The CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence for Emerging Infectious Diseases (CEEID) marked a significant presence at the International Congress of Immunology and Molecular Allergology (IMAC 2025), held successfully in Moscow, Russia, from December 5-6, 2025. The Centre's participation underscored its commitment to advancing frontier research and expanding its network of international partnerships in the fields of immunology and allergology.

    Prominent Scientific Address by TWAS Fellow. Delivering a keynote address at the congress, Director of CEEID Professor George F. Gao, core scientist and TWAS Fellow, presented the latest breakthroughs in allergic disease research from Chinese scientists. He detailed CEEID’s integrated approach, leveraging cutting-edge platforms in systems biology and structural immunology to study host-pathogen interactions and develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Professor Gao emphasized the critical importance of collaborative research, data sharing, and capacity building with partners from developing countries and worldwide to address the global public health challenge posed by allergic diseases, resonating strongly with the international audience.

    Strengthening Ties with Experts from 14 Nations. During the congress, Secretary-General of CEEID of Dr. Likui Wang, held extensive and productive discussions with leading experts, institutional leaders, and young scientists from 15 countries, including Russia, Austria, Germany, Argentina, Armenia, Turkey, Sweden, Switzerland, Belarus, Romania, Kazakhstan, Iran, Serbia. The talks focused on key areas such as allergen molecular profiling, novel immunotherapies, the intersection of infection and allergy, and talent development. Dr. Wang introduced CEEID’s international cooperation mechanisms, visiting scholar programs, and joint research funding opportunities, extending invitations for future collaboration. These engagements significantly raised CEEID’s international profile and resulted in preliminary agreements to strengthen or initiate specific collaborative projects with several renowned institutions, laying a solid foundation for future memoranda of understanding and potential joint research units.

    The congress was co-chaired by Academician Musa R. Khaitov, Director of the NRC Institute of Immunology FMBA of Russia and President of the Russian Association of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (RAACI), and Professor Rudolf Valenta, a foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and a leading figure at the Medical University of Vienna. Both chairs highly commended the active participation and substantial contributions of the CEEID delegation, affirming that strengthened collaboration with top Chinese research institutions is vital for propelling global progress in molecular allergology.

    By engaging on this prominent international stage, CEEID not only showcased China's scientific prowess but also actively embodied the TWAS mission of promoting South-South and North-South scientific cooperation. The Centre continues to serve as a global hub for scientific collaboration, aiming to pool international expertise to tackle health challenges, including emerging infectious diseases and immune-related disorders, thereby contributing to a global community of health for all.