CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: 2026 International School on Advanced Immunology in Japan! Don’t miss this chance to be a part of this international educational experience at the forefront of advanced immunology.

We are pleased to announce that the International School on Advanced Immunology will return to Japan, bringing together young immunologists from across the globe through a collaboration between the Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC) at The University of Osaka and ImmunoSensation³ at the University of Bonn.

We invite applications from PhD students and early-career postdoctoral researchers interested in participating in this exciting educational program. The school offers an excellent opportunity for young immunologists to meet and learn from world-leading experts. Participants will also have the chance to connect with international peers, building a global network that will extend well beyond the duration of the school. Excursions will also be organized, providing opportunities to relax and deepen connections.

This year, we are honored to announce that Professor Shimon Sakaguchi, 2025 Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine, will be delivering a lecture at the school!

Following the school, the 55th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Immunology will be held 17–19 November. Conducted in English, this annual meeting provides a valuable opportunity for leading researchers from Japan and distinguished experts from around the world to come together and discuss the latest advancements in immunology. School participants will have the opportunity to attend the annual meeting. Furthermore, the registration fee and basic accommodation fee (16–18 November) will be waived for those who attend the entire duration of the meeting. Details will be announced on the members’ site, which is accessible to successful applicants.

Website of the 55th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Immunology
https://www2.aeplan.co.jp/jsi2026/en/index.html

School Overview

• Four-day intensive course for advanced Ph.D. students and early-career postdoctoral researchers
• Faculty of 16 outstanding immunologists
• 50 competitively selected participants
• Accommodations and round-trip airfare will be fully covered
• Application is free, but accepted applicants are required to pay a registration fee of 80,000 JPY, which includes 41,000 JPY for school participation and 39,000 JPY for social events
• Prizes will be awarded for the best presentations

Eligibility

• Applicants must be Ph.D. students in their final years or postdoctoral researchers within three years since obtaining their Ph.D.
• Applicants must be able to participate in the entire program
• Participants must present both a poster and a short oral presentation
• Applicants must not have been accepted to any previous International School on Advanced Immunology

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ABOUT

Mission Statement

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FACULTY

16 world-class experts in the field of immunology (as of 2/18/2026)

• Zeinab Abdullah (ImmunoSensation³, University of Bonn, Germany)
• Hilde Cheroutre (La Jolla Institute, USA)
• Cevayir Coban (IFReC, The University of Osaka, Japan)
• Jason Cyster (University of California San Francisco, USA)
• Mitchell Kronenberg (La Jolla Institute, USA)
• Si Ming Man (The Australian National University, Australia)
• Katy Rezvani (MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA)
• Alexander Rudensky (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA)
• Shimon Sakaguchi (IFReC, The University of Osaka, Japan)
• Mamiko Sakata (University of Tsukuba, Japan)
• Georg Schett (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany)
• Anja Schneider (ImmunoSensation³, University of Bonn, Germany)
• Sonia Sharma (RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Japan)
• Elizabeth J. Shpall (MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA)
• Christoph Wilhelm (ImmunoSensation³, University of Bonn, Germany)
• Sho Yamasaki (IFReC, The University of Osaka, Japan)

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SCHEDULE

10-15 November 2026

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Application

Application Deadline: 15 May 2026

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PREPARATION OF APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

Please download the application forms from the following links and prepare your documents as instructed in the forms.

1. Curriculum Vitae(CV) (Name_CV.docx): CV with your statement for the reasons or purpose for attending the program
2. Abstract (Name_abstract.docx): Abstract of your presentation
3. Guidelines for recommendation letter: The recommendation letter should be prepared by your supervisor.

• Rename the files by replacing “Name” in the file names (Name_CV.docx and Name_abstract.docx) with your surname (e.g., Smith_CV.docx, and Smith_Abstract.docx, respectively).
• The name of the PDF file for the recommendation letter must include the surname of the applicant (e.g., Smith_recommendation.pdf).
• All documents are to be submitted to the School Office via the School website at the time of application.
• The recommendation letter may be submitted in PDF format to the School Office via the School website at the time of application or by email (school_office@advanced-immunology.net) by the deadline.

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APPLICATION STEPS

Make sure that you meet the eligibility requirements.

1. Before applying, please click the button below to go to the website to verify that you are able to receive emails from the School Office address shown below, as this will be the means through which the School Office will contact you.
   
   school_office @ advanced-immunology.net
   

If you cannot find any email from the above address after sending an email through the above website, please check your spam email folder, confirm your email acceptance settings, contact your mail server administrator, or try again using another email address. The School Office is unable to provide any technical support for this issue.

2. Click the application button below to go to the application website. Fill out your information and submit your application documents. Submission of both CV and Abstract is mandatory. The recommendation letter can be submitted later by email, provided it arrives by the deadline. Please note that an application is not complete until all application documents have been submitted.
3. An email to confirm your application will be automatically sent to your registered email address from school_office@advanced-immunology.net. Please make sure that your mailer can receive emails from the above address because notification of selection results will also be sent from this email address. If you cannot find the confirmation email, please check your spam email folder.
4. If you wish to submit your recommendation letter at a later date, please send it by email in advance of the deadline. If it does not arrive by the deadline, you will not be considered for the screening. If there are any changes to your registered information, please email the School Office.
   
5. The results of the screening and selection process will be announced in early July 2026.

SELECTION

• A competitive selection process will be conducted, based on the submitted application materials.
• Admission quota: 50 students with gender-balanced participation
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• The results of the screening and selection process will be announced in early July 2026.

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VENUE

Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center

Address: 1 Yumebutai, Awaji City, Hyogo 656-2306 Japan 
 Phone: +81-799-74-1020

Awaji Island is a large island at the eastern end of the Seto Inland Sea, located between Honshu and Shikoku. Access to both Honshu and Shikoku is convenient since this island is linked to Honshu, the main island of Japan, by the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge (second longest suspension bridge in the world by main span) and also to Shikoku by the Ōnaruto Bridge (Great Naruto Bridge). The venue is located two hours away from Kansai International Airport and one and a half hours away from Itami (Osaka) International Airport by public transport.

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ACCOMMODATION

Grand Nikko Awaji

2 Yumebutai, Awaji City, Hyogo 656-2306 Japan

• The hotel is located next to the Awaji Yumebutai Conference Center.
• Each student will share a room with another participant (twin room/separate beds).
• Accommodation costs will be fully covered during the program session period.
• All meals will be provided during the program.
• Please contact the School Office for hotel information. Do not contact the hotel directly.

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SUPPORT

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ORGANIZERS

Organizing Committee

Kiyoshi Takeda (Director, IFReC, The University of Osaka)
Masahiro Yamamoto (Professor, IFReC, The University of Osaka)
Akihiko Takagi (Administrative Director, IFReC, The University of Osaka)
Gunther Hartmann (Speaker, ImmunoSensation³, University of Bonn)
Andreas Schlitzer (Speaker, ImmunoSensation³, University of Bonn)
Anja Schneider (Speaker, ImmunoSensation³, University of Bonn)
Catherine Drescher (Managing Director, ImmunoSensation3, University of Bonn)

Local Committee

[Chair]
Masahiro Yamamoto
[Members]
Kazuhiro Suzuki
Hisashi Arase
Daron Standley
Naoki Hosen
Kazuyo Moro
Yumi Matsuoka
Kahori Ikeda

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CONTACT US

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