Sixth Newcastle International Therapeutic Tolerance Workshop brings global experts to Newcastle
Friday July 10, 2026
Nearly 200 delegates from academia, healthcare, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries gathered in Newcastle last week for the Sixth Newcastle International Therapeutic Tolerance Workshop, hosted at The Catalyst from 29 June to 3 July and coordinated and delivered by Newcastle Health Research Partnership.
Now in its sixth edition, the workshop brought together many of the world’s leading experts in immunology to discuss the latest advances in the potential to switch off and ‘cure’ autoimmune disease and to transplant organs with minimal or no immune suppression.
Nobel Prize awardee gives keynote lecture
The week-long programme featured keynote lectures from internationally renowned scientists including Professor Mark Anderson (University of California, San Francisco), Professor Luke O’Neill (Trinity College Dublin), Professor Sophie Hambleton (Newcastle University) and Professor Shimon Sakaguchi (Osaka University), whose pioneering work transformed understanding of regulatory T cells and immune tolerance – work for which he was awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Supporting the next generation of researchers
Another focus of the meeting was supporting the next generation of researchers. Early-career scientists and students were given opportunities to present their work through oral and poster presentation sessions, helping to foster collaboration and showcase emerging research from institutions around the world. With Newcastle researchers strongly represented throughout the programme.
Professor John Isaacs, William Leech Professor of Rheumatology at Newcastle University, Director of Research at Newcastle Hospitals, and workshop founder, reflected on the growth of the event since its first meeting in 2005:
“From humble beginnings in 2005, our workshop has grown to become one of the ‘go-to’ events for the therapeutic immune tolerance field. This year’s workshop was oversubscribed for the first time, including many delegates from the pharma and biotech industries. We have managed to create a culture that enables open discussion and communication.”
Quotes from attendees
“The premier workshop in therapeutic tolerance.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Sian, Claire and the NHRP team for their expert organisation and preparation – these workshops take tremendous skill to co-ordinate so perfectly.”
“The workshop was truly astounding. … The depth and breadth of the scientific and translational talks was inspiring… (and) there was ample time to talk with experts on a congenial basis during the workshop and dinners”.
“We in the … group went back enthusiastic and re-energized, summarizing that this was one of the very best meetings we ever attended.”
Reinforcing Newcastle’s international reputation as a centre of excellence for translational immunology research
The workshop further reinforced Newcastle’s international reputation in translational immunology research and highlighted the city’s role in bringing together global expertise to accelerate the development of treatments that could transform the lives of people living with autoimmune diseases and those requiring organ transplantation.
NHRP would like to thank all speakers, delegates, sponsors, exhibitors and organising team members who contributed to the success of this year’s workshop.