New International Network Brings Together Early-Career Researchers from Eight European Countries to Shape the Future of Cell Death and Inflammation Research
The founding of a European scientific network dedicated to advancing research on cell death and its links to diseases, including chronic inflammation, metabolic disorders, neurodegeneration, and cancer.
From 11 to 13 June 2026, researchers from across Europe gathered at the Sala del Leccio in Modena for the inaugural meeting of the Network for Early Career Researchers on Cell Death, a newly established European scientific network dedicated to advancing research on cell death and its links to disease, including chronic inflammation, metabolic disorders, neurodegeneration, and cancer.
Supported by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation, the initiative brings together early-career Principal Investigators from leading European research institutions spanning Italy, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Austria, Spain, Portugal, and Belgium. By pooling diverse expertise, the network aims to foster long-term scientific collaboration and establish a shared vision for the future of biomedical research in the rapidly evolving field of regulated cell death. More broadly, the initiative seeks to consolidate European excellence in cell death research and accelerate the translation of fundamental discoveries into innovative therapeutic strategies.
Top left to right: Gianmaria Liccardi, Monica Yabal, Gabriel Ichim, Greg Ebert, Nieves Peltzer, Julia Zinngrebe, Hector Flores Romero, Uris Ros, Simone Di Franco, Katia Cosentino, Joel Riley, Angelika Harbauer, Sophia Maschalidi, Michael Dengler, Esther Hoste, Hirotsugu Oda
Bottom left to right: Halime Kalkavan, Stefanie Bader, Christina Ising, Alessandro Annibaldi, Dave Boucher
The network was established through a collaborative effort between the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE), the University of Stuttgart, the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics in Frankfurt, and the Medical University of Innsbruck. The initiative is founded and coordinated by Dr. Nieves Peltzer (Stuttgart), Dr. Uris Ros (Frankfurt), Dr. Katia Cosentino (Modena), and Dr. Joel Riley (Innsbruck).
In addition to the Fritz Thyssen Foundation, the organisers would like to thank the Department of Culture of the Municipality of Modena for its valuable support and for hosting the event at the Sala del Leccio, helping make this important international initiative possible.
