Career Panel and Sponsor Contributions

A career panel discussion followed, moderated by yBIS Spokesperson Hind Hussein. The panel was highly appreciated by attendees, especially early-career researchers seeking advice on navigating academic and industry paths.

Special thanks to Standard Biotools, our Silver Sponsor, for their talk on High-plex whole slide spatial biology assays (Hyperion™ XTI), which showcased exciting innovations in the field. The Golden Sponsor, Sony, also contributed to the day’s success with a hands-on workshop on Spectral Flow Cytometry, a topic that garnered significant interest from participants.

Poster Session and Oral Presentations

The afternoon featured a lively poster session where young Belgian immunologists displayed their work, encouraging fruitful discussions and networking. Out of numerous abstract submissions from all over Belgium, twelve researchers were selected to present their work in the fields of neuroimmunology, cancer immunology, and infectious diseases.

In the end, three outstanding researchers took home the Best Oral Presentation awards in their respective categories:

• Neuroimmunology: Tine Wils (KU Leuven)
• Cancer Immunology: Pierre-Hubert Desimpel (De Duve Institute, UC Louvain)
• Infectious Diseases: Céleste Willems (Rega Institute, KU Leuven)

Additionally, the Best Poster Prize went to Amber De Visscher (KU Leuven), and Fran Prenen (KU Leuven) was awarded the Best Negative Data Award—an important recognition of valuable, though less commonly celebrated, research outcomes.

Vendor Booths and Tombola

The meeting also featured numerous vendor booths, giving participants a chance to explore the latest scientific tools and techniques. Attendees could interact with companies like Illumine, which offered unique science art (see cover picture), and SciMingo, which focused on science communication.

The day ended on a high note with the much-anticipated yBIS tombola, which was a big hit among attendees, adding a fun and lighthearted element to an already vibrant event.

Conclusion

Overall, the first annual yBIS meeting was a resounding success, with high levels of engagement from participants, insightful presentations, and exciting networking opportunities. With such a promising start, we look forward to seeing how the yBIS community will grow and continue to bring together young immunologists in the years to come!

Thank you again to our sponsors, speakers, and attendees for making this event such a success. We can’t wait for the next edition!

Anissa Zouzaf

Secretary yBIS