EMIG 2025: The 13th Meeting of the European Mucosal Immunology Group in Aachen

From July 21 to 23, 2025, more than 150 scientists from all over the world gathered in Aachen. The EMIG 2025 conference (EMIG2025) took place at the CT² - Center for Teaching and Training and was organized by Prof. Mathias Hornef (Head of the Institute of Medical Microbiology) and Prof. Oliver Pabst (Head of the Institute of Molecular Medicine) with the active support of the RWTH International Academy.

The European Mucosal Immunology Group, EMIG for short, is a network of European scientists working in the field of mucosal immunology and researching immune responses on mucosal surfaces (mucosae), such as the digestive tract, the respiratory tract, and the urogenital tract. The mucous membranes of these organs are in constant contact with microorganisms and antigens that can be beneficial but also pathogenic. Sophisticated mechanisms that ensure that harmless antigens are tolerated while threats are effectively combated are therefore characteristic of the functioning of the mucosal immune system.

The biennial EMIG meeting is a highlight where the latest and most exciting developments in the field are exchanged and a strong network for collaboration is established. At EMIG 2025, a wide range of aspects of mucosal immunity were discussed, such as the development of mucosal immunity in the neonatal organism, the diverse interactions between host and pathogen, the regulation of inflammatory processes and tissue repair, and the role of the microbiome. The informal nature of the meeting, with open discussions in plenary sessions and poster sessions.