ImmunoBridge 2026 Schedule (PDF)
,,The Art of Public Speaking”
Workshop description
(Part 1) How to give a confident and compelling scientific presentation
(Part 2) The art of scientific story telling on print and social media
Scientific communication is perhaps the most important aspect of a scientific career, which unfortunately is also the least emphasized in training. Effective presentation skills are part and parcel of a scientist’s life; from baby steps (your ‘brainbee’ presentation) to the ultimate glory (your Nobel prize lecture). The last decade has also brought about a diversification in the scientific presentation formats with the emergence of pitch talks, blitz talks, chalk talks, and of course the COVID-ed complication of giving all these talks online. Finally, #scicomm has witnessed the transformation of a Stanford professor (Andrew Huberman) to a Times-cover celebrity with 7 million followers. Of course, not everyone needs to be the next Huberman, but we all need to nurture our inner Hubermen and Huberwomen because social media is the largest platform for public outreach and is here to stay.
In this 2-hour long interactive workshop (divided into two parts), we will first cover a novel and effective approach to prepare and deliver scientific presentations using PAT (prepare, anticipate, target) and RAT (relax, articulate, translate) components. This approach will be individualized to different formats- large class format lectures, flash/pitch talks, and virtual talks. We will then have a special feature on communicating science through popular science magazines and social media.
The workshop is limited to a maximum of 30 participants.
The use of real-time PCR in SNP genotyping
Workshop description
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are a type of DNA variation that involve only a single nucleotide position. They are the most common form of genetic variation, with many SNPs responsible for various common traits, but also for increased disease risk. There are various methods of SNP genotyping that can be used depending on the needs of the researcher. This workshop will focus on the use of real-time PCR in studying SNPs. The workshop will be divided into three parts: 1) a “wet lab” part, during which the participants will run the experiment themselves, 2) presentation of the methods and basics behind SNP genotyping and research, 3) analysis of genotyping results generated in the first part of the workshop.
The workshop will take 2 hours and is limited to 10 participants.
From CPE to TCID₅₀: Functional Cell-Based Antiviral Assays
Workshop description
This hands-on workshop provides a practical overview of functional assessment of innate antiviral immunity and antiviral activity using classical cell culture–based assays.
Participants will learn how to apply cytopathic effect (CPE) analysis and TCID₅₀ quantification as robust functional readouts of virus–cell interactions. These approaches enable direct evaluation of biological outcomes of infection and antiviral interventions beyond molecular markers.
The workshop will cover applications of CPE and TCID₅₀ to:
- Assess functional innate immune responses, including interferon-mediated antiviral activity.
- Evaluate antiviral and virucidal properties of test compounds.
- Compare immunomodulatory agents, biological fluids, or disinfectants affecting viral infectivity.
Participants will explore three major experimental strategies in antiviral research:
- Factors that prevent viral entry into host cells.
- Factors that inhibit viral replication.
- Factors that act post-infection, limiting viral spread and cytopathic damage.
Practical examples, real experimental datasets, and guidance on experimental design, data interpretation, and common pitfalls will be provided.
Learning outcomes:
- Design and implement functional antiviral assays.
- Perform CPE scoring and interpret TCID₅₀ results.
- Evaluate innate immune activity and antiviral mechanisms.
- Critically analyze cell-based antiviral data.
Target audience: Immunologists, virologists, cell culture researchers, PhD students, and early-career scientists.