Have you met your immune system?

What do we mean when we talk about 'a strong immune system'? Why can the body's immune system sometimes become part of the problem? And what does inflammation have to do with common diseases, ageing, sex, diet, the environment and working life?

These are some of the questions the audience can explore when the Inflammation Network at the Faculty of Health Sciences invites you to:

Meet your immune system
- an evening featuring new research from Aarhus University
Thursday 19 November 2026 at the City Auditorium.

Do you know someone who is curious about the body, health, disease, ageing or diet - or who would simply like to understand a little more about what the immune system actually gets up to all day? Bring them along.

Doors open at 17:30. Before the talks and during the break, participants can meet researchers, students and patient associations at a range of stands.

The aim is to create an evening that makes research into the immune system and inflammation tangible, relevant and approachable - including for people who do not normally work in laboratories, clinics or research environments.

“As health science researchers, we work with knowledge that concerns us all. Inflammation plays a role in many of the diseases that have a major impact on society. It is therefore important that we share our research not only with each other, but also with the people whose lives it is ultimately intended to improve,” says Professor Christian Lodberg Hvas from the Department of Clinical Medicine.

The immune system concerns us all

During the evening, talks will explore the role of the immune system; inflammation as a common factor in major diseases such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer; and why women and men are affected differently by many inflammatory diseases.

The programme also includes talks on the ageing immune system and on how the environment, diet and working life affect our health.

“We are very much looking forward to welcoming the public to an evening with room for new knowledge, curiosity and good questions about the immune system's many important - and only partly understood - roles in health and disease. This is the first time our network has organised this kind of public event, and as a researcher it means a great deal to be able to make health science research accessible and relevant to the society of which we are part,” says Professor Trine Hyrup Mogensen from the Department of Biomedicine.

The event is intended for members of the public with no specialist background. The Inflammation Network also hopes that colleagues across the faculty will help spread the invitation.

Contact

Network Coordinator Anja P. Einholm
Aarhus University, Health Sciences Administrative Centre - Dean’s Secretariat
Telephone: (+45) 93 50 84 08
Email: ape@au.dk