The next Spring School on Immunology will take place from March 8-12, 2027 in Ettal, Bavaria.
About
The Spring School is an intensive course designed for final-year PhD students, early-career postdoctoral researchers, clinical scientists and researchers from industry who have a keen interest in cutting-edge immunology. During the five-day course, German and international experts from basic and clinical immunology research will deliver in-depth lectures on their current research areas, covering a broad spectrum of current topics in immunology – from molecular and cellular mechanisms to translational and clinical applications. Various formats have been incorporated into the programme to encourage active exchange among participants.
The Spring School takes place on the premises of Ettal Abbey and offers ample time for meetings and discussions with the lecturers, as well as excellent opportunities for networking and exchange among young researchers in the immunology community.
This school is the founding school of the Academy of Immunology of the German Society for Immunology (DGfI).
First a look back: Spring School 2026
During an intensive week in Ettal, Bavaria, 30 distinguished speakers and 63 participants from nine countries immersed themselves in advanced immunology. Through lectures by leading scientists, aspiring young researchers gained a deep understanding of both innate and adaptive immunity. They learnt fundamentals about immune cells, such as natural killer cells, neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, T and B cells, and how these effectors mediate defense against viruses and bacteria, suppress tumor development, and establish lasting immunological memory.
Cutting‑edge findings on the regulation of immune responses, autoimmunity, immunometabolism, complement, the plasticity of innate immune memory, and the cellular reprogramming of cancer cells captivated all attendees. A new perspective emerged on how extreme conditions in space alter immunity. All together the lectures introduced novel concepts in immunology, and discussed their potential application to immunotherapies in autoimmunity and cancer.
Industry partners provided valuable insights into translational research and shared practical tips. Participants seized the opportunity to exchange ideas with the speakers during rapid “speed‑dating” sessions and to draw inspiration for future experiments at the poster sessions.
We are delighted to announce this year’s three winners of the poster competition for the best posters:
Programming Dendritic Cell Diversity with Direct Cell Reprogramming for Immunotherapy
Abigail Altmann
Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Unraveling IgA overproduction and autoantibody formation in IgA nephropathy
Robin Kempkens
German Rheumatology Research Center, al Leibniz Institute, Berlin, Germany
Boosting human immunology: Harnessing the potential of immune organoids
Maximilian Moll
Medical Clinic III for Oncology, Hematology, Immuno-Oncology and Rheumatology,
University Hospital Bonn, Germany
Programme of 2026 download here.
We thank all speakers, participants, and industrial sponsors for making the event a success and look forward to the next Spring School, scheduled for March 8–12, 2027.
The organizing committee
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| Friederike Berberich-Siebelt Würzburg | Hyun-Dong Chang Berlin |
Jacqueline Hirscher Berlin |
Ute Hoffmann Berlin |
Bimba Hoyer Bonn |
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| Robert Jack Berlin (Greifswald) |
Michael Lohoff Marburg |
Barbara Schraml Planegg-Martinsried |
Hendrik Schulze-Koops München |
Learn more about the organizers of the DGfI Spring School →
We thank our sponsors for their support in 2026!
Without the support by our sponsors we would not be able to organize the school!
If you would like to sponsor the upcoming Springs School, please send us a short email to: sp**********@**fi.org
Participation
Due to limited space, the number of participants is limited to 60. As a rule, more applications are received than places are available. In this case, the organising committee will select the participants. Selection criteria are: level of education, number of applicants from a city/university/institute, etc.
Students who are at the beginning of their careers are generally recommended to attend the Autumn School first.
The venue
Ettal is a small but well known town in Bavaria near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Ammergauer Alps, the largest nature reserve in Germany. The village of Ettal is famous for the Benedictine Monastery founded by Ludwig IV - "the Bavarian" - in 1330. The unique monastery complex is one of the highlights of Bavarian Architecture.
Participants will stay at the hotel “Ludwig der Bayer” - a typical Bavarian hotel in the centre of Ettal. The lectures are held in the Chinese Hall of the Ettal monastery.
