Young Minds: ASEF & Novartis | How Does the Immune System Know When Enough Is Enough?

The ASEF Foundation, in collaboration with Novartis, cordially invites you to an exceptional lecture by our 2025 Fellows and the formal signing of a strategic partnership.

The ASEF Foundation continues its Young Minds (Mladi umi) series, this time offering insights into cutting-edge research in the field of immunology. The event, held in partnership with Novartis, will showcase the work of two young scientists and strengthen the ties between academia and the corporate sector.

Research on the Other Side of the World: The Australian Experience

The highlight of the event will be a lecture titled “How Does the Immune System Know When Enough Is Enough?”, presented by Teja Pelko and Maša Karčovnik. Both are fellows of the ASEF Research Abroad 2025 program and completed their research visits at the prestigious School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences at the University of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia).

Under the mentorship of the world-renowned expert Dr. Boštjan Kobe, they delved into the complex regulatory mechanisms of innate immunity. The authors will present:

The role of TLR 10 receptors and the BCAP protein in limiting the immune response.
How these processes influence the body’s defense against pathogens.
The significance of these findings for the understanding and treatment of cancer.

A Strategic Partnership for the Future of Science

The event will also mark a significant milestone for the Foundation. With the official signing of a sponsorship agreement, we will celebrate the strategic partnership between ASEF and Novartis. This collaboration is designed with the long-term goal of fostering scientific excellence and providing support to young talents on their path to international breakthroughs.

When and Where?

Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Ljubljana Technology Park (Building B, 2nd Floor)

Event Program

10:00: Introductory remarks by an ASEF representative and the announcement of the partnership.
10:10: Young Minds Lecture (Teja Pelko and Maša Karčovnik).
10:50: Address by a Novartis representative and the formal signing of the agreement.
11:05: Networking and refreshments.

Registration and Reservations

Due to limited seating, complimentary registration via the Eventbrite platform is mandatory.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT HERE

We look forward to seeing you at this event, which bridges international research experiences with world-class solutions in the pharmaceutical industry!