The EMBO Workshop “Pathogen Immunity and Signalling” will be held in “Naturalis Biodiversity Center” in Leiden, The Netherlands on 8-11 June 2026. This EMBO Workshop will gather a multidisciplinary community of scientists working on all aspects of host–pathogen interactions to discuss the latest advances in pathogen immunity. We will explore how protective immune mechanisms can also drive disease when inappropriately activated. The main objectives are to:
- highlight mechanisms of adaptive and innate immunity against pathogens, and
- share insights on how this knowledge can be harnessed for therapeutic applications.
Previous editions of this meeting — held in Oxford (2019), Saint-Malo (2022), and Venice (2024) — were very well received. EMBO workshops are known for their high visibility, typically attracting 180–200 participants from across Europe and beyond. The 2026 program will feature keynote lectures by Judi Allen and Mihai Netea, 23 invited talks, multiple short talks and flash talks (selected from abstracts), and 3 poster sessions. Through a ‘meet-the-speaker/editor’ dinner, networking among early career scientists, established experts, and journal editors is encouraged and the conference will end with a banquet dinner. We are currently also seeking companies who are interested in supporting this event through sponsorship. Further details can be found on our conference website or via Annemarthe van der Veen (LUMC; A.G.van_der_Veen@lumc.nl).
