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The DGfI is dedicated to support its young members. In September 2016, the Young Immunologists (YI) group was founded to support early-career scientists within the DGfI in advancing their scientific career.
The groups primary aim is to connect young immunologists across Germany. We offer networking opportunities and address shared and common problems such as publication pressure, dealing with time management, workload, balancing family and career plans as well as maintaining a healthy work-life-balance.
DGfI Young Immunologists - Seminar Series
Science has the greatest impact when being shared with the community. To promote this exchange, we invite renowned scientists – particulary young group leaders - to share their perspective on immunology and inspire our community. These talks go beyond scientific topics. Speakers also offer personal insights into their career journeys, including the challenges and milestones that shaped their paths.
Lectures are held via zoom. Registration is free.
Next lecture: Feb 25, 2026 | 17:00 (CET) | Zoom
Together with the YI podcast host Pia Madeleine Leipe, YI proudly presents the start of the second podcast season! New content on academic research topics and beyond will be published every month.
Curious? Follow the link and let us know your thoughts via our socials or e-mail to yo****************@**fi.org.
- Hyperreactive B cells instruct their elimination by T cells to curb autoinflammation and lymphomagenesis, Jan 14, 2025
The A20 Paradox: Our latest study reveals that while A20 haploinsufficiency in B cells triggers fatal autoimmunity—especially in females or with added risk factors—complete A20 loss does not. Why? A rheostat-like T cell checkpoint, instructed by hyperreactive B cells, acts on themselves, preventing both autoinflammation and lymphomagenesis. Sequencing studies hinted at it for years—but this is the first time A20’s tumor suppressor function is actually shown in action. That role becomes clear when T cell brakes are off. Graphical Abstract, https://www.cell.com/immunity/fulltext/S1074-7613(24)00538-7 - CRISPR/Cas9 editing of NKG2A improves the efficacy of primary CD33-directed chimeric antigen receptor natural killer cells, Sept 30, 2024
Bexte a et al. describe a strategy that overcomes CAR-NK cell inhibition mediated by the HLA-E-NKG2A immune checkpoint. They generate CD33-specific, AML-targeted CAR-NK cells (CAR33) combined with CRISPR/Cas9-based gene disruption of the NKG2A-encoding KLRC1 gene. Graphical Abstract, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-52388-1 (Goethe University Frankfurt)
- Short-term dietary changes can result in mucosal and systemic immune depression
Siracusa et al. show that short-term nutritional changes to energy-dense and fiber-poor diets – a typical dietary behavior in our modern society – can cause a transient depression of mucosal and systemic immunity, creating windows of opportunity for pathogenic infections. Graphical Abstract, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41590-023-01587-x - Fully Human Herpesvirus-Specific Neutralizing IgG Antibodies Generated by EBV Immortalization of Splenocytes-Derived from Immunized Humanized Mice Theobald et al., Cells 2024, 13(1), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13010020 (University of Cologne)
- Conditional NKT Cell Depletion in Mice Reveals a Negative Feedback Loop That Regulates CTL Cross-Priming, Nov 29, 2023
Heuser et al., 2023, Journal of Immunology, https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.2300662 (Unviversity Clinic Regensburg) - Broadening the horizon: potential applications of CAR-T cells beyond current indications, Nov 27, 2023
Karsten et al., 2023, Frontiers in Immunology, https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1285406 (University of Hamburg)
You want to share your latest research with the YI community? – Send us the link or doi of your first- or last-author research paper or review article (yo****************@**fi.org). We will display your paper here for you.
Our networks
The EFIS Young Immunologist Task Force (yEFIS) aims to gather all early career scientists in Europe working in Immunology. Within the different European Immunology Societies, self-organised Young Immunologist (YI) groups have arisen in the last years.
The aim of the Network Young Infection Medicine is to bring together young colleagues who are clinically or scientifically active in infection medicine at an early stage of their career. We want to offer opportunities for exchange in order to promote scientific cooperation and to generate an understanding for other areas of infectious medicine from early on. We also want to bring human and veterinary medicine closer together in order to advance One Health research.
The Young Society of Virology is a group of motivated scientists and junior group leaders within the Society of Virology (GfV) dedicated to offering a network for young researchers across a range of different career stages from the bachelor’s level, through doctoral studies, and up to senior scientists (PostDocs/staff scientists/junior group leaders) and physicians-in-training, that provides support on scientific issues and career planning.
