8th Sino-German symposium on immunology: fostering mutual trust and collaborative endeavors for advancing immunological science

The Sino-German Symposium on Immunology was jointly initiated by the Chinese Society of Immunology and the German Society of Immunology (DGFI) and was supported by the Sino-German Science Center of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. This symposium was the highest-level small-scale series forum between the two countries, and there have been eight successful sessions over the past 15 years. This series of forums promotes the continuous exchange of information and development of immunology between China and Germany through bilateral cooperation and joint training projects for young scholars.

From March 18th to 22nd, 2024, the “8th Sino-German Symposium on Immunology” was successfully held in Xiamen, Fujian Province, China, following the epidemic. The theme of this conference revolved around directions such as “cell death and inflammation,” “tumor immunology,” “bone marrow cells and immune regulation,” and “T cells and B cells.”

Professor Hansjörg Schild, the incoming president of the German Society of Immunology, and Academician Xuetao Cao, one of the initiators of the symposium, delivered speeches, while Professor Bo Huang, Vice Chairperson and Secretary-General of the Chinese Society of Immunology, presided over the meeting. Both sides reviewed the previous conferences and achievements, highly praising and fully affirming the work of the Sino-German Symposium on Immunology established in 2009 and the cooperation and training of talent by the two sides. Twenty-two experts from China and Germany provided excellent academic reports on the theme of the conference.

The Chinese representatives and speakers at the conference included the academician Xuetao Cao from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, the academician Zhigang Tian from the University of Science and Technology of China, the academician Jiahui Han from Xiamen University, the academician Feng Shao from the Beijing Institute of Life Sciences, Professor Yiwei Chu from Fudan University, Professor Bo Huang from the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Professor Qingqing Wang from Zhejiang University, Professor Bing Su from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Professor Limin Zheng from Sun Yat-sen University, Professor Dapeng Zhou from Tongji University, Professor Jie Zhou from Tianjin Medical University, Professor Wanli Liu from Tsinghua University, Professor Juan Liu from the Naval Medical University, and Professor Guideng Li from the Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The German representatives and speakers included Professor Stefan Meuer from the German Academy of Sciences and Heidelberg University, Professor Hansjörg Schild, Professor Tobias Bopp, Professor Michael Delacher, Professor Johannes Mayer from the University of Mainz, Professor Kyeong-Hee Lee from Hanover University, Professor Rainer Glauben from Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and Professor Martin Väth from the University of Würzburg.

During the symposium, participants delved into various topics spanning nucleic acid-sensing innate responses and viral mimicry in inflammation and cancer [1, 2], the activation of antitumor immunity by bacteria-derived signals [3], ribosomal fault-repairs and cellular stress responses in innate immunity [4], ontogeny development of liver-resident NK cells [5], and designing approaches for individualized clinical immune intervention to prevent cancer development [6]. Scientists from both countries discussed the current hotspots in immunology research, stress responses, metabolic regulation in tumors, inflammation regulation, and innovative strides [7–13].

A significant portion of the studies focused on how metabolites in the tumor microenvironment affect the differentiation and infiltration of different immune cells and how novel methods could be developed to counteract the inhibitory effects of the microenvironment on T cells [14–20], even utilizing unfavorable metabolites, such as lactic acid in tumors, to enhance T-cell function [21, 22]. Targeting the metabolic regulation of immune cells has been widely regarded as a promising approach for tumor immunotherapy and the treatment of autoimmune diseases [23]. Notably, many of the findings presented were unpublished, highlighting the mutual trust between Chinese and German scientists. The symposium provided participants with an enriching experience filled with inspiration, reflection, and novel insights. These discoveries and insights are instrumental in enhancing the scientific impact and significance of research from fresh perspectives and pave the way for future breakthroughs. Many German immunologists identified common interests with their Chinese counterparts and will soon initiate collaborative efforts. Moreover, scientists from both countries engaged in insightful discussions on funding applications, laboratory management practices, and the challenges they face in their respective countries, fostering a deeper understanding and friendship between them. Exploring potential cooperative models for mutual collaboration has further strengthened the bonds between the two sides.

Both sides unanimously agreed that this summit has achieved fruitful results as always. To maintain the rapid development of bilateral immunology, representatives suggested further strengthening support for talent reserves in the field and deepening the exchange between scientists from both countries, which will enable the young generations of Chinese and German scientists to learn and grow through such collaborative endeavors. The conference agreed to hold the 9th Sino-German Symposium on Immunology in Germany in 2026 and hoped to continue receiving support from projects and funds, including those from the Sino-German Science Center. Everyone eagerly anticipates the opportunity to participate in the next Sino-German exchange.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests. Bo Huang is an editorial board member of Cellular & Molecular Immunology, but he has not been involved in the peer review or the decision-making of the article.