Conference venue: Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London, United Kingdom. Conference start and end date: 10/12/2025 to 12/12/2025

Title of the presentation: Blocking Dopamine D2 Receptors Induces Anti-Cancer and Immune Stimulatory Effects in Ex Vivo Patient-Derived Tumour Slice Models of Ovarian Cancer

Type of the presentation: poster

Co-authors: Maria Edwards, Pablo Caruana, Mireia Escar, Jose Luis Corchero, Maria Virtudes Céspedes Other details of the presentation: Presented during the Poster Sesion

Outcome of the conference participation: The congress advanced my academic growth and scientific network greatly. The sessions were excellent, covering the latest findings in immunotherapy approaches, such as CTLA-4/PD-1 blockades, novel bispecific and tri-specific modalities, CAR-T therapy and cancer vaccines.

The opportunity to present my work was also hugely beneficial; multiple ambassadors from industry were very interested in my work, particularly the use of ex vivo tumour slices for drug discovery, and through these interactions I made new contacts. I also had the opportunity to speak to other students who were utilising similar scientific techniques, and we were able to share our knowledge and experience with one another.I am very grateful to COST Action and Immuno-model for their generous support which has allowed me to learn more deeply about immunotherapies, share my knowledge and work on novel immunological models, and further connect with the international scientific community

Visit to a host organization located in a different country than the country of affiliation by a researcher or innovator for specific work to be carried out and for a determined period of time.

VM: Virtual Mobility

Collaboration in a virtual setting among researchers or innovators within the IMMUNO-model COST Action, to exchange knowledge, learn new techniques, etc.

DC: Dissemination Conference

Funds an oral presentation by an Action Participant of the work of IMMUNO-model COST Action in a high-level conference fully organized by a third party, i.e. not organized nor co-organized by IMMUNO-model.

ITC: Inclusiveness Targeted Countries Conference

Funds an oral presentation of their own work within the scope of IMMUNO-model COST Action by an Action Participant affiliated to a legal entity located in an Inclusiveness Target Country / Near Neighbour Country in a high-level conference fully organized by a third party, i.e. not organized nor co-organized by IMMUNO-model.

YRI: Young Researchers and Innovators Conference

Funds a poster/oral presentation of their own work by a Young Researcher and Innovator (YRI = below 40 years old) in a high-level conference fully organized by a third party, i.e. not organized nor co-organized by IMMUNO-model.

Am I eligible? https://www.cost.eu/am-i-eligible/
Annotated Rules FAQ: https://www.cost.eu/cost-actions/annotated-rules-qa/

For details please visit: https://www.immuno-model.eu/mobility-grants/

STSM contact:
Grant Awarding Coordinator
Dr. Philippe Bertrand

One of the most rewarding aspects of the experience was the opportunity to engage with top experts in the field of innate immunity and natural killer (NK) cell biology. I had the chance to discuss my project and poster presentation with Dr. Megan Cooper (Washington University in St. Louis), a leading researcher in paediatric immunology and NK cell regulation in primary immunodeficiencies; Dr. Katy Rezvani (MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Texas), whose pioneering work on engineering NK cells for adoptive cancer immunotherapy is setting new standards in the field; and Prof. Eric Vivier (Innate Pharma & Aix-Marseille University), a foundational figure in innate lymphoid cell biologyand translational NK cell research. Their enthusiasm for my project and the constructive feedback they offered have been incredibly motivating and valuable for refining my research questions and future directions.

In addition to the networking opportunities, I attended the Cancer Immunology Advanced Course, which deepened my understanding of immuno-oncology and helped recontextualize prior knowledge from a more clinically integrated perspective. I also explored translational models connecting autoimmunity, infection, and cancer, with particular emphasis on drug repurposing strategies and targeting intracellular signalling pathways using small molecules — areas directly relevant to my current and future research. Beyond the scientific content, the conference significantly improved my confidence in academic networking and my fluency in communicating scientific ideas in English.

Presenting a poster in such an international setting allowed me to practice scientific discourse in a dynamic environment. Thanks to this experience, I now feel well-prepared to take the next step: delivering an oral presentation at future international meetings.

I am deeply grateful for the funding that made it possible for me to attend FOCIS2025. This experience has not only expanded my scientific knowledge and professional network but also significantly enhanced my confidence as an early-career researcher. Engaging with leaders in the field, receiving valuable feedback on my work, and gaining new insights into translational immunology have been pivotal in shaping the next steps of my research. Thank you for investing in my development—this opportunity has been truly transformative, and I am excited to build on it in the years ahead.

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