Name: European Federation of Immunological Societies
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The Day of Immunology was established by EFIS in 2005 as a way of strengthening the general public's awareness of immunology as a basis for individual health and well-being. IUIS and EFIS now work together to celebrate the Day of Immunology and encourage all National Societies to promote the benefits of immunology research during the International Day of Immunology (DoI) taking place every year on 29 April.

International Day of Immunology 2026

To mark the Day of Immunology 2026, under this year’s theme “Regulatory T Cells: Guardians of Immune Balance,” EFIS and IUIS delivered a program highlighting both scientific advances and public engagement in immunology.

A key event of this year’s celebration was the joint webinar held on April 29, titled “Regulatory T Cells: Guardians of Immune Balance.” The event brought together leading experts in the field, including Shimon Sakaguchi, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025, whose pioneering work has shaped our understanding of regulatory T cells (Tregs). His keynote lecture set the tone for a rich scientific program exploring the latest discoveries and future directions in this rapidly evolving area.

The webinar featured a series of expert presentations, including Makoto Miyara, who examined human Treg cell heterogeneity and plasticity. Early career researchers Joris van der Veeken and Themis Alissafi also contributed, presenting their work on the role of regulatory T cells in inflammation and cancer immunity.

The program concluded with an interactive panel discussion, moderated by Bob Balderas, which brought together perspectives from industry and scientific publishing to explore future directions in the field. The full webinar is now available on demand via ImmunoHub.

Beyond the webinar, EFIS and IUIS coordinated a vibrant global social media campaign during the week lead-up to April 29. This initiative raised awareness of regulatory T cells as essential gatekeepers of immune tolerance and balance, highlighting their role across diverse environments—from the gut to the brain—and their growing relevance in treating cancer, infection, and autoimmune diseases. National societies played a key role in amplifying this message, contributing more than 25 creative and informative videos. These ranged from educational explainers to innovative outreach content, emphasizing both the importance of Tregs and the broader impact of immunological research—particularly in light of the 2025 Nobel Prize recognition. You may continue engaging on social media and raise awareness by using #ThankyouImmunology, #DayofImmunology and #RegulatoryTCell. The full collection is available on the Day of Immunology YouTube channel.

To continue the momentum, EFIS and IUIS encourage Member Societies to participate in the Day of Immunology Awards with the outreach campaigns they have organized. These awards recognize the most impactful and creative initiatives conducted around April 29 that successfully engage the public and communicate the importance of the immune system in health and disease. Six prizes will be awarded for the most impactful and innovative initiatives. Member Societies are invited to submit their campaign reports by May 18, 2026, for the opportunity to gain international recognition. Read more and find out how to participate in the DoI Awards here or reach out to info@iuis.org.

The first Day of Immunology (DoI) was held on April 29th, 2005. It was brought to life by the European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS) in order to strengthen the general public's awareness of immunology as a basis for individual health and well-being.
Although public interest in health issues is high, people without a scientific background often miss the relevance of immunological research and findings. Moreover, scientists are rarely encouraged to explore the art of public relations, and consequently face difficulties conveying their knowledge to an audience outside the scientific community. Our aim was to create a bridge between our growing understanding of the immune system and informing the public and individual patients, in order to improve health and well-being in general.
Since 2005, the Day of Immunology has been the occasion to gather European scientists to bring immunology to the public. Due to its great success, it has been celebrated worldwide since 2007.
Japanese immunologists, for example, focused on activities for public and high school students in 2008: The Japanese Society for Immunology published an entertaining and educational book on immunology suitable for children as their DoI 2008 outreach campaign, Your Amazing Immune System. EFIS published the English translation of the book for the DoI 2009, to make it available free-of-charge to a greater readership in Europe. The success of Your Amazing Immune System in English prompted EFIS to establish a translation support program in 2011, and, in 2012, the release of an interactive educational web adaptation www.interactive-immunity.net. The website includes quizzes and games, printable content, further reading and full .pdf versions available for downloading of Your Amazing Immune System of the 19 translations thus far produced.
For the DoI 2011, EFIS released a virtual web exhibition for the general public - www.inside-immunity.org. Help us to publish the exhibition translated to other languages as well, to bring immunological awareness to the public in your country.

To celebrate the Day of Immunology 2025, EFIS ran the vibrant and inspiring #ThankYouImmunology social media campaign, bringing together the voices of our member societies from across Europe. Participating societies shared creative and meaningful ways they marked this special day—highlighting outreach events, educational initiatives, and their research activities that showcase the power and relevance of immunology in today’s world. Watch the full collection of videos on our YouTube Channel and see how our community came together to say: #ThankYouImmunology.

Also, EFIS and IUIS successfully hosted a joint webinar on “Brain and Immunity: Immunological Insights into Neurological Disorders” on April 29. The full webinar is now available to watch on demand on Immunohub. If you missed the live stream, it’s a must-watch for anyone interested in exploring the dynamic relationship between the immune system and the brain, and how immune responses contribute both to the development and the treatment of neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.

To continue the spirit of the Day of Immunology, EFIS, together with IUIS, is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s DOI Prizes.

The Awards recognize and reward the most outstanding awareness campaigns and events organized in conjunction with this global celebration. They shine a spotlight on initiatives that successfully communicate the importance of immunology to a wide audience and foster greater public understanding of the immune system’s role in health and disease.

This year, EFIS awarded prizes of up to €3,000 to campaigns and events that demonstrated exceptional creativity, reach, and impact, and that best embodied the mission of the Day of Immunology.

Congratulations to all the winners for their inspiring contributions to advancing the visibility and understanding of immunology worldwide!

Find more information about the awards here.

To motivate societies and their members to engage in outreach activities, EFIS and IUIS have traditionally awarded prizes to the most compelling awareness campaigns organized over the previous three years. In 2024, however, it was decided to enhance the competition by awarding prizes to the three best international and the three best European campaigns, selected based on originality, creativity, clarity and impact at a national or regional level.

For its part, EFIS is delighted to announce that the 2024 European Day of Immunology Awards go to the campaigns submitted by the

Norwegian Society for Immunology
Czech Immunological Society
Italian Society for Immunology, Clinical Immunology and Allergology

The awards come with cash prizes of EUR 3,000, EUR 2,000, and EUR 1,000, respectively.

Congratulations to our prizewinners, and thanks to all societies that participated in initiatives aiming to strengthen the general public's awareness of immunology as a basis for individual health and well-being.