News - ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING 2025
News
Collaboration, Insight and Innovation:
Highlights from the IMMPROVE Annual Scientific Meeting
23rd January 2025 - Oxford, UK
The IMMPROVE Annual Scientific Meeting held on 23 January 2025 brought together a vibrant and diverse mix of researchers, project leads and advisory board members for a day of knowledge sharing, insightful discussions and forward-thinking collaboration.
Hosted in Oxford, the meeting served as a key milestone in the IMMPROVE project calendar—providing a platform to reflect on progress, share findings across work packages, and identify areas for continued growth and scientific advancement.
Summary of Work Package Activities
WP1
Exploring how early immune signals shape long-term memory, WP1 is expanding T and B cells studies across various cohorts, including immunocompromised individuals. Functional validation and mechanistic studies in pre-clinical models are also underway.
WP2
This WP is unpacking the dynamics between systemic and mucosal immunity. Highlights include the detection of antigen-specific T cells in the nasal mucosa. The year ahead will focus on comparing mucosal correlates of protection (CoP) across infection and vaccination.
WP3
Focusing on older adults, WP3 is working to define immune correlates of protection. Innovative models—like fine-needle aspirates from lymph nodes—are helping to understand immune formation and durability.
WP4
WP4 is driving integration and analysis of complex immunological data. Key developments include the use of machine learning for multidimensional analysis and ensuring shared access to a high-functioning data platform across the consortium.
WP5
From public engagement to mentorship, WP5 is championing trust and equity in vaccine science. It continues to deliver training opportunities for early career researchers and build leadership capacity in collaboration with the British Society for Immunology (BSI).
Highlights of the Day
1. Engaging sessions and work package reviews
Attendees benefitted from a series of well-structured presentations covering Work Packages 1 to 5. Both lead investigations and early career researchers (ECR) delivered informative updates that sparked lively Q&A sessions and fostered valuable dialogue across the consortium.
2. Inspirational Opening and Closing Remarks
Professors Teresa Lambe and Paul Klenerman opened the meeting with a compelling overview of the project, setting a thoughtful and energising tone for the day. The closing wrap-up effectively captured key takeaways, ensuring that the momentum continues beyond the meaning itself.
3. A platform for Networking
The networking reception provided a relaxed environment for attendees to build new connections and explore opportunities for future collaboration, further strengthening the IMMPROVE community.
4. Diverse Participation
With representation from the senior academics, ECRs and advisory board members, the meeting reflected IMMPROVE’s commitment to inclusivity and interdisciplinary engagement.
Group photo of participants at the 2025 IMMPROVE Annual Scientific Meeting – 23rd January 2025
Some feedback from participants:
Hannah Shrader, Oxford
The 2025 IMMPROVE Annual Scientific Meeting was a valuable opportunity to connect in person with collaborators I had previously only met virtually, engage with fellow PhD students, and better understand how my work contributes to the consortium’s short- and long-term goals. The connections I made have already led to training opportunities, community outreach, and new project collaborations. I was honored to present my team’s work—an uncommon opportunity for a PhD student—which gave me the chance to receive constructive feedback in a supportive environment. As an early career researcher, this experience challenged and inspired me while expanding my network. I now feel significantly more prepared to present at future conferences. I’m grateful to be part of this collaborative effort and appreciate the consortium’s commitment to supporting early career researchers. I'm already looking forward to next year’s meeting.
Paul Klenerman, Oxford
1. The first IMMPROVE annual meeting was a great chance for the large team to meet face-to-face- and especially for the ECR community to make connections between the different labs.
2. There is a lot of interesting science going on just now and it was exciting to see the projects progressing in the different areas. Finding the connections between the different groups and looking for synergy is going to be an important – and hopefully rewarding - aim for the consortium
3. The input from the Scientific Advisory Board was invaluable and the ideas for looking to the future will be critical for the success of IMMPROVE.
Nicholas Provine, Oxford
1. The level of collaboration across labs/universities is very impressive, and especially in the context of trying to unify technical protocols and approaches
2. As a new PI, the opportunity to present and therefore meet leading UK vaccine and immunology researchers is an invaluable opportunity. It’s such a unique networking opportunity _ Likewise for Leo being given that opportunity.
