Challenges in Assessing the Immunotoxicity of Substances

The Slovenian Society of Toxicology (SloTOX) invites you to attend the 8th Congress of the Slovenian Society of Toxicology, entitled Challenges in Assessing the Immunotoxicity of Substances, which will take place on 22 October 2026 at the National Institute of Biology in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The congress will bring together national and international experts in toxicology, pharmacy, medicine, biology, public health, and regulatory science, providing an overview of the latest research developments and challenges in the field of immunotoxicology.

The main congress topics will include:

• novel approaches for the assessment of immunotoxicity,
• determinants influencing the toxicity of chemical substances,
• immunotoxic effects of selected environmental pollutants and pharmaceutical agents,
• risk assessment of exposure to immunotoxic substances and related regulatory frameworks.

The programme will feature lectures on novel methods for assessing immunosuppression and sensitisation, developmental immunotoxicity, the effects of sex, age, and endocrine-active substances on the immune system, PFAS immunotoxicity, adverse drug reactions, the role of vaccines in immunotoxicity, and regulatory requirements for the assessment of immunotoxic effects. Invited speakers include Prof. Etienne Blanc from the University of Rennes and Prof. Emanuela Corsini from the University of Milan. The congress will also include a poster session, culminating in the presentation of the Best Poster Award.

Congress registration and abstract submission are available via the online application form at https://www.tox.si/sl/prijava-na-8-kongres-slotox/. The deadline for submitting lecture and poster abstracts is 20 August 2026. Abstract submission guidelines are available in the registration form.

PROGRAMME OF THE 8th SloTOX CONGRESS

Challenges in assessing the immunotoxicity of substances

8.30 – 9.00	Registration and poster setup
9.00 – 9.10	Welcome to participants and opening remarks – Chair of STD
New methods for determining the immunotoxicity of substances Moderator: Marija Sollner Dolenc
9.10 – 9.40 REMOTE	New methods for determining immunosuppressive properties of substances Etienne Blanc, University of Rennes, France
9.40 – 10.10 REMOTE	New methods for determining substance sensitization Emanuela Corsini, University of Milan, Italy
10.10 – 10.40	Presentation of a new in vitro method for determining immunotoxicity of substances Nina Franko, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Slovenia
10.40 – 11.10	New methods for testing developmental immunotoxicity Nataša Petrovič, National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia
11.10 – 11.30	Coffee break
Factors affecting the toxicity of substances Moderator: Lucija Peterlin Mašič
11.30 – 11.50	Influence of sex and age on the immune system Tijana Markovič, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Slovenia
11.50 – 12.10	Influence of endocrine-active substances on immune function Anja Kodila, Marija Sollner Dolenc, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Slovenia
12.10 – 12.30	Immunoproteasome and inflammasome as targets of immunoactive substances Martina Gobec, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Slovenia
12.30 – 13.30	Lunch
Examples of immunotoxicity of selected pollutants and drugs Moderator: Smiljana Milošev Tuševljak
13.30 – 14.00	Adverse drug reactions and immunotoxicity Jasmina Klopčič in Jurij Žel, Slovenian Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices, Slovenia
14.00 – 14.30	Immunotoxicity of PFAS Lucija Perharič, National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia
14.30 – 15.00	Vaccines and immunotoxicity Nina Grasselli Kmet, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia
15.00 – 15.30	Coffee break and poster session
Risk assessment of exposure to immunotoxic substances and legislation Moderator: Mark Stanojević
15.30 – 15.50	Immunogenicity of therapeutic peptides – regulatory requirements Darja Gramec Skledar, Lek d.d., Slovenia
15.50 – 16.10	Hypersensitivity to food ingredients Evgen Benedik, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana / University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia
16.10 – 16.30	Regulation of the assessment of sensitization of cosmetic ingredients and chemicals Mark Stanojević, BiSafe, Slovenia
16.30 – 17.00	Closing remarks and best poster award ceremony Marija Sollner Dolenc, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Slovenia

Congress Organizing Committee :

Marija Sollner Dolenc (University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chair of the Organising Committee)

Smiljana Milošev Tuševljak (Lek d.d., Ljubljana)

Lucija Peterlin Mašič (University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy)

Urška Kolar (National Institute of Public Health, Ljubljana)

Vesna Gorenjak (Lek d.d., Ljubljana)

Bojana Žegura (National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana)

Alja Štern (National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana)

Gorazd Drevenšek (University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine)

Marjan Vračko (National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana)

National Institute of Biology supports the organisation of the congress and provides its premises for the event.