Immunology - News Feed

Prof. Dr. Ramon Arens receives ZonMW funding to improve vaccine responses

Freija — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:38:00 +0100

Publication in Nature: Pausing immune cells makes them stronger

Marijke — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:50:00 +0100

Researchers from the IMMU department led by Professor Ramon Arens, have uncovered a novel strategy to strengthen anti-tumor immune responses. The study was published online in Nature Immunology and has been featured on the KWF web news.

SPARC consortium, including dr. Martijn Verdoes, awarded funding for NWO Perspectief Project

Kristen — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 14:41:00 +0100

Immunotherapy is a promising new treatment in cancer care.

IMMU Toast 2026 Opens the Year with Reflection, Appreciation, and Ambition

Marijke — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 13:36:00 +0100

On Tuesday 13 January 2026, IMMU members gathered in the foyer of the Education Building for the IMMU Toast 2026, marking the opening of the new year. Colleagues from diagnostics, research, education, and support staff came together to reflect on the achievements of 2025 and to look ahead.

Prof. Frank Staal and Dr. Sander de Kivit receive an €50.000 Open Competition Domain Science- XS Grant from the NWO (The Dutch Research Council)

Kristen — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 18:22:00 +0100

Inborn errors of immunity are rare genetic disorders that disrupt the normal development of immune cells, leaving patients highly vulnerable to infections. Gene therapy offers a promising route toward a cure by correcting the underlying genetic defect in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).Inborn errors of immunity are rare genetic disorders that disrupt the normal development of immune cells, leaving patients highly vulnerable to infections. Gene therapy offers a promising route toward a cure by correcting the underlying genetic defect in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).

IMMU Science Retreat 2025: A Day of Scientific Exchange, Inspiration, and Collaboration

Kristen — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 14:34:00 +0100

On Friday, 21 November 2025, the Department of Immunology (IMMU) hosted its annual IMMU Science Retreat at Naturalis & De Stal. The retreat brought together IMMU researchers across all career stages for a full day of scientific exchange, discussion, and intergroup collaboration.

Global Recognition of Prof. Staal’s Gene Therapy Leadership

Kristen — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 08:48:00 +0100

A recent feature in The New York Times showcased a major scientific breakthrough: gene therapy that is transforming severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), historically known as “bubble boy disease,” from a fatal condition into a treatable, and often curable disorder. Among the international experts interviewed was Prof. Frank Staal from Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), whose pioneering work over the past two decades has been instrumental in bringing gene therapy for immune disorders to the clinic.

Dr. Annemarthe van der Veen Awarded the Prestigious LUMC C.J. Kok Prize

Kristen — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 15:03:00 +0100

Dr. Annemarthe van der Veen has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the distinguished LUMC C.J. Kok Prize. This annual award honors outstanding young established researchers whose scientific contributions have made a significant impact within the institute.

Dr. Fiamma Salerno receives the KNAW Early Career Award 2025

Kristen — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 12:37:00 +0100

On November 18th 2025, Dr. Fiamma Salerno, tenure-track group leader at the Department of Immunology at the Leiden University Medical Center, was awarded the 2025 Early Career Award from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).

Prof. dr. Karin de Visser receives the 2025 Josephine Nefkens Prize

Kristen — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 10:22:00 +0100

On November 4th, 2025, Prof. dr. Karin de Visser, Professor of Experimental Immunobiology of Cancer at Leiden University, endowed professor affiliated with the IMMU department, and Group Leader at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI-AVL) and Oncode Institute, was awarded the Josephine Nefkens Prize 2025.

Thesis Defence Michelle D. van den Beukel

Kristen — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 08:55:00 +0100

Beau van Hulst wins Best Oral Presentation

Kristen — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 16:44:00 +0200

Beau van Hulst, a PhD candidate in Koen van der Maaden’s research group, was awarded the prize for Best Oral Presentation (€500) at the 2nd BeNeLux & France CRS Local Chapter Meeting – Breaking Barriers in Drug, Vaccine, and Gene Delivery.

Thesis Defence Floortje J. van Haften

Kristen — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 10:25:00 +0200

Thesis Defence Kyra van der Pan

Kristen — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:18:00 +0200

Prof. Ramon Arens receives an €50.000 Open Competition Domain Science- XS grant from NWO (The Dutch Research Council)

Kristen — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 12:49:00 +0200

Our immune system protects us against diseases. A key component of this defense is the so called killer T-cells. These specialized immune cells detect and eliminate cells that are infected by viruses or have transformed into cancer cells.

2025 IMMU PI Retreat, Location: Oud Poelgeest Castle

Kristen — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 10:13:00 +0200

On Friday, August 29, 2025, the Principal Investigators (PIs) of the Immunology Department came together for a full-day retreat at the historic Kasteel Oud Poelgeest. This was the first IMMU staff retreat under the leadership of Professor Hermelijn Smits, who assumed the headship of the department on January 1, 2025.

Inaugural lecture Prof. dr. Ramon Arens; In search of the lost balance

Kristen — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 08:48:00 +0200

On Friday, 11 July 2025, Prof. dr. Ramon Arens delivered his inaugural lecture to mark his appointment as Professor of Cellular Immunology, with a special focus on T-cell immunity.

A Health~Holland grant for Koen van der Maaden together with uPATCH (Leiden BioScience Park)

Kristen — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:29:00 +0200

Koen van der Maaden received a Health~Holland grant together with uPATCH (Leiden BioScience Park) of €715.000 for project IMPACT: Innovative Microneedle Patch and Applicator for intradermal (Cancer) immunoTherapy.

KWF Funding for Complement and Antibodies team of Prof. Trouw

Kristen — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 09:45:00 +0200

The Complement and Antibodies team of Prof. Trouw received a KWF grant for the project entitled: Complete Tumor Removal: Exploiting the full potential of tumor specific removal of complement inhibition to kill all tumor cells.

Rachel Quilang Wins Best Oral Presentation at ESRI 2025

Kristen — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 13:20:00 +0200

From July 2–5, 2025, the 18th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Reproductive Immunology (ESRI) was held in the beautiful city of Trieste, Italy.