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SIGNET 2026

BSI event
Image of the River Tay in Perth, UK
Dates:
to
Location:
Scotland, UK
Type:
In person
Registration not yet available

Registration is now closed. Please contact meetings@immunology.org for any queries.

The BSI Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Tayside, and West of Scotland Immunology Groups welcome you to join us at the Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ, on Wednesday 11 March 2026 for our fifth Scottish Immunology Groups Network (SIGNET) joint symposium. SIGNET is a full-day in-person symposium which aims to bring together immunologists from across Scotland to share research, foster new collaborations and encourage networking.

We are pleased to welcome invited keynote speakers, including Professor Graham Anderson (University of Birmingham, UK) and Dr Madhvi Menon (University of Manchester). The meeting will also feature invited talks from researchers in each BSI Regional Group.

A strong focus of SIGNET is promoting early career researchers. Six oral presentations from postdocs/PhD students will be selected from submitted abstracts in addition to the poster session, which will include prizes!

Join us in March to catch up with old friends and meet some new colleagues from across the Scottish immunology community.
Please follow @bsicongress and check the event hashtag #SIGNET26 for updates.

Programme

09:00 | Registration

09:40 | Welcome

SESSION 1  

Chairs: Martina Mesiarikova (University of Aberdeen, UK) and Dr Piotr Janas (University of Edinburgh, UK)

09:50 | Keynote speaker: Professor Graham Anderson (University of Birmingham, UK)
When immunity multitasks: Type 2 pathways power thymus regeneration

10:25 | Sponsor talk: Maya Cowans (ProImmune Ltd)
Ankyrons®: Next generation binding reagents beyond antibodies

10.35 | Invited speaker: Dr Henry McSorley (University of Dundee, UK) 
Immunomodulation and vaccination in intestinal parasites

10:55 | Refreshment break  

SESSION 2

Chairs: Dr Anna Andrusaite (University of Edinburgh, UK) and Alex Young (University of Glasgow, UK)

11:25 | Selected abstract talk: Martina Mesiarikova (University of Aberdeen, UK)
Breaking the glycan code: How cell cycle timing reveals novel lectin checkpoint regulation of 
T-cell-mediated killing  

11:35 | Selected abstract talk: Dr Oliver Teenan (University of Edinburgh, UK)
Chronic alterations in splenic B cells persisting after stroke are associated with the 
stromal niche and microenvironmental changes 

11:45 | Selected abstract talk: Dana Cheung (University of Dundee, UK)
The role and regulation of cholesterol metabolism in B cell survival and proliferation 

11:55 | Invited speaker: Dr Indrani Mukhopadhya (University of Aberdeen, UK)
Viral dark matter: Decoding gut virome-host immune interactions in 
inflammatory disease

12:15 | British Society for Immunology's Annual General Meeting 

12:35 | Lunch (poster session 13:05-14:05 - please stand at your posters during this time)

SESSION 3

Chairs: Srishti (University of Dundee, UK) and Sam McVey (University of Aberdeen, UK) 

14:05 | Selected abstract talk: Jack McCowan (CRUK Scotland Institute, Glasgow, UK)  
The role of persistent antigen in sustaining lung CD8 memory T cells

14:15 | Selected abstract talk: Dr Isobel Mouat (University of Glasgow, UK)  
Diverse lung challenges elicit a conserved monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation blueprint 

14:25 | Selected abstract talk: Jiayue Gu (University of Edinburgh, UK)  
Decoding sunshine: Multi-omic dissection of UV-associated immune 
reprogramming in humansine

14:35 | Invited speaker: Dr Ananda Mirchandani (University of Edinburgh, UK)
Hypoxia: why we O2 care

14:55 | Refreshment break

SESSION 4

Chairs: Jack McCowan (University of Glasgow, UK) and Dr Chloe Shepherd (University of Dundee, UK)

15:25 | Invited speaker: Dr Chris Mahony (University of Glasgow, UK)
Understanding tissue immunology in the fight against 
inflammatory diseases

15:45 | Keynote speaker: Dr Madhvi Menon (University of Manchester, UK)
Cellular dynamics in chronic lung disease: The neglected B cell axis

16:20 | Closing remarks and poster prize 

16:30 | Networking reception and posters

17:45 | Close


Registration

Registration is now closed. Please contact meetings@immunology.org for any queries

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:

 BSI memberNon-member
Full£37£79
Early Career/Clinician in training (read the criteria)£37£79
Postgraduate (anyone studying a PhD or Masters)£25£57*
Senior (retired) (read the criteria)£25£57
Discounted membership/rate (read the criteria£25*£57*
Undergraduate (membership is free)£12-

  *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: Wednesday 18 February 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: Wednesday 18 February 2026. Find out more and apply


Abstract submission

Abstract submission is now closed. 


Sponsorship

Thank you to our sponsors who are supporting this event.

Principal sponsor:

Sponsors:


If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact our Events & Corporate Engagement Manager, Becky Dempsey, at b.dempsey@immunology.org.