20-22 May 2026, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Venue: National Institute of Biology, 121 Vecna pot, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Scientific Committee (SC)
Eva Martinez-Balibrea, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, Spain
Vinton Cheng, University of Birmingham, UK
Doreen Lau, Brunel University of London, UK
Rebeca Sanz Pamplona, Aragon Research Health Institute, Spain
Nuno Rodrigues dos Santos, i3S, University of Porto, Portugal
Rosalinda Sorrentino, University of Salerno, Italy
Catarina Rodriques, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto, Portugal
Barbara Breznik, National Institute of Biology, Slovenia
Metka Novak, National Institute of Biology, Slovenia
Organizing Committee (OC)
Barbara Breznik, National Institute of Biology, Slovenia
Metka Novak, National Institute of Biology, Slovenia
Špela Kladnik, National Institute of Biology, Slovenia
Emanuela Senjor, Jozef Stefan Institute, Slovenia
Pia Žižek, National Institute of Biology, Slovenia
Overview
The Final IMMUNO-model Annual Conference Building Bridges in Cancer Immunotherapy Modelling was held in Slovenia in May 2026, bringing together project partners, researchers, clinicians, industry representatives, and other stakeholders involved in advancing preclinical cancer models in immunology research. The event marked the culmination of the IMMUNO-model project and provided an opportunity to present the project’s key achievements, share scientific results, and discuss future directions in the development and application of advanced preclinical immuno-oncology models.
As highlighted by NIB, the conference was intended not only to present the achievements of the IMMUNO-model consortium but also to create conditions for the continued development of innovative cancer immunotherapy approaches and future international collaborations.
The conference aimed to:
Showcase the scientific achievements of the IMMUNO-model consortium and its four years of collaborative work in cancer immunotherapy modelling.
Promote collaboration and networking between academic researchers, clinicians, and industry stakeholders to strengthen translational cancer research.
Advance the development and standardization of preclinical immuno-oncology models, which are essential for understanding immune responses to cancer and for testing new therapeutic strategies.
Accelerate translation of research findings into clinical applications, ultimately improving treatment outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients.
Address gender-related aspects of cancer research and immunotherapy through the TGRC Symposium, including gender equality in research, sex differences in immunology and immunotherapy, and the incorporation of gender considerations into experimental models.
Scientific Program
The conference featured a series of keynote lectures, project presentations, panel discussions, and networking sessions. Project partners presented results achieved across the different work packages, highlighting progress in the development, validation, and application of innovative immunocompetent disease models.
The conference featured keynote lectures by Dr. Jérôme Galon (INSERM, Sorbonne Université, France), Dr. Erik Arntzen (Radboudumc, The Netherlands), Dr. Elisa Oricchio (EPFL, Switzerland), and Prof. Frederik De Smet (KU Leuven, Belgium), who presented recent advances in cancer immunology, translational immunotherapy, tumor microenvironment research, and preclinical modelling approaches.
The conference agenda also included several invited speakers in the TGRC Symposium, such as:
- Shirin Heidari (GENDRO, Switzerland)
- Berna Özdemir (Bern University Hospital, Switzerland)
- Sonja Loges (University Cancer Center Hamburg, Germany)
- Camila Consiglio (Lund University, Sweden)
The conference was structured around five major themes: (i) the TGRC Symposium addressing gender equality and sex differences in immunology and immunotherapy, (ii) scientific sessions on preclinical cancer immunotherapy models and translational research, (iii) poster and short communication sessions, (iv) roundtable discussions fostering collaboration among academia, clinicians and industry, and (v) industry networking and technology-focused presentations.
Particular attention was given to:
- Development of advanced 3D cellular models and patient-derived tumor models.
- Integration of immune components into preclinical disease models.
- Applications of personalized medicine approaches.
- Evaluation of therapeutic responses using physiologically relevant model systems.
- Challenges and opportunities in translating research findings into clinical practice.
The presented results demonstrated the value of advanced model systems in improving our understanding of disease mechanisms and supporting the development of more effective therapeutic strategies.
Key Outcomes
The conference highlighted several important achievements of the IMMUNO-model project:
- Successful establishment and validation of innovative experimental models that better reflect human disease biology.
- Strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration among consortium partners.
- Generation of valuable scientific knowledge supporting translational and personalized medicine approaches.
- Dissemination of project results to the broader scientific and professional community.
- Identification of future collaborative initiatives and funding opportunities.
The discussions emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to develop predictive preclinical models that can reduce the gap between laboratory research and clinical application.
Networking and Dissemination
The event provided an excellent platform for networking and exchange of expertise among participants from different sectors. Researchers had the opportunity to discuss emerging technologies, share best practices, and explore potential future collaborations. 30 posters were presented.
Conclusion
The IMMUNOMODEL Final Conference successfully showcased the scientific achievements and collaborative efforts realized throughout the project. The event demonstrated the significant progress made in the development of advanced immunocompetent disease models and highlighted their potential to accelerate biomedical research and support personalized therapeutic strategies.
The conference concluded with a strong commitment from participants to continue collaborative activities, further develop innovative model systems, and pursue new research opportunities that build upon the foundation established by the IMMUNO-mosel project.