Q&A Seminar “Tolerance and Autoimmunity”

On October 9, 2025, Odesa National Medical University hosted a scientific Q&A seminar dedicated to the topic “Tolerance and Autoimmunity.” The event brought together students, young researchers, and faculty members interested in modern approaches to understanding immune tolerance, the mechanisms of autoimmune diseases, and the prospects of therapeutic immunomodulation.

In an open dialogue format, participants had the opportunity to engage with the invited speaker, Professor Furkan Ayaz, who shared the results of his many years of research in the fields of immunology and molecular biology.

The discussion was lively and substantial, covering a wide range of contemporary immunological topics. Participants explored Professor Ayaz’s research projects and grants, as well as the ethical standards applied in experiments involving humans and animals. Special attention was given to the importance of scientific collaboration and academic integrity in research.

Professor Ayaz shared his reflections on key scientific achievements, the duration and stability of immune tolerance after discontinuation of therapy in experimental models, and the potential immunomodulatory effects of antidepressants. The discussion also addressed the distinction between therapeutic immunomodulation and potentially harmful immunosuppression.

Participants were particularly intrigued by the discussion of future directions in immunology, including whether gene editing technologies such as CRISPR could realistically be used to correct immune tolerance defects and prevent autoimmune diseases. The seminar also touched on ethical challenges related to artificially inducing long-term immune tolerance, for example, through stem cell therapy or genetic modification.

Other discussion topics included the interaction between T-helper and T-regulatory cells, which maintains the balance between an effective immune response and self-tolerance, as well as the role of macrophages and dendritic cells in antigen presentation and prevention of autoimmune reactions. Professor Ayaz also explained to students and young scientists why cytotoxic T-cells can sometimes damage the body’s own tissues when immune tolerance is disrupted.

The seminar also addressed the most common autoimmune diseases, modern approaches to their treatment and prevention, and the prospects for international scientific collaboration, which Professor Ayaz emphasized as a key driver for the advancement of contemporary biomedicine.

The topic of the seminar proved to be especially relevant in light of recent global developments in medicine. It is worth noting that the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance. Their findings have played a crucial role in understanding how the immune system works and why not everyone develops severe autoimmune diseases.

Thus, the seminar at Odesa National Medical University seamlessly fit into the global scientific context, contributing to the development of modern medical education, research, and international cooperation in the field of immunology.

We express our sincere gratitude to Professor Ayaz for his series of open lectures and seminars, and for the opportunity to become acquainted with the latest advances in biomedical research.