From September 1st-4th, 2024, µOrganoLab PostDoc Claudia attended the half-day Milieu Interieur Satellite Symposium and the 3.5-day ECI conference in Dublin. These events offered an extensive overview of the dynamic field of immunology, covering topics from population-based immune diversity to the role of stromal and tissue-resident immune cells in health, disease and immunotherapy. The conferences highlighted both recent advances and ongoing challenges in understanding the immune system.
A significant takeaway for Claudia was the continued reliance on animal models for studying immune cell mechanisms. While these models have been crucial, there is an increasing recognition of the need for human-based research. Efforts are underway to investigate these processes within human tissues, though much of the current research is still confined to parameters measurable in blood. This limitation has sparked growing interest in alternative methods, such as Organs-on-Chips (OoC), which provide innovative ways to study human immune responses more directly.
Another key point of discussion was the limited understanding of where long-term memory immune cells are stored in humans. This knowledge is vital for developing effective vaccination and immunomodulatory treatments, yet this area remains surprisingly under-explored.
These insights underscore a broader issue in the field: the need for bioengineers involved in development of human-based models to actively engage with scientists from other fields. Presenting findings at conferences with different focuses, such as those centered on biology, can open new avenues for collaboration and innovation. Many scientists in the Microphysiological Systems (MPS) field may not be fully aware of advancements in immunology, and vice versa. Showcasing work across diverse scientific arenas can help bridge this gap and expand perspectives.
By stepping out of their comfort zones and embracing interdisciplinary approaches, scientists cannot only deepen their understanding of the immune system but also drive progress in immunological research and its applications. In the future, it would be fantastic if ECI could also provide bioengineers a platform for presentations, helping to address the above-mentioned existing gaps and broaden perspectives.
