The Lithuanian Society for Immunology

The Lithuanian Society for Immunology (LSI) unites researchers and clinicians working in the field of immunology.  

LSI maintains international contacts with scientists from abroad, especially with our neighbors – the immunologists from Latvia and Estonia.  

LSI is a member of the European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS).   

Brief history  

LSI was founded in 1991 by the efforts of professors V. A. Tamošiūnas and B. Padegimas, assoc. prof. E. Razgauskas, and others.  

LSI prepared the Statute that was registered at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania.  

After its establishment, LSI organized Summer Schools for Young Immunologists in different Lithuanian towns: Birštonas (1992), Palanga (1993), Trakai (1995), and Nida (1997) to promote the activities in the field of immunology. In the schedule of these Summer schools, prominent immunologists from Lithuania and foreign countries (Germany, Sweden, Poland, UK) presented lectures and seminars. In later Summer schools, the reports were also made by the former Summer school attendees, who studied abroad.   

Activities  

LSI elects the Society Board and the Revision Committee as well as determines the annual membership fee.  

At the annual meetings that usually take place in December, LSI foresees and plans the activities for the coming year, i. e. the seminars, conferences, and participation in the conferences or the internship abroad.  

LSI also organizes the annual conferences on the Day of Immunology (April 29) which has been announced by IUIS and EFIS and is celebrated worldwide since 2005. Information about the Day of Immunology can be found here: 

https://www.efis.org/home.html#anc424

Lithuanian Society for Immunology (LSI) contact e-mail: 

info@imunologai.lt

LSI President

Prof. dr. Aurelija Žvirblienė (aurelija.zvirbliene@bti.vu.lt)

LSI Board

Dr. Vita Pašukonienė
LSI Head of the Board

Dr. Dovilė Stravinskienė
LSI Secretary (maternal leave)

Dr. Martynas Simanavičius (martynas.simanavicius@bti.vu.lt)
LSI Deputy Secretary

Dr. Asta Miškinienė
LSI Treasurer

Board members:

Dr. Audronė Eidukaitė
Dr. Agata Mlynska
Indrė Dalgėdienė
Dr. Ingrida Jacevičienė
Eivina Radzevičiūtė-Valčiukė (doctoral student)
Dr. Radvilė Malickaitė

EVENTS

2024-05-17 UPCOMING!

The Lithuanian Society for Immunology hosts EFIS on Tour

Members of EFIS board and guests from Latvian and Estonian societies will visit Vilnius on May 17, 2024. The program of the EFIS on Tour symposium  can be found here:

EFIS-on-Tour_Vilnius_programa.pdf (855.92KB)

EFIS-on-Tour_Vilnius_programa.pdf (855.92KB)

2023-12-07

LSI Annual Conference

Participants of the LSI annual conference.

LSI annual conference was held on Dec. 5, 2023 at the Center for Innovative Medicine.
The conference was started by Vita Pašukonienė who presented the CITIM-2023 conference and its main topics. The traditional CITIM conference was supposed to take place in 2021, but it was postponed due to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The conference was attended by 150 participants, including the researchers from the National Cancer Institute who presented both oral and poster presentations. The organizer of the CITIM-2023 conference V. Pašukonienė was pleased that both the scientific and cultural program of the conference was highly evaluated by the participants.

Dr. Martynas Simanavičius, member of LSI council, VU Life Sciences Center

Dr. V. Pašukonienė, LSI vice-president, National Cancer Institute

Martynas Simanavičius presented SARS-CoV-2 seroepidemiological study that was conducted in Spring 2023. This study was initiated by the Ministry of Health and funded by the Research Council of Lithuania. It was carried out by researchers from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Vilnius University and Santaros clinics. Despite a serious challenge related to difficulties to collect the planned representative cohort, it was possible to assess the level of immunization of the Lithuanian population that was shown to be extremely high (~99%). Based on the questionnaire data and the results of serological tests (anti-S and anti-N IgG), it was found that most of the subjects have "hybrid" immunity, formed both after vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Young scientists Eivina Radzevičiūtė-Valčiukė, Kristina Mašalaitė and Agata Mlynska shared their impressions from the international conferences and courses they attended in 2023.

After the scientific presentations, the LSI president Aurelija Žvirblienė presented the Annual report where she reviewed LSI activities, introduced new LID members and discussed future LID events, the most important of which is the expected visit of the EFIS Board to Vilnius in May 2024 (EFIS on Tour). The LSI report was continued by LSI treasurer Asta Miškinienė, who evaluated the year 2023 as financially successful, as it was possible to attract a significant amount of funds from sponsors. The chairman of the audit commission Almantas Šiaurys confirmed that the financial documents are handled properly. At the end of the annual conference, LSI secretary Dovilė Stravinskienė reminded about the changes to the LSI statutes and asked LSI members to express their opinion by voting.

Prof. Aurelija Žvirblienė, President of LSI, VU Life Sciences Center

2023-11-21

Conference "Baltic Immunological Day"

The scientific-practical conference "Baltic Immunological Day" organized by the Latvian Society of Immunologists was held in Riga on November 17th, 2023. The main topic of the conference was primary immunodeficiencies. Speakers from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Germany presented interesting clinical cases and reviewed the advances in laboratory diagnostics. 

Photo (from left to right): the participants of the Conference LSI board member dr. A.Miškinienė, LSI president prof. A.Žvirblienė, prof. V.Kvedarienė (Vilnius University), prof. B.Gradauskienė (Lithuanian University of Health Sciences).

After the conference, the representatives of Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian immunological societies discussed the perspectives and possibilities of collaboration between immunologists of the Baltic states. The president of the Latvian Association of Immunologists N. Kurjane, the representative of the Estonian Society for Immunology and Allergology K. Kisand, the president of LSI A. Žvirblienė and the member of LSI Council A. Miškinienė participated in the discussion and shared plans how to revive the former intensive cooperation of Baltic immunological societies. The future joint events of Baltic immunologists including Immunology Summer Schools may significantly contribute to the cooperation. LSI representatives invited Latvian and Estonian colleagues to participate in the "EFIS on Tour" symposium, which will be held in 2024. May 17 In Vilnius. Baltic immunologists will also participate in the Immunology Summer School taking place in Poland in 2024. May 18-21. It is planned that the next regional Immunology Summer School of three Baltic states and Poland will be organized in 2025 in Vilnius, so LSI will take a responsibility to organize this event.

More information about the Conference:
https://www.rsu.lv/en/events/baltic-immunological-day-practical-conference-professional-development

2023-06-21

ABC7 summer school in Tallinn: about autoimmunity and more

Participants of the summer school ABC7 in the open-air museum of Estonia (photo by Tamara Vorobjova, University of Tartu).

On June 14-16, 2023, members of the Lithuanian Society for Immunology (LSI) participated in the 7th international summer school "ABC7: Autoimmunity, B cell and Complement" organized by the Estonian Society for Immunology and Allergology (EIAS), The European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS) and the Nordic Complement Committee (NCC). Attendees heard exclusive presentations by renowned scientists on the cutting edge of the immune system in the fields of autoimmune response, B cells and the complement system, starting with keynote lectures by Seppo Meri (University of Helsinki, Finland) and Burkhard Becher (University of Zurich, Switzerland).

The target groups of the summer school were doctoral students, medical residents, early career researchers. They had the opportunity to present their work by oral and poster presentations, and participate in career development workshops. LSI member dr. Asta Lučiūnaitė presented her oral presentation on the research of macrophage activation by the immune complexes. During the career development workshop, LSI president prof. A. Žvirblienė presented what opportunities and challenges arise in the field of immunology research in Lithuania. During the discussion, the personal experiences of both experienced and young scientists were heard of their career path. Secretary of LSI and the representative of the EFIS Gender and Diversity Task Force Dr. D. Stravinskienė invited a more active discussion on the issues of gender equality and underrepresented groups, and former EFIS General Secretary Pablo Engel (University of Barcelona, Spain) reminded young researchers about EFIS funding opportunities for travels and internships. Also prof. Maciej Kurpisz, president of the Polish Society for Fundamental and Clinical Immunology, was pleased about the opportunities for cooperation and invited everyone to come to the immunology school in Poland next year.

Summer school organizer dr. Kai Kisand (University of Tartu), prof. Maciej Kurpisz (President of the Polish Society for Fundamental and Clinical Immunology), LSI President Prof. A. Žvirblienė (photo by Tamara Vorobjova).

Dr. Asta Lučiūnaitė presented her work at the session of young scientists. (Photo: D. Stravinskienė).

During the meeting dinner, the participants visited the Estonian open-air museum, which presents the country's rural architecture and lifestyle. This conference brought together scientists from the Baltic and Scandinavian regions, helped young scientists discover new connections, and encouraged international cooperation. LSI members are invited to participate in future regional immunology schools and conferences, where they can improve their knowledge about basic and clinical autoimmunology, exchange information on new trends in autoimmunity diagnostics, and to cooperate in autoimmunity-related research.

2023-06-19

The visit of the Honorary member of LSI, professor H. H. Peter in Lithuania

On June 13th, 2023, the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences (LAS) together with the Lithuanian Society for Immunology (LSI) organized the scientific conference „Current achievements in immunology“ with the participation of the Honorary member of LSI and foreign member of the LAS, former President of German Society for Immunology, professor Hans Hartmut Peter who presented the lecture on IgG4-related diseases. Other presentations were given by VU professor Laura Malinauskienė and doctor Goda Filipavičienė from the University of Health Sciences. After the conference, there was an informal discussion with prof. H. H. Peter. The participants of the discussion reminded that prof. H. H. Peter was the main organizer of the international Summer Schools of Immunology that significantly contributed to the development of immunology research in Lithuania in the first years after restoring its independence (1992-2005). Former president of the LSI prof. V. A. Tamošiūnas presented his autobiographic book and the book of a famous Vilnius University professor of XIX century J. Sniadecki „Theory of organic beings“. Former LSI member prof. S. Gendvilis also shared his memories, as he has a long-year personal relation with H. H. Peter and contributed to organizing his current visit.

Prof. H. H. Peter and his wife spent over a week in Lithuania - they visited not only Vilnius, but also Nida.  Prof. H.H Peter noticed significant changes in Lithuania during the last 20 years. He not only reminded the joint events organized by German and Baltic Societies for Immunology, but also was interested in current international activities of the LSI. He encouraged the participation of LSI members in EFIS activities and LSI efforts to establish closer collaborations with Estonian, Latvian, Polish and German immunologists.
Photos from the conference organized by LAS and LSI are here

2023-05-18

Immunologists from all over the world discussed in Vilnius at the CITIM-2023 conference

On April 24-27 2023, the 7th International Conference "Cancer immunotherapy and immunomonitoring (CITIM-2023 Vilnius)" took place in Vilnius. The conference was jointly organized by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Lithuanian Society for Immunology (LSI). The achievements in cancer immunology and the possibilities of applying new technologies in the clinic were shared by prominent immunology authorities from Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Richmond (USA), Santiago (Chile), Heidelberg, Essen, Mannheim, Tübingen (Germany), London (UK), Prague (Czech Republic), Milan (Italy), participants from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beer-Sheva (Israel), Stockholm (Sweden), the delegation from Kyiv and Rivne (Ukraine).
"Every two years, the CITIM conference is held in a different European country. We took over the organizers' baton from Goergia. We feel the responsibility, but at the same time we also appreciate the work of Lithuanian immunologists, because CITIM raises its flags in countries having a potential for cancer immunology research, - said the head of the National Organizing Committee, prof. Vita Pašukonienė. - Due to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the preparation for the CITIM-Vilnius conference took even four years - twice as much time as usual. In this period, many undiscussed topics and unshared results accumulated, so it was a difficult task to rearrange the program, to invite guest lecturers and sponsors to this traditional European event, which brings together specialists from all over the world".

The conference was warmly welcomed by dr. Karolis Ažukaitis, the Vice-Dean for Science and Innovations of the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University. The elected member of the Vilnius Council Aurimas Navys (picture on the right) compared cancer with an occupier, and the immunotherapy technologies presented by the conference participants - to the latest warfare technologies.
At the CITIM-2023 Vilnius conference, 150 participants discussed for 4 days, giving 46 oral presentations and 34 poster presentations, from which 8 best presentations of young researchers were selected. Among them, the presentation of Emilija Paberalė, a PhD student of the Laboratory of Immunology at NCI, was awarded.
Lithuania was represented by 5 oral presentations, four of which were from the NCI. Dr. Jan Krasko, Dr. Agata Mlynska, Dr. Marius Strioga presented the results of their research. The first results of the joint Lithuanian-Ukrainian project were presented by Dr. Olga Karaman, a researcher from Kyiv who transferred her research to NCI due to the war in Ukraine. Poster presentations were presented by the Laboratories of Molecular Oncology and Immunology of NCI.

Emilija Paberalė, a PhD student of the Laboratory of Immunology at NCI

Dr. Agata Mlynska, the Laboratory of Immunology at NCI

The participation of the Ukrainian delegation in the conference also had a strong ideological meaning. Through the combined efforts of the International and National Organizing Committees, all participation costs of the Ukrainian delegation were fully reimbursed. Moreover, in solidarity with a country defending its independence, it was decided that the next CITIM meeting should be held in Lviv, Ukraine, in two years. "I wish this angel created by Lithuanian folk artists will protect your country. It is difficult to expect that he will help to organize the CITIM conference, but this will be a guarantee that we all will join our efforts to do THAT" - Prof. V. Pašukonienė said at the end of the conference, presenting a wooden stylized angel created by Lithuanian folk artists to the head of the Ukrainian delegation dr. For Rostyslav Bilyy.

Pictures from the CITIM-2023 conference in the gallery.

 New LSI president, LSI vice-president and LSI board members started their  5-year term on the 4th of January, 2023

CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF IMMUNOLOGY "LIVING WITH ALLERGY: FROM CHILDHOOD TO OLD AGE"

  "EFIS on Tour" Symposium

“EFIS on Tour” Symposium will be held on May 17, 2024 in the Conference hall of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences (Gedimino av. 3, Vilnius).

The Program of the Symposium:

EFIS-on-Tour_Vilnius_programa.pdf (855.92KB)

EFIS-on-Tour_Vilnius_programa.pdf (855.92KB)

Other international upcoming events

Immunology School "50 Shades of Immunology" in Bialystok, Poland, May 18-21, 2024: https://www.immunoschool.ptidik.com/ 

EuroMAbNet meeting in Montpellier, France, June 17-19, 2024: https://www.euromabnet.com/meeting/13th-meeting-montpellier.php

European Congress of Immunology (ECI 2024) in Dublin, Ireland, September 1-4, 2024: https://eci2024.org/