The BSI Exeter Immunology Group, is excited to host the Exeter Immunology Symposium, taking place at the at the Exeter Rougemont hotel on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 June 2026.
This two-day meeting will showcase the breadth and diversity of immunology research across the Southwest, with a strong focus on supporting Early Career Researchers (ECRs). Selected talks from ECRs will be chosen from submitted abstracts, alongside a dedicated poster session designed to encourage discussion and increase visibility.
With dedicated time for discussion and informal networking throughout the programme, the symposium offers an excellent opportunity to build new collaborations and strengthen connections within the Southwest immunology community and beyond. Please follow @bsicongress on X and @britsocimm.bsky.social on Bluesky, and check the event hashtag #EIS26 for updates.
Programme
Monday 15 June 2026
10:30 | Registration and refreshments
11:30 | Welcome
Session 1
11:45 | Invited speaker: Dr James Pearson (University of Birmingham, UK)
Chronotherapy: How timing of Treg-targeting therapy administration improves efficacy in Type 1 diabetes
12:25 | Sponsor talk: Dr Peter Djali (Business Development Manager, Pixelgen Technologies)
How cell surface protein organisation changes everything: Decoding immune cell function through single-cell protein interactomics
12:35 | Lunch, posters and meet the exhibitors
Session 2
13:30 | Invited speaker: Professor Salomé Leibundgut-Landmann (University of Zurich/University of Exeter, Switzerland/UK)
Homeostatic immunity to commensal fungi
14:10 | Selected short talk: Dr Emily Sey (University of Exeter, UK)
Gut–lung axis: absence of a gut microbiome promotes compartmentalised antifungal immunity during acute pulmonary infection with Aspergillus fumigatus
14:25 | Selected short talk: Orlando Ross (MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, UK)
The protective impact of gastrointestinal Th1-inducing pathobionts on host response to systemic candidiasis
14:40 | Selected short talk: Dr Mark Stapper (MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, UK)
The mannose code: Immune receptor screening identifies the ligand structure and key genes required for the assembly of immunostimulatory mannosides in the Candida albicans cell wall
14:55 | Refreshment break, posters and meet the exhibitors
Session 3
15:30 | Invited speaker: Professor Andy Sewell (University of Cardiff, UK)
How T-cells cure cancer: Lessons from successful immunotherapy?
16:10 | Selected short talk: Eleanor Pearson (University of Exeter, UK)
Reduction in MIF secretion from bone marrow-derived macrophages in response to AMPK activation is altered by type 1 diabetes susceptibility
16:25 | Selected short talk: Dr Simon Eastham (University of Bristol, UK)
Galectin-3 is highly expressed in tissue-infiltrating CD4 T cells and supports pathogenic Th17 cell responses shared across inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune uveitis.
16:40 | Selected short talk: Dr Jessica Oliver (Institute of Cancer Research, UK)
Inhibition of the novel immune checkpoint ART1 improves radiotherapy responses in immune cold models of head and neck cancer
16:55 | Poster session
18:00 | Day 1 close
Tuesday 16 June 2026
08:30 | Refreshments
09:00 | Introduction to day 2
Session 4
09:10 | Invited speaker: Dr Gina Doody (University of Leeds, UK)
Uncovering novel aspects of plasma cell biology using in vitro differentiation models
09:50 | Selected short talk: Chloe Moscrop (University of Bristol, UK)
Exploring IL-6 trans-signalling in blood-retinal barrier integrity in autoimmune uveitis and inflammatory arthritis
10:05 | Selected short talk: Dr Elizabeth Hanna (University of Bristol, UK)
A Model System for Investigating Latent HIV Reservoir Metabolism in Tonsil Organoids
10:20 | Selected short talk: Dr Kiki Edith Cano-Gamez (University of Exeter, UK)
Is cell‑free DNA a driver of immune dysregulation in lupus? A proposal for an early discovery study
10:35 | Refreshment break and networking with the exhibitors
Session 5
11:05 | Invited speaker: Professor Matthew O’Shea (University of Birmingham, UK)
Immune and infectious modulators of Tuberculosis risk
11:45 | Selected short talk: Dr Dora E. Corzo Leon (MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, UK)
Pulmonary mucormycosis with bacterial co-infection: a translational approach
12:00 | Selected short talk: Huan Jiang (University of Bristol, UK)
A genetic screen in Candida albicans for modulators of the neutrophil oxidative burst
12:15 | Selected short talk: Dr Fabian Salazar (University of Exeter, UK)
Environmental Programming of Lung Immunity by Chronic Fungal Exposure
12:30 | Selected short talk: Dr Julio Furlong-Silva (MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, UK)
Worming away at fungi: The helminth parasite secreted proteins p43 and p47 confers protection against invasive fungal lung disease by enhancing innate antifungal immune responses.
12:45 | Lunch and networking with the exhibitors
Session 6
13:45 | Selected short talk: Jake Elton (University of Exeter, Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, UK)
Where are the fungi? Mapping dendritic cell interactions with spores in the lung airways to reveal new insights on sensitisation
14:00 | Selected short talk: Beata Adrienn Brezniczky (University of Plymouth, UK)
Polymicrobial biofilms drive increased pro-inflammatory responses in macrophages
14:15 | Invited speaker: Professor Georgios Chamilos (University of Crete, Greece)
Novel pathways regulating fungal phagosome biogenesis in health and disease
14:55 | Awards and closing remarks
15:05 | Event close
Abstract submission
Please submit your abstract by 23:59 BST on Monday 18 May 2026.
Registration
Registration is now open, book your place here.
BSI members benefit from reduced registration fees at this meeting and other BSI events, as well as free access to our journals, grants, career development activities and much more. You can sign up to become a member online. For current BSI members, your reduced fee will be applied automatically if you are logged in to your account. All fees include VAT.
Fees
Early bird registration (closes 23:59 on Wednesday 27 May 2026)
| BSI member | Non-member | |
|---|---|---|
| Full | £88 | £145 |
| Early Career/Clinician in training (read the criteria) | £88 | £145 |
| Postgraduate (anyone studying a PhD or Masters) | £57 | £99* |
| Senior (retired) (read the criteria) | £57 | £99 |
| Discounted membership/rate (read the criteria) | £57* | £99* |
| Undergraduate (membership is free) | £26 | - |
Late registration
| BSI member | Non-member | |
|---|---|---|
| Full | £110 | £180 |
| Early Career/Clinician in training (read the criteria) | £110 | £180 |
| Postgraduate (anyone studying a PhD or Masters) | £72 | £126* |
| Senior (retired) (read the criteria) | £72 | £126 |
| Discounted membership/rate (read the criteria) | £72* | £126* |
| Undergraduate (membership is free) | £33 | - |
*If this fee applies to you, please contact meetings@immunology.org for a discount code prior to registering.
BSI grants to support your attendance at this event
As part of our career development package, we have two grants available to BSI members to support your attendance at this event.
- BSI Regional & Affinity Group Conference Grants: BSI members can apply for up to £100 to contribute towards their travel costs in attending this conference. In this scheme, we have 10 grants available for this conference and they will be allocated on a first come, first served basis to eligible BSI members. Deadline: Monday 25 May 2026. Find out more and apply.
- BSI Regional & Affinity Group Carers' Grants: BSI members can apply for up to £100 to contribute towards extra care arrangements costs they incur during the conference, for example, childcare costs, or for additional care for the applicant themselves. Deadline: Monday 25 May 2026. Find out more and apply.
Sponsorship
Thank you to our Principal sponsor who is supporting this event.
