Pascale Cossart is a renowned microbiologist and Emeritus Professor at the Pasteur Institute. Since 1986, Cossart has been at the forefront of investigating the interactions between bacterial pathogens and mammalian cells, notably pioneering research on Listeria monocytogenes. Her work, integrating infection biology, cell biology, functional genomics, and fundamental microbiology, has significantly advanced the understanding of intracellular pathogens. Recognized globally, Cossart’s accolades include memberships in various scientific academies and numerous prestigious awards, underlining her pivotal contributions to microbiology.

Félix A. Rey is a prominent figure in the field of structural virology. As the Director of the Virology Department at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, Rey has made significant contributions to understanding viral mechanisms, particularly in membrane fusion. His work spans a broad range of studies including macromolecular assemblies and mechanistic biology. Rey’s career is marked by numerous accolades such as the “Médaille d’argent” from CNRS and memberships in prestigious organisations like EMBO and the Academia Europaea. His research has deeply impacted our understanding of viral structures and infection processes.

Thierry Soldati leads a research group at the University of Geneva focusing on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of cell-autonomous immunity against pathogenic bacteria. Utilising the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum as a model organism, the Soldati group investigates the complex host-pathogen relationships, particularly with Mycobacterium marinum, a relative of M. tuberculosis. This research encompasses studying membrane damage sensing, repair mechanisms, and the restriction of intracellular infection through processes like xenophagy. Their innovative use of this ethically un-concerning model system supports significant advancements in understanding infection mechanisms and screening for anti-infective compounds​​.

Ivan Đikić is a leading expert in the fields of ubiquitin biology and cancer research. He is a professor at Goethe University Frankfurt and a fellow of Max Planck Society. He maintains the active research lab that enables multidisciplinary teams of scientists to study molecular principles of life and discover pathological alterations that lead to the development of human diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration and infection. For his scientific work, Ivan received numerous awards,including the Louis-Jeantet Prize, Ernst Jung Prize and the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, the highest scientific honour in Germany. Ivan Đikić is committed to the education of the next generations of scientists, for which he was recognized by the highest civilian state honours in Croatia, The Order of Duke Branimir.

Luísa Figueiredo, group leader at the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM), is renowned for her groundbreaking research on African trypanosomes, the causative agents of human sleeping sickness and cattle Nagana. Her group focuses on understanding tissue tropism and antigenic variation in these parasites, with significant discoveries like identifying adipose tissue as a key reservoir in infections. Figueiredo’s work on gene regulation and the mechanisms of trypanosomes immune evasion is pivotal in the field. Her research achievements are recognized through awards like the ERC Consolidator Grant and support from prestigious institutions like HHMI and EMBO.

Oliver Billker is the Director of the Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS) at Umeå University. His work emphasises genome-scale approaches to understand malaria parasites and their interactions with mosquitoes, the vectors of transmission. Billker’s research aims to uncover the hidden biology of these parasites to facilitate the development of new drugs and vaccines. Utilising innovative molecular tools, his group conducts extensive genetic screens on Plasmodium berghei, a rodent-infecting malaria species. This research significantly advances our understanding of parasite biology, particularly in aspects of development regulation and host-parasite-mosquito interactions, contributing to advancements in malaria treatment and prevention strategies.

Søren Riis Paludan is the Director for the Center for Immunology of Viral Infections (CiViA) at Aarhus University. He is recognized for his pioneering research on innate immune responses to viral infections. With an interdisciplinary background in chemistry, molecular biology, and medical sciences, Paludan has developed expertise in understanding viral recognition mechanisms and subsequent immune responses. His work focuses particularly on herpes simplex virus and central nervous system infections, examining both protective immunity and pathological responses. Paludan’s research has significantly advanced knowledge on how the immune system detects viruses at epithelial surfaces and in the brain, with implications for vaccine development and antiviral therapeutics. His substantial contributions have earned him prestigious recognitions, including a Lundbeck Foundation professorship and directorship of CiViA funded by the Danish National Research Foundation.