TRR332 hosts International Neutrophil Meeting attracting a record number of participants

TRR332 organized its international meeting jointly with the Neutrophil conference series. The event attracted over 500 participants making it the largest convention of neutrophil biologists so far. The meeting was held at the Biomedical Center (BMC), located within Munich's vibrant HighTech Campus. This prestigious event focused on exploring the intricate workings of neutrophils. Discussions covered topics ranging from neutrophil birth and niches to roles in inflammation, cancer, and infection, along with innovative insights from related fields.

Distinguished keynote speaker Andres Hidalgo from New Haven, USA, provided enlightening insights into the evolution of neutrophil knowledge throughout history, culminating in cutting-edge research techniques. All sessions staged outstanding international experts including Daniel Lucas, Niki Moutsopoulos, Sussan Nourshargh, Mikala Egeblad, Paul Kubes, Maziar Divangahi and Christina Stallings as well as principal investigators of TRR332. To promote emerging scientists, abstract talks were exclusively given by graduate students or junior post docs, thus emphasizing cross-disciplinary dialogue between established professionals and rising stars alike. Junior scientists also served as co-chairs for numerous sessions and facilitated interactive poster displays, further bolstered by substantial funding support from generous sponsors who enabled the distribution of 30 travel stipends to promising early career researchers.

Attendees enjoyed networking opportunities during coffee breaks and engaging in thoughtful conversations. A beautifulfestive conference dinner was complete with traditional Bavarian tunes at Munich's historical Ratskeller. A thrilling social event showcased breathtaking views of the Bavarian Alps via the Wallberg mountain peak and visits to a whiskey distillery.

In addition to the stimulating scientific program, special recognition went to Michael Mihlan (Münster), Maria Feliz Norberto (New York), and Roland Immler (München) for delivering exceptional short talks, while Lydia Kalafati (Dresden), Jincheng Gao (München), Lars Widera (Essen), Aleksandra Korba-Mikolajczyk (Wroclaw), and Eva Diesterbeck (Essen) received accolades for top-tier poster presentations. Heartfelt gratitude extends to the dedicated local organising team in Munich whose tireless efforts contributed significantly to the overall success of our International Neutrophil Meeting.