The Centre for Primary Immunodeficiency Ghent (CPIG) cordially invites you to a symposium on the occasion of its tenth anniversary as a Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic and Research Centre. We celebrate the success of ten years of cross-disciplinary collaboration on diagnostic innovation and patient-centred care for inborn errors of immunity (IEI).
During this symposium, leading national and international experts explore today's challenges, as well as the future of IEI management. They reflect on cutting-edge research on diagnostics, neonatal screening and therapy. By bringing all stakeholders together, we are shaping the IEI care of the next decade.
Target audience
- Clinicians (in training)
- Researchers and (PhD) students
- Government professionals
Programme
Moderator: Hanne Decoutere
8.00 a.m. | Registration and Coffee
8.30 a.m. | Welcome and Introduction
- Warm welcome | P. Hoebeke, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
- Evolving Diagnostics and Patients Care at CPIG | F. Haerynck, CPIG, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
8.45 a.m. | Beyond Infections: Understanding the Broader Spectrum of IEI
- 8.45 a.m. | Decoding Persistent Inflammation: New Frontiers in Identifying Hidden Immune Disorders (FEBRIS) | C. De Vriendt, CPIG, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
- 8.55 a.m. | Advances in Understanding and Managing Pulmonary and Gastrointestinal Complications in Immune Disorders | S. Burns, UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, UK
- 9.25 a.m. | The Interplay Between Hematology and Inborn Errors of Immunity: Novel Warning Signs | E. Gambineri, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Florence, Italy
- 9.55 a.m. | Discussion
10.05 a.m. | Coffee Break
10.30 a.m. | Harnessing Translational Research to Transform IEI Diagnostics
- 10.30 a.m. | Decoding the Unknown: Translational Approaches to Variant Interpretation | S. Tavernier, CPIG, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
- 10.40 a.m. | Phenocopies of PID: Autoimmunity Against Immunity Causing Severe Infections | A. Puel, French Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), France
- 11.10 a.m. | Inborn Errors of Immunity: an Expanding Universe of Disease and Genetic Architecture | D. Bogunovic, Columbia University Department of Pediatrics, US
- 11.40 a.m. | Discussion
11.50 a.m. | Message from the Jeffrey Modell Foundation | V. Tenembaum, US
12.00 p.m. | Lunch
1.00 p.m. | Immune-Microbe Interaction: Early in Life and Impact on Immune Development | P. Brodin, Karolinska Institute, Sweden/UK
1.30 p.m. | New Frontiers in Diagnosis of SCID Patients
- 1.30 p.m. | SCID Newborn Screening in Belgium Anno 2026 | I. Meyts, KU Leuven, Belgium
- 1.45 p.m. | Newborn Screening for SCID Across Europe | M. Vanderburg, Leiden University, Netherlands
- 2.15 p.m. | Dissecting the causes of primary T cell lymphopenia | L. Notarangelo, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, US (online)
- 2.45 p.m. | Discussion
2.55 p.m. | Coffee Break
3.20 p.m. | Crossing Boundaries: Multidisciplinary Approaches Revolutionizing IEI Treatment
- 3.20 p.m. | Precision Medicine: How Targeted Treatment Transforms Patient Outcomes | L. Naesens, CPIG, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
- 3.30 p.m. | Novel Insights in Autoinflammatory and Autoimmune Disorders for Clinical Practice | A. Belot, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France
- 4.00 p.m. | Discussion
4.10 p.m. | The Future of IEI Patient Care: Addressing Challenges and Unmet Needs
- 4.10 p.m. | When a PID overturns a young adult’s life – a story told by patient and physician | J. Flour and T. Kerre, CPIG, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
- 4.25 p.m. | Bridging the Gap: Why Transition Clinics are Crucial for Rare Disease Care | N. Mahlaoui, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, France
- 5.05 p.m. | Challenges for Rare Disease Patient Care | E. Schoeters, RadioOrg, Belgium
- 5.20 p.m. | Roadmap for IEI Patient Care in Belgium | I. Maes, Inovigate, Belgium/Switzerland
- 5.35 p.m. | Discussion
5.45 p.m. | Networking Reception
Practical info
Subscribe now
- Registration fee: 40 euros for clinicians in training and students, 80 euros for others
- Please complete the registration form no later than October 1
- Your registration is complete after you transfer the amount to UZ Gent, account number BE91 3751 1174 3776 with reference 050030 + LAST NAME + FIRST NAME
- RIZIV-INAMI accreditation has been requested
A warm welcome
We look forward to welcoming you to a historic venue in Ghent.
- Thursday, October 9, 2025, 8.00 a.m. – 7.00 p.m.
- Music Centre De Bijloke, Bijlokekaai 7, 9000 Gent
How to get there?
Brussels Airport is 66 km from the Bijloke site.
By car, you drive along the E40 motorway. You can park:
- in car park Sint-Pietersplein: Sint-Pietersplein 65, 9000 Gent (1,0 km from the site)
- in car park Kouter: Kouter, 9000 Gent (0,9 km from the site)
By train, take a connection from Brussels Airport to Gent-Sint-Pieters station.
- The Bijloke site is located 1 kilometer from Gent-Sint-Pieters station, a fifteen minute walk.
- You can also take tram T1, T3 or T4 at the station to Gent Bijlokenhof.
Info
- Centre for Primary Immunodeficiency Ghent (CPIG)
- pid@uzgent.be
- Tel. +32 (0)9 332 17 43
Our sincere thanks to our golden sponsors Takeda, CSL Behring, Gilead, Mediq Remedus and Rode Kruis-Vlaanderen, and to our silver sponsors CAF-DCF, GSK and Roche.
