Invited speakers

Dirk Bumann is Professor of Infection Biology at the University of Basel's Biozentrum. His group researches bacterial infections in patients and mouse models – in particular, where bacteria are found in tissue, how they adapt there, and why antibiotics often work less effectively in tissue than under laboratory conditions.

Stefan Linder is Professor of Cellular Microbiology at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, where he researches molecular and cellular mechanisms of cell adhesion, migration, and phagocytosis. His research group is particularly interested in the dynamics of the cytoskeleton and membranes during the uptake and intracellular processing of Borrelia burgdorferi and Candida spp. by primary human macrophages.

Naomi McGovern is a Principal Investigator at the Department of Pathology and Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research at the University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on the specialized properties of macrophages at the maternal–fetal interface, with a focus on how these cells respond to infection. Her group investigates immune defense mechanisms against Listeria monocytogenes and human cytomegalovirus, aiming to elucidate how the timing and progression of these infections shape disease outcomes.Naomi is a Principal Investigator at the Department of Pathology and Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research at the University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on the specialized properties of macrophages at the maternal–fetal interface, with a focus on how these cells respond to infection. Her group investigates immune defense mechanisms against Listeria monocytogenes and human cytomegalovirus, aiming to elucidate how the timing and progression of these infections shape disease outcomes.

Alexandre Persat is a scientist and engineer whose work sits at the interface of physics, microbiology, and medicine. He leads a research laboratory at EPFL focused on the mechanobiology of infections — studying how physical forces, material properties, and spatial constraints shape bacterial behavior, host responses, and antibiotic resistance. His research combines microfluidics, biophysics, organoid infection models, and functional genomics to uncover non-classical determinants of pathogenicity, particularly in organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Trained with a strong engineering background and operating in a highly interdisciplinary space, he develops experimental and computational tools to reveal how microbes interact with tissues as physical systems, not only biochemical ones. Beyond research, he is actively involved in teaching bioengineering and biomaterials, mentoring trainees, organizing scientific initiatives, and exploring translational paths including antimicrobial and anti-biofilm technologies. His work aims to bridge fundamental physics with clinical relevance, advancing both our understanding of infection biology and the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Kate Marks is a Clinical Lecturer in Histopathology at the University of Leeds. She is part of the Optimisticc Consortium, a Cancer Grand Challenge investigating the microbiome and colorectal cancer. The work has focused particularly on the role of the microbiome in screening for colorectal cancer. Her other research interest is in the development of very early colorectal lesions and the role of the microbiome in their promotion and development.