Dear colleagues, dear friends,
It is with great pleasure that we invite you to our European Microglia and CNS macrophages Conference which takes place at the Hotel Stadt Freiburg, Tagungszentrum Berliner Tor, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, on October 14-16, 2026.
This event is organized by by the Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg and the Center for Brain Research and Advancement In Neuroimmunology (BRAIN). We seek to establish a future European platform for key leaders in field of CNS immunity with a special focus on parenchymal and non-parenchymal macrophages and other CNS immune cells. We will not only present the latest discoveries in the field of microglia and CNS macrophage biology but we will also have round table formats to discuss current developments and controversies, and to establish academic view points and guidelines for the field. The special think tank design of the conference is key for the success of this event. It will further support support networking of young investigators and experts in the field. Poster sessions will be well embedded.
For this symposium, we have invited the leading experts in the field. This symposium will give the opportunity to discuss and share recent data and engaging discussions that will shape the future of this rapidly evolving field.
We encourage you all to share your knowledge, challenge each other’s ideas, and foster connections that will not only advance the science but also enhance the collaborative spirit that drives progress in research and innovation. We look forward to an inspiring and productive event.
Program October 14-16, 2026
DAY 1
12:30 - 01:00 pm | Registration
01:00 - 01:15 pm | Opening and Welcome
01:15 pm - 05:45 pm | Session I: Dissecting the myeloid side of the brain
Chairs: tba
01:15 - 01:45 pm | tba | Steffen Jung
01:45 - 02:15 pm | tba | Marco Prinz
02:15 - 03:00 pm | Round table I: Tool boxes and technologies
Chairs: Steffen Jung + Takahiro Masuda
03:00 - 03:15 pm | Coffee Break
03:15 - 03:45 pm | tba | Josef Priller
03:45 - 04:00 pm | tba | x short talk 1
04:00 - 04:15 pm | tba | x short talk 2
04:15 - 04:45 pm | tba | Takahiro Masuda
04:45 - 05:15 pm | tba | Sonia Garel
05:15 - 05:45 pm | tba | Katrin Kierdorf
07:00 - 09:00 pm | Speaker’s Dinner
DAY 2
09:00 am - 10:15 am | Session II: CNS drainage and interfaces
Chairs: tba
09:00 - 09:30 am | tba | Britta Engelhardt
09:30 - 09:45 am | tba | x short talk 3
09:45 - 10:15 am | tba | Melanie Greter
10:15 - 10:45 am | Coffee Break
10:45 - 11:30 am | Round table II: CNS drainage
Chairs: Britta Engelhardt + Melanie Greter
11:30 am - 04:15 pm | Session III: From cell states to cell types
Chairs: tba
11:30 -11:45 am | tba | x short talk 4
11:45 - 12:00 pm | tba | x short talk 5
12:00 - 01:15 pm | lunch
01:15 - 01:45 pm | tba | Michela Matteoli
01:45 - 02:15 pm | tba | Rosa Paolicelli
02:15 - 03:00 pm | Round table III: Nomenclature
Chairs: Bart Eggen + Rosa Paolicelli
03:00 - 03:30 pm | tba | Renzo Mancuso
03:30 - 04:00 pm | tba | Bart Eggen
04:00 - 06:00 pm | Coffee Break + Postersession
DAY 3
09:00 am - 12:45 pm | Session IV: Therapeutical targeting of CNS macrophages
Chairs: tba
09:00 - 09:30 am | tba | Bożena Kamińska-Kaczmarek
09:30 - 10:00 am | tba | Robert Zeiser
10:00 - 10:15 am | tba | x short talk 6
10:15 - 10:30 am | tba | x short talk 7
10:30 - 11:00 am | Coffee Break
11:00 - 11:45 | Round table IV: Therapeutical targeting
Chairs: Marius Wernig + Robert Zeiser
11:00 - 11:30 am | tba | Robert Harris
11:30 - 12:00 pm | tba | Marius Wernig
12:00 - 12:45 pm | tba | Tony Wyss-Coray
12:45 - 01:00 pm | Closing remarks + Poster Prize
Invited Speakers
Bart Eggen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Britta Engelhardt, TKI, Switzerland
Sonia Garel, Collège de France, France
Melanie Greter, University of Zurich, Switzerland
Robert Harris, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
Steffen Jung, WIS, Israel
Bożena Kamińska-Kaczmarek, Nencki Institute, Warsaw
Katrin Kierdorf, University of Freiburg, Germany
Renzo Mancuso, VIB Antwerp, Belgium
Takahiro Masuda, Kyushu University, Japan
Michela Matteoli, Humanitas University, Italy
Rosa Paolicelli, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Josef Priller, Technical University of Munich, Germany
Marco Prinz, University of Freiburg, Germany
Marius Wernig, Stanford University, USA
Tony Wyss-Coray, Stanford University, USA
Robert Zeiser, University of Freiburg, Germany
Registration
Participation fees
- UKF Postdocs/Clinicians or higher graduation: 100€
- UKF Students (MD, Master, PhD): 50 €
- External Participants: 150 €
Location
Address:
Hotel Stadt Freiburg | Tagungszentrum Berliner Tor
Breisacher Str. 84
79110 Freiburg im Breisgau
Travel and Accomodation
How to reach Freiburg (im Breisgau)
... by Airplane: Freiburg is located in the middle of a dense network of international airports. The nearest international airport, EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, is only 40 minutes away from Freiburg. Direct connection to Freiburg is provided by the Airport Bus or public transport with transfer in Basel. Frankfurt, one of Europe's largest hubs is only a two hour train ride or car drive away. Trains leave from the airport's long distance train station to Freiburg at least once every hour.
... by Car: Over the motorway A-5 Frankfurt-Karlsruhe-Basel
... by Train: Freiburg is located on the ICE/Intercity route Frankfurt-Karlsruhe-Freiburg-Basel. Twice an hour, trains from allover Germany or from Switzerland (Zurich/Basel) stop at Freiburg's main train station.
For using the public transport in Freiburg you can find information here.
Special Train Ticket (Deutsche Bahn)
For participants of this event, a nationwide event ticket is available. This allows you to plan your journey to and from the event conveniently, sustainably, and at reduced rates.
Information will follow as soon as possible.
Accommodation
We have a pre-reserved room allotment for conference participants at The Alex Hotel in Freiburg. Reservations can be made directly with the hotel until September 1, 2026, using the keyword “FreiMicro 2026”
The Alex Hotel
Rheinstraße 29
79104 Freiburg im Breisgau
+49 761 296970
PLEASE NOTE: Accommodation for invited speakers will be arranged by the conference organizers. Speakers do not need to make their own reservations.
Sponsoring
We offer 2 m² information booths, including named recognition on the event website with logo, for 2.000 €.
Please contact us if you are interested.
Contact
Scientific Committee
Katrin Kierdorf
Group Leader
University of Freiburg
Marco Prinz
Prof. of Neuropathology
University of Freiburg
Organisation
Universitätsklinikum Freiburg
Stabsstelle Unternehmenskommunikation
Veranstaltungsmanagement
+49 761 270 19210