Conferences and symposiums NK50 Symposium: 50 Years of NK Cell Research
Join us in celebrating 50 years of groundbreaking NK cell research at the NK50 symposium on October 14, 2025, at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm. This event marks a significant milestone in immunology, reflecting on past achievements and exploring future directions.
Don't miss this opportunity to connect with leading experts in the field. The symposium will be free of charge, but it is compulsory to register.
A groundbreaking discovery
In 1975, researchers at Karolinska Institutet, led by Rolf Kiessling, Eva Klein, and Hans Wigzell, made a groundbreaking discovery that would change the landscape of immunology – the Natural Killer (NK) cell. This milestone marked the beginning of a new era in understanding how the immune system combats cancer and viral infections. Now, fifty years later, we celebrate this achievement with a one-day symposium on October 14, 2025, at Karolinska Institutet.
History, present and future
The symposium aims to reflect on the historical journey of NK cell research while highlighting current breakthroughs and future directions in this field. Specifically, the first half of the symposium will focus on the history of NK cells, tracing their discovery and the key milestones that have shaped our understanding of their role in the immune system.
The second half will concentrate on where NK cell research stands today in terms of clinical application, exploring how recent advancements in NK cell-based therapies are transforming cancer treatment and patient care, with a particular emphasis on their potential to revolutionize the management of various malignancies.
This event is strategically timed to coincide with the 50th annual meeting of the Scandinavian Society for Immunology (SSI), which will take place in Stockholm from October 15 to 17, 2025.
For questions, please contact Carin Dahlberg (Carin.Dahlberg@ki.se).
Program Overview
- Morning Session: A historical journey of NK cell research, tracing key discoveries and milestones.
- Afternoon Session: Current breakthroughs and future directions in NK cell-based therapies, with a focus on clinical applications and cancer treatment.
Invited speakers
- Wayne Yokoyama, Washington University
- Lewis Lanier, University of California San Francisco
- Emily Mace, Columbia University Medical Center
- Adelheid Cerwenka, Heidelberg University
- Karl-Johan Malmberg, University of Oslo
Local speakers
- Rolf Kiessling, Karolinska Institutet
- Klas Kärre, Karolinska Institutet
- Nicole Marquardt, Karolinska Institutet
- Aline Pfefferle, Karolinska Institutet
- Yenan Bryceson, Karolinska Institutet
- Ebba Sohlberg, Karolinska Institutet
- Niklas Björkström, Karolinska Institutet
- Björn Önfelt, Karolinska Institutet