WELCOME FROM THE CHAIRS OF THE LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE
Dear colleagues and friends,
We are delighted to invite you to a special jubilee, the 40th Annual EFI Conference to be held in Essen, Germany from May 25-28, 2027, jointly with the 34th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Immunogenetics (DGI).
Under the motto “Bridging genetics and immunology in translational medicine”, we look forward to an exciting scientific and educational program that will feature both pioneers and current opinion leaders of our field. The program will take us through the past, present and future of immune-related gene polymorphism in key areas of modern medicine, including transplantation, cellular therapy, infection and cancer. This will be complemented by special sessions organized with our partner society EBMT and the EFI Young Professionals Committee, as well as the inclusion of cutting-edge topics, such as the use of AI in histocompatibility and immunogenetics. A rich educational program will allow attendees at different stages of their career to learn, expand or re-visit current knowledge and methodologies in key areas of our field.
The conference will be held in the “Messe Essen”, a conference venue renowned for hosting important national and international events throughout the year. Essen, former European Capital of Culture (2010) and Green Capital of Europe (2017), is at the heart of the vibrant metropolis of the river Ruhr, the most densely populated region in Western Europe. Its rich history, spanning over a thousand years and consolidated by coal mining and industrial might, has seen a major shift in recent decades, with a revival of nature, cultural and touristic opportunities, and new economic activities. Join us for our networking event at the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Zeche Zollverein”, and for leisure moments in the amazing “Grugapark” right next to the conference venue. For those who would like to extend their stay, there are plenty of opportunities for exploring culture, traditional and modern architecture, or hiking to idyllic German towns along the river Ruhr, in one of the most interesting and yet underexplored regions of Europe.
We look forward to welcoming you for an exciting four days of science, education, networking and fun in Essen! Glück auf!
Katharina Fleischhauer and Christian Seidl
On behalf of the Local Organizing Committee