I, María José Felgueres Planells, was awarded a competitive travel grant to attend the 25th Annual Meeting of the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS2025), a premier international meeting in translational immunology held in Boston. The conference, my first as a junior postdoctoral researcher, brought together global leaders in immune-mediated diseases, providing an exceptional platform for scientific exchange and career development.
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.
