Industry Lunch Symposia

Streamlining High-Plex Spatial Biology with an Automated Multiplex Imaging Workflow

Room: N1090
Speaker: Przemek Fleszar, Advanced Workflow Specialist – Spatial Biology

Abstract: Understanding the interactions between tumor cells and the surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME) is essential for advancing cancer research and accelerating the development of new therapeutics. The functional state and spatial organization of immune and tumor cell populations can influence disease progression, therapeutic response, and clinical outcomes. The complexity of the TME often requires highly multiplexed imaging approaches capable of measuring numerous biomarkers while preserving spatial context. When combined with advanced image analysis, these technologies enable researchers to extract meaningful information from tissue datasets, revealing biomarker expression patterns, spatial relationships, and phenotypes. While multiplexed imaging technologies can generate detailed datasets, the time and expertise required for sample preparation, image acquisition, and analysis can create bottlenecks in large-scale studies. Furthermore, validation and performance of antibody staining reagents can add significant challenges to study design. Here, we present a novel automated multiplex imaging solution which provides a flexible platform for high-plex spatial biology studies. By combining walk-away multiplexed imaging, pre-validated ATTOAuriga panels, and analysis workflows, researchers can explore tissue architecture, investigate cellular heterogeneity, and uncover biologically relevant signatures that may be missed using other approaches. This streamlined workflow supports a deeper understanding of complex biological systems and enables new opportunities for discovery in cancer, immunology, and other areas of life science research.

High-parameter spectral flow cytometry in liver immunology research – autofluorescence matters

Room: N1095
Speaker: Speaker: Dr. rer. nat. Linda Hammerich

The liver is a complex immunological organ with diverse immune, parenchymal, and stromal cell populations within a highly autofluorescent environment. High-parameter spectral flow cytometry enables detailed characterization of these populations, but tissue-derived autofluorescence can strongly affect data quality and interpretation, particularly for rare populations and dimly expressed markers.

In this talk, we will discuss the challenges of applying high-parameter spectral flow cytometry to liver immunology research, with a particular focus on the impact of tissue-derived autofluorescence and how this can affect spectral unmixing, marker resolution, and downstream population identification. Practical considerations for panel design, appropriate controls, and autofluorescence extraction will be presented. Finally, we will illustrate how careful management of autofluorescence can improve the identification and characterization of diverse hepatic immune populations and ultimately strengthen biological conclusions.

Exploring the FP7000 Spectral Cell Sorter for Immunology and Single-Cell Applications

Room: N1179

Speaker: Christopher McRandle, High End Instrument Expert Europe, Sony Biotechnology

The FP7000 Spectral Cell Sorter is designed to meet the needs of a multi-user laboratory through advanced spectral optics, precision electronics, and robust fluidics that enable reliable high-parameter sorting while maintaining high purity, viability, and functionality of isolated cell populations. Intuitive software and guided workflows simplify instrument setup, panel implementation, and experiment execution, supporting streamlined operation across a broad range of applications. These include high-dimensional immunology panels, precise single-cell sorting into multi-well plates for downstream assays, and the isolation of challenging samples such as large or fragile cells. ln this presentation, we will highlight how complex panels can be migrated from conventional and spectral systems onto the FP7000 for reliable isolation of rare and dim populations. Plate-based sorting of single cells for functional studies and isolation of large cells showcase the system’s versatility and consistent performance across experimental workflows.

It’s Time to Decode Immune Aging

Room: N1090
Speaker: Dr. Michael Kapinsky, Dr. Sara De Biasi, Dr. Anis Larbi

Dr. Michael Kapinsky – Welcome and Introduction
Dr. Sara De Biasi – Decoding human immune aging through long-term T Cell Memory
Dr. Anis Larbi – Investigating Immune Aging One Cell at a Time

Next level immunology revealed by imaging and spectral flow cytometry – a deep dive in CAR-T cell biology

Room: N1095

Speaker: Gianluca Rotta, PhD

Understanding immune-cell function increasingly requires analytical approaches capable of integrating phenotype, spatial organization, and molecular signatures at the single-cell level. In this presentation, we will show how multidimensional cytometry approaches reveal previously hidden aspects of CAR-T cell biology.
Using BCMA-directed CAR-T cells as a model system, we demonstrate that the spatial organization of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on the cell surface is associated with distinct biological states. Imaging flow cytometry identified different receptor topologies, including circular and polarized CAR distribution patterns, which correlated with functional differences in cytotoxic activity. Integration with single-cell transcriptomic analysis further revealed divergent gene-expression programs associated with immune activation, effector function, proliferation, and cell-cycle regulation. These findings highlight the biological relevance of CAR spatial architecture and provide novel insight into determinants of CAR-T cell functionality.
To further investigate CAR-T cell heterogeneity, we applied a 41-color spectral flow cytometry panel enabling simultaneous assessment of activation, differentiation, memory, exhaustion, chemokine receptor, and adhesion pathways. High-dimensional analysis revealed substantial phenotypic diversity among CAR-T cell populations and between treated patients and healthy donor T cells, demonstrating how deep immunophenotyping can uncover biologically meaningful cellular subsets that remain inaccessible to conventional approaches.
Throughout the presentation, we will learn how the BD FACSDiscover™ platform, BD CAR Detection Reagents, and the new BD Horizon RealDyes™ spectral fluorochromes contributed to the successful generation of these data and enabled deeper characterization of CAR-T cell biology.

Beyond Antibodies: Tracking Virus-Specific T Cells in human Blood and Tissues to define Immune Protection.

Room: N1179

Speaker: Prof. Christof Geldmacher, Dr. Eva Grüner, Leonie Mayer

Virus-specific T cell responses can control viral replication, limit tissue penetration, onward transmission, and attenuate viral disease, independently of antibodies. They often target conserved antigenic regions and contribute to the development of robust virus-specific antibody responses, while viral escape from T cell recognition appears to be relatively uncommon.
Despite their important role in antiviral immunity, the design of vaccine immunogens and immunomonitoring during clinical development primarily focus on antibody responses, often neglect the induction of T cell responses. This is partly due to the technical challenges associated with monitoring virus-specific T cells and to reliably define and assess protective response thresholds.
This session will review evidence for the protective role of T cells in pre-clinical vaccination models and human infections. It will also discuss recent advances in defining T cell correlates of protection and in assessing virus-specific T cells at an important barrier site of infection, namely is the upper airway tissue.

1. Development of an adaptable, scalable platform to define T cell correlates of protection for viral pathogens (Christof Geldmacher, LMU))
2. BDBV cross-reactive T cell responses following rVSV-ZEBOV vaccination in humans (Leonie Mayer, UKE)
3. Unravelling Virus-Specific T Cell Responses in Human Airways following Influenza A Infection: Dynamics, Function and Cross-Recognition of Avian Influenza Viruses (Eva Grüner, LMU)

WHIM syndrome: Early detection, targeted treatment

Room: N1090

Speaker: Dr. med. univ. Christoph Geier, Univ. Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Förster Waldl

Presentation 1 Christoph Geier, M.D., Center for Rare Diseases Oldenburg (ZeSEO)
Primary Immunodeficiencies with Neutropenia: When Should WHIM Syndrome Be Considered?

Presentation 2 Univ. Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Förster Waldl, Outpatient Clinic for Immune Deficiencies at the University Clinic for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, MedUni Vienna
New Therapeutic Perspectives for WHIM Syndrome