The scientific program spanned a broad range of topics, including innate and adaptive immunity, tumor immunology, antibody biology, vaccinology, and advanced imaging. The day opened with a welcome and forward-looking strategic address by Hermelijn Smits, Head of the IMMU Department, outlining the department’s vision and future directions. This was followed by short research presentations from IMMU PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers, highlighting recent advances in areas such as cell-intrinsic immunity, complement inhibition strategies, DC-mediated anti-tumor CTL priming, cancer vaccines, cytokine synergy, and immune organoid models.
Two keynote lectures formed the scientific highlights of the retreat. Willianne Hoepel (IMMU) presented her work on how antibody glycosylation shapes inflammatory responses during respiratory viral infections. In the afternoon, the retreat welcomed Lukas Kapitein (Utrecht University) as guest keynote speaker, who delivered an inspiring lecture on the use of light-based technologies to dissect and actively control cellular organization and dynamics.
In addition to oral presentations, the retreat featured poster pitches and an extended poster session, as well as small-group discussions focused on intergroup synergy projects. These sessions stimulated new ideas and potential collaborations within IMMU and concluded with a plenary discussion and awards ceremony. Beau van Hulst received the award for best oral presentation, while Annick Kooij was honored with the best poster award.
The retreat was organized by the IMMU Science Retreat Organizing Committee (Sander de Kivit, Kirsten Canté, Fiamma Salerno, and Vincent van Unen), whose efforts ensured a well-balanced program combining scientific excellence with ample opportunities for interaction. The day concluded with informal drinks at De Stal, providing a relaxed setting to continue discussions and strengthen connections.