10–12 May 2026 | Bruges, Belgium

How does the microbiome influence the way our immune system develops?

This question was at the centre of the poster presented by Cyrus Mallon and Prof. Alexandra Zhernakova at the Cell Press Symposium: Host–Microbiome Dynamics, held in Bruges, Belgium, from 10 to 12 May 2026.

Representing the University Medical Center Groningen, an INITIALISE partner institution, they shared the poster “Microbiome-Mediated Modulation of Immune Development.”

Their work explores the close relationship between the microorganisms living in and on the human body and the developing immune system. These interactions are particularly important in early life, when both the microbiome and the immune system are still taking shape.

Understanding how the microbiome supports or disrupts immune development may help researchers uncover why some people are more likely to develop immune-related conditions later in life. This is closely connected to the wider goals of INITIALISE, which investigates how early-life biological and environmental factors can influence long-term health.

The symposium offered a valuable opportunity to discuss these ideas with researchers working across microbiology, immunology and clinical science, while also bringing INITIALISE research to an international audience.

Congratulations to Cyrus Mallon and Prof. Alexandra Zhernakova on presenting their work in Bruges.