Muhammed in Barcelona: Presenting Immunotherapy Research at EACR 2025
Earlier this May, postdoctoral researcher Dr. Muhammed travelled to Barcelona, Spain, to attend the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) conference, Defence is the Best Attack: Immuno-Oncology Breakthroughs. Supported by the AICRIStart Centralised Innovation Fund, Muhammed joined a vibrant international community of scientists at the renowned CosmoCaixa Science Museum to share his latest findings and engage with cutting-edge developments in immunotherapy.
“It was an honour to represent my project and AICRIStart at such a prestigious event,” Muhammed shared. “Being surrounded by leading experts and fellow researchers was both humbling and energising.”
Muhammed presented his poster titled: “Fusobacterium nucleatum infection attenuates trastuzumab-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in HER2+ OE19 gastroesophageal cancer cells.” This research investigates how intratumoural bacterial infections may interfere with the immune system's ability to respond to targeted cancer therapies.
“The focus of the conference aligned perfectly with my work,” he explained. “Many sessions covered immune resistance mechanisms and biomarker development, which are areas I’m actively exploring. Hearing how other researchers are approaching similar challenges gave me new ideas to take back to the lab.”
He also valued the chance to receive feedback and make meaningful connections.
“The discussions I had at my poster session were incredibly constructive. People were genuinely interested in the research, and their questions helped me think more critically about the next steps. It was also great to hear that AICRIStart caught their attention, it sparked some really engaging conversations.”
One of the highlights for Muhammed was hearing from pioneers in the field.
“Listening to Professors Tak Mak, Antoni Ribas, Marcela Maus and Roberto Mantovani was inspiring. These are researchers whose work I’ve followed for years, so to see them speak in person and even get to ask questions was a real career milestone.”
Outside of the conference halls, Muhammed took full advantage of the opportunity to experience a new culture.
“Barcelona was incredible. I had just enough time after the conference to wander through the city, visit Gaudí’s architectural masterpieces and soak in the local atmosphere,” he said. “I was also lucky to be there during the celebrations for FC Barcelona’s La Liga win, the streets were buzzing with energy. It was the perfect end to a truly memorable trip.”
Reflecting on the experience, he was quick to express gratitude.
“I’m really thankful to AICRIStart for making this possible. This experience has not only helped develop my scientific thinking but also expanded my network and perspective as a researcher. Opportunities like this are invaluable at this stage of my career.”
