The 2026 Snow Centre for Immune Health annual Symposium was a powerful salute to science, collaboration and community – uniting researchers, clinicians, partners, and patients with one shared purpose: accelerating breakthroughs in immune health.

The program opened with welcome addresses from Tom Snow, Chair of the Snow Medical Research Foundation and Sir John Savill, the Chair of the Provisional Science and Technical Advisory Committee, to set the scene.

Tom Snow reflected that the symposium is more than a scientific gathering. “It’s a celebration of bold ideas, collaboration and the power of research to transform lives.”

WEHI Director, Professor Ken Smith, and the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Chief Executive, Professor Shelley Dolan, highlighted the importance of strong partnerships in driving discovery and improving patient outcomes, highlighting collaboration as central to the centre’s mission.

Snow Centre Director, Professor Jason Tye-Din, outlined his vision for the next phase of the Snow Centre’s growth, emphasising the opportunity to accelerate translational impact across immunology.

“By uniting brilliant minds, powerful data, and lived experience, we have the opportunity to transform how immune‑mediated diseases are understood, diagnosed and treated.”

International keynote speaker Dr Francisco Leon explored global advances in translational immunology, while patient speakers offered powerful reminders of why this work matters.

Attendees also heard about the centre’s expanding ecosystem – from the launch of the Snow Centre clinical research patient recruitment and the Biogrid/Aridhia data platform to progress on the Cyton2 cell-timer model and a growing portfolio of national and international collaborations.

The symposium proudly showcased emerging leaders, including PhD students, clinicians, and contributors to the centre’s soon-to-be-launched consumer engagement program.

Sir John Savill captured the spirit of the event: “This symposium brings together the brightest minds in immune health to spark ideas that will shape the future of medicine.”

Echoing this commitment to progress, Tom Snow affirmed: “In just two years, the Snow Centre has built a dynamic ecosystem. This is just the beginning.”