Leader: Lidia Sabater, PhD

Accredited researcher, Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Neuronal Disorders Group, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Barcelona

Lidia Sabater coordinates the IGNITION consortium and is the principal investigator of multiple national and international research projects. Her work integrates translational, molecular, and clinical approaches to investigate the mechanisms underlying antibody-mediated encephalopathies.

She was part of the team that identified Anti-IgLON5 disease at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona and has led studies on neurodegenerative processes driven by pathogenic autoantibodies, contributing to biomarker discovery and the development of new therapeutic strategies in neuroimmunology.

Co-Supervisor: Carles Gaig, MD, PhD

Associate Professor and Neurologist, Sleep Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona

Carles Gaig is a clinical neurologist specializing in sleep disorders, particularly narcolepsy, REM sleep behavior disorder, and sleep disturbances associated with neurodegenerative or immune‑mediated diseases.

With a background in movement disorders, his work integrates advanced diagnostics with translational research. He contributed to the characterization of the anti IgLON5 disease and actively investigates its neurodegenerative and tau‑related mechanisms.

Co-Supervisor: Jesús Planagumà, PhD

Assistant Researcher, Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Neuronal Disorders Group, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Barcelona

Jesús Planagumà is a neuroscientist focused on the mechanisms of autoimmune encephalitis and antibody-mediated neuronal disorders.

His research integrates molecular approaches and advanced optical microscopy, with a strong emphasis on confocal and super-resolution imaging, to characterize how pathogenic antibodies alter neuronal structure and synaptic organization.

His reserach aims to uncover how immune responses disrupt synaptic function and cognition. He has contributed to high-impact studies on NMDA receptor dysfunction and memory impairment, advancing biomarker discovery and therapeutic strategies for neuroimmune diseases.

Supervisor and Co-supervisor: Inga Koneczny, PhD

Project Leader in Neuroimmunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna

Inga Koneczny is a project leader at the Clinical Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, specializing in neuroimmunology, Myasthenia gravis and IgG4-mediated autoimmune diseases.

Her research focuses on understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of autoantibodies, understanding what drives IgG4 autoimmunity and to develop new diagnostic tools. She is a leading expert in the field of IgG4 autoimmunity and coordinator of the IgG4-TREAT consortium, with numerous high-impact publications advancing the field of autoimmune neurology.

Supervisor and Co-supervisor: Romana Höftberger, MD

Professor of Neuropathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna

Romana Höftberger is an internationally recognized expert in neuropathology and neuroimmunology, currently directing the Division of Neuropathology and Neurochemistry at the Medical University of Vienna. Her research focuses on antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases of the nervous system, including MOGAD, NMOSD, autoimmune encephalitis, and rare disorders such as anti-IgLON5 disease. She has authored numerous publications and actively contributes to advancing diagnostics and therapies for neuroimmunological conditions.

Leader: Frank Leypoldt, MD

Head of Neuroimmunology Section, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Kiel

Frank Leypoldt is a clinical neuroimmunologist with dual board certification in neurology and laboratory medicine. His research focuses on autoimmune encephalitis and antibody-mediated neurological disorders, aiming to improve diagnostics, understand pathogenic mechanisms, and develop targeted therapies. He has contributed to international guidelines, leads the German Network for Research on Autoimmune Encephalitis (GENERATE), and has authored numerous high-impact publications advancing neuroimmunology.

Co-supervisor: Ligia Abrante, PhD

Scientist, Neuroimmunology Section, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Kiel

Ligia Abrante Cabrera is a molecular biologist and scientist in the Neuroimmunology Section at the Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel. Her work focuses on molecular and cellular immunology, with particular expertise in cloning and characterization of T cell and B cell receptors (TCR and BCR). She supports translational neuroimmunology research by developing and applying experimental assays to study antigen-specific immune responses and antibody-mediated neurological diseases.

Co-supervisor: Daniela Esser, PhD

Bioinformatician, Neuroimmunology Section, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Kiel

Daniela Esser is a bioinformatician in the Neuroimmunology Section at the Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel. Her work focuses on integrative data analysis in immunology, combining genomics, transcriptomics, and systems biology approaches to study immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases. She has contributed to high-impact publications across immunology and molecular medicine and supports translational research through advanced computational and bioinformatic methodologies.

Leader: Maarten Titulaer, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Neurology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam

Maarten Titulaer is a clinical neurologist and researcher specializing in autoimmune encephalitis and neuroinflammatory disorders. His work combines large-scale cohort studies with detailed patient-level analysis to improve diagnosis, refine prognostic models, and develop personalized treatment strategies. He is a leading contributor to international guidelines and has published extensively to advance the understanding and management of neuroimmunological diseases.

Co-supervisor: Martijn Van Duijn, v

Associate Professor of Neurology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam

Juna de Vries is a clinical neurologist and researcher focused on autoimmune encephalitis and neuroimmunological disorders. Her work integrates patient-reported outcomes with clinical and biomarker data to improve diagnosis, predict recovery, and guide personalized treatment strategies. She leads the PROMISE study, developing tools to measure cognition, mood, and quality of life in affected patients. A key contributor to international research collaborations, she has published extensively to advance evidence-based care and long-term outcome modeling in neuroinflammation.

Leader: Oliver Harschnitz, MD, PhD

Research Group Leader, Human Technopole, Milan

Oliver Harschnitz is a clinician-scientist specializing in neuroimmunology and stem cell-based disease modeling. He leads the Harschnitz Group at Human Technopole, focusing on the development of advanced human pluripotent stem cell models to study viral and autoimmune encephalitis and uncover the drivers of chronic neuroinflammation. His work aims to identify therapeutic targets with direct translational impact for patients suffering from neuroimmunological disorders.

Co-supervisor: Stefania Giussani, PhD

Postdoctoral Researcher, Harschnitz Group, Human Technopole, Milan

Stefania Giussani is a neuroscientist specializing in neuroimmunology, with expertise in stem cell–based models of viral and autoimmune neuroinflammation. She earned her PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the University of Pavia, followed by postdoctoral research in Oxford before joining Human Technopole to explore interactions between neurons and immune cells in the brain.

Leader: Laurent Groc, PhD

Research Director and Director of the Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS & Bordeaux University, París

Laurent Groc is a neuroscientist specializing in synaptic physiology and neuroimmune interactions. He earned his PhD in Neuroscience in 2000 (Wayne State University & Université de Lyon) and later worked at the University of Gothenburg. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of synaptic communication and neuroimmune interactions, pioneering super-resolution imaging of glutamatergic synapses and NMDA receptor trafficking in health and disease, including autoimmune encephalitis. He has received several distinctions, including the 2020 ERC Synergy Grant and the 2022 CNRS Silver Medal.

Leader: Luís Ribeiro, PhD

Group Leader, Multidisciplinary Institute of Ageing (MIA), University of Coimbra, Coimbra

Luís Ribeiro is a neuroscientist investigating how the distribution and function of neuronal surface receptors shape synaptic physiology across health, aging, and disease. His research integrates advanced imaging, electrophysiology, biochemical and proteomic approaches to uncover mechanisms of synaptic dysfunction and molecular targets for therapy. He earned his PhD at CNC‑UC and completed a postdoc at VIB–KU Leuven. Supported by FCT and a Marie Skłodowska‑Curie fellowship, he established an independent line at CNC‑UC and now leads a group at MIA-Portugal, with recent funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

Supervisor: Ester Coutinho, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra

Ester Coutinho is a neurologist and neuroimmunologist whose research focuses on neuroimmune interactions and their impact on brain development and disease. Her work investigates how autoantibodies and other immune-mediated mechanisms influence synaptic physiology, contributing to neurodevelopmental and autoimmune disorders. She combines clinical expertise with advanced molecular and imaging approaches to bridge fundamental neuroscience with translational applications.

Leader: Christian Geis, MD

Professor of Translational Neuroimmunology, Jena University Hospital, Jena

Christian Geis is a clinician-scientist specializing in neuroimmunology and autoimmune encephalitis. His research focuses on understanding how autoantibodies and immune responses affect neuronal networks, using advanced in vivo and in vitro models to uncover mechanisms of synaptic dysfunction. He leads translational projects aimed at developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for neuroimmune disorders and has published extensively in the field.

Co-supervisor:  Josefine Sell, PhD

Postdoctoral Researcher, Experimental Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena

Josefine Sell is a neuroscientist specializing in translational neuroimmunology and experimental models of autoimmune encephalitis. Her research focuses on understanding immune-mediated mechanisms that disrupt neuronal networks and contribute to neurodegenerative processes. She applies advanced in vivo and in vitro approaches to identify therapeutic targets and improve diagnostic strategies for neuroimmune disorders.

Leader: Natalia Małek, PhD

Assistant Professor, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw

Natalia Małek is a neuroscientist whose research focuses on regulation of microglial function in neuroinflammatory disorders. Her work focuses on combining spatial proteomics, advanced imaging and molecular pharmacology to dissect how drugs reshape microglia–neuron interactions and proteostasis in disease‑relevant circuits. She has received many prestigious grants over the years and collaborates internationally to bridge clinical insight and basic neuroscience for translational impact.

Supervisor: Marcin Poręba, PhD

Vice-Dean for General Affairs, Head of the Department of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw

Marcin Poręba is Professor at Wrocław University of Science and Technology, where he leads the Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging. His research develops innovative peptide-based chemical tools and mass cytometry (CyTOF) approaches to study proteolytic enzymes and design next-generation antibody–drug conjugates for cancer therapy. He pioneered combining protease probes with mass cytometry and established Poland’s first mass cytometry lab. He coordinates major oncology projects funded by the Polish National Science Centre and EU programs, and has received multiple national and international grants, including Marie Skłodowska-Curie.

Leader: Pere Carulla, PhD

Head of Research and Development, Autoimmune Diagnostics, Biosystems S.A., Barcelona

Pere Carulla is a biomedical researcher specializing in autoimmune disorders and standardization. He has extensive experience in standardizing production processes, implementing robust quality‑control procedures and regulatory frames, and applying advanced protein and post‑translational modification analyses to improve the accuracy and reproducibility of diagnostic assays. His research aims to refine diagnostic strategies and enhance clinical decision‑making in the context of autoimmune disease management.

Co-supervisor: Petraki Munujos, PhD

Corporate Advisor – Science and Innovation, Biosystems S.A., Barcelona

Petraki Munujos is a seasoned leader in research and development within the in vitro diagnostics industry. With a PhD in Biology from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and extensive postdoctoral experience, he has held key roles at Biosystems since 1995 in roles spanning Senior Scientist, R&D Director, and Chief Research Officer. Since October 2025, he serves as Corporate Advisor for Science and Innovation, driving strategic initiatives, fostering innovation, and supporting the company’s scientific vision in diagnostics and healthcare solutions.