The BSI-CIPN Steering Group came together in March 2024 to define the Network’s mission and set its strategic priorities. As we continue through the second year of our 2024–2027 strategic plan, we’re taking the opportunity to look back on the progress we’ve made and share our plans for the rest of the year ahead.
Developed by the BSI-CIPN Steering Group to align with the BSI’s wider strategy, the plan aims to support careers, inspire change, and bring the immunology community closer together. It is shaped by the BSI-CIPN principles, which emphasise raising the profile of the specialty, supporting colleagues across all disciplines and career stages, and working with partners to help bridge the gap between research and clinical practice. Together, these foundations set the direction for the strategy’s three main areas of focus: education and training, advocacy and engagement, and research.
What did we achieve in the first year?
The first year of the BSI-CIPN strategic plan, which ran from July 2024 to June 2025, saw some exciting progress. Membership grew by over 40%, from 159 to 224 members, with an especially strong increase in nurse representation. We’ve also built stronger communication channels, including a regular email newsletter which is well read by members, and an active social media presence to help the community stay connected and informed.
Our events and training programmes have really taken off. The BSI-CIPN Conference 2024 welcomed over 270 attendees and 50 submitted abstracts, making it our biggest ever, with 96% of delegates reporting that they were satisfied or very satisfied.
In terms of training, the launch of the online ‘Clinical Immunology Exams and Education Calendar’ has seen high member engagement, and we’ve also begun strengthening partnerships to broaden training available. We’re working with the Association of Clinical Pathologists (ACP) to deliver clinical immunology training days, and are continuing conversations with the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI) on how to better align training offerings across the specialty.
In parallel, the BSI-CIPN’s newly launched ‘Immunology Nursing Excellence Programme’ has already boosted its participants’ confidence across all topics covered, with an average score of 8.8 out of 10 for meeting expectations. The BSI are also supporting those who want a better understanding of immunology basics with the new ‘Foundations in Immunology’ training course – which has been very popular so far in creating a hub for trainees and new professionals alike.
In advocacy and engagement, BSI-CIPN has certainly strengthened its voice in the sector. We’ve contributed to key consultations including the NHS 10-Year Plan, newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), and the review of the National School for Healthcare Science. Collaborative relationships with organisations such as the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath), BSACI, NHS England, LabMed, and Quality in Primary Immunodeficiency Services (QPIDS) have continued to grow, helping to facilitate closer working across the clinical immunology community. On the clinical guidelines front, we’ve developed a robust process for developing new clinical guidelines, started work on Good Syndrome and the use of Sirolimus in immune dysregulation, run a MMR vaccine roundtable to discuss provision of the MMR vaccine to immunocompromised individuals, and submitted feedback to eight NICE technology appraisals, all helping to ensure that clinical immunology continues to evolve and support clinical practice.
Looking ahead at year two:
As we move through the year ahead, we’re already seeing exciting developments take shape! In education and training, are growing the ‘Immunology Nursing Excellence Programme’, and continuing to develop the Foundations in Immunology course. We’ll also be reviewing the current training landscape to identify gaps and shape future opportunities that best support the clinical immunology community.
In advocacy and engagement, firstly, we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to Liverpool for the BSI-CIPN Conference 2025! It will be a fantastic opportunity for the community to come together, share ideas, and celebrate achievements. Beyond the BSI-CIPN Conference, the Network will continue to strengthen relationships with key stakeholders and find fresh ways to engage members, including gathering feedback on our activities and priorities. We’re also planning to deepen collaborations with patient organisations, ensuring their perspectives help guide and inform BSI-CIPN initiatives.
Finally, on the research front, we’ll ensure that BSI-CIPN is represented in broader BSI initiatives and create opportunities for academic and clinical networking. Looking ahead, we’re excited to share our ‘Research in clinical careers’ project in 2026, which has involved speaking with professionals across different disciplines within clinical immunology about their research and how it fits alongside their clinical roles. We also look forward to celebrating successful grant recipients, raising awareness of mentoring schemes, and exploring new collaborations between industry, charities, and academic partners to drive clinical immunology research forward.
With so much achieved already, and plenty of exciting work still to come, the BSI-CIPN is already turning the 2024–2027 strategy into tangible benefits for members, patients, and the specialty as a whole. At the BSI-CIPN Steering Group’s October 2025 meeting, we reviewed our progress, approved the Year 1 achievements and Year 2 workplan, and reaffirmed our commitment to building on this strong foundation, ensuring that the Network continues to grow and deliver real impact for the clinical immunology community.