October 22, 14:00: Dr. Stephanie Talker

A toast to fundamental immunology across species: exploring the mononuclear phagocyte system

Speaker: Dr. Stephanie Talker, Group Leader, Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI), University of Bern, Switzerland

Time: Thursday, October 22 at 14.00. 

Meeting link (Zoom): 
https://nmbu.zoom.us/j/65481674948?pwd=t5ZziFDYjK6IeB16raxAiHdDaPm12C.1

Stephanie will present her journey in the characterization of mononuclear phagocytes in ruminants, as well as in the horse and the dog, including the discovery of transitional dendritic cells in these species. She will highlight comparisons with human DCs and monocytes, underscoring the importance of comparative immunology in general.

Bio: Stephanie Talker studied Veterinary Medicine in Vienna (Austria), where she gained her PhD in 2016 by investigating the porcine T-cell response to viral infection. From 2017 to 2023 she held a postdoctoral position in the Summerfield lab at the Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) in Bern (Switzerland), where she trained herself in the analysis of (single-cell) RNA-seq data, focusing mostly on bovine dendritic and monocytic cells. With her appointment as group leader in March 2023, she became a strong advocate for high-quality fundamental research in Veterinary Immunology. The in-depth exploratory analyses performed at the IVI are setting new standards for the definition of mononuclear phagocyte heterogeneity across veterinary species, such as cattle, pig, horse, and dog, and provide a rich resource for comparative analyses. “As we explore similarities and differences across species, we are reminded that fundamental immunology transcends boundaries. Every insight gained in one species enriches our understanding of another and strengthens the spirit of One Health.”

Key papers: 
1. Dendritic-cell diversity in equine blood revealed by single-cell transcriptomics
2. Unraveling porcine dendritic-cell diversity: welcome tDC and DC3
3. Single-cell transcriptomics reveals striking heterogeneity and functional organization of dendritic and monocytic cells in the bovine mesenteric lymph node
4. Monocyte biology conserved across species: Functional insights from cattle

On behalf of the Scandinavian Society for Immunology (SSI) it is our pleasure to announce that the Early Bird Registration deadline has been extended to 1st of June – do not miss this chance to register at a reduced rate and get a chance to listen to our esteemed Speakers!

The 51st Annual Meeting of the Scandinavian Society for Immunology, Bergen, 7-10 September
Register now: https://lnkd.in/em4qMKck

SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS
During the 51st Annual Meeting of the SSI, Gerhard Krönke will give a lecture entitled “Resetting autoimmunity in immune-mediated inflammatory disease”.
Gerhard Krönke is the chair and director of the Medical Department of Rheumatology and Clinical immunology at the Charité University Hospital Berlin. His research work focuses on the molecular mechanisms contributing to the development of immune mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. A particular focus of his research lies on the identification of novel therapeutic targets and treatment approaches, which resulted in the identification of a novel molecular mode of action of glucocorticoids as well as the introduction of novel therapeutic strategies such as CAR T cells and T cell engagers as newly emerging therapeutic principles for IMIDs. He received multiple awards as well as an ERC Starting grant and an ERC consolidator grant.
More about Gerhard and his research: https://lnkd.in/egKtwi8C

Dear colleagues,

We are delighted to invite you to the 51st Annual Meeting of the Scandinavian Society for Immunology, to be held in Bergen, Norway, from September 7th to 10th, 2026.

The meeting promises an exciting scientific program featuring keynote and plenary lectures from leading immunologists, alongside a summer school program for early-career researchers. Travel grants are available to support attendance for those early in their careers.

Registration and abstract submission are now open. The early bird registration deadline is May 18th.

For the full program, registration details, and abstract submission guidelines, please visit our website: https://www.ssi2026.no/

We look forward to welcoming you to Bergen later this year!