The Dawn of a New Era: Launch of the IInspire FOCIS Centre of Excellence in Clinical Immunology
The University of Pretoria marked a significant milestone in March 2026 with the official launch of the IInspire FOCIS Centre of Excellence (FCE) in Clinical Immunology, one of only three such centres in Africa. The launch was celebrated through a two-day Clinical Immunology Workshop and Inaugural Symposium, held on 20–21 March 2026.
Bringing together over 120 attendees from across disciplines, including paediatrics, pulmonology, general practice, and laboratory science, the event highlighted a clear and timely message: clinical immunology is no longer a niche field, but a central pillar of modern medicine.
Figure 1: Prof André van Niekerk and Prof Theresa Rossouw (IInspire) with Prof Flavia Senkubuge (Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria) and Prof Priya Soma-Pillay (Deputy Dean: Stakeholder relations).
“This centre represents the dawn of a new era in Clinical Immunology in South Africa.”
– Prof Flavia Senkubuge, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences
The programme was carefully designed to bridge the gap between foundational science and real-world clinical application. The first day focused on applied basic immunology, equipping clinicians with practical frameworks to interpret immune function; from innate and adaptive immunity to antibody deficiencies and laboratory result interpretation.
The second day expanded into a full clinical symposium, addressing pressing challenges in everyday medicine. Topics ranged from identifying inborn errors of immunity and navigating the ethical implications of emerging immunotherapies, to new insights into asthma and allergic disease, conditions highly relevant to the South African healthcare context.
Figure 2: Prof Theresa Rossouw (IInspire)
A particularly engaging session explored the overlap between immune deficiency, autoimmunity, severe allergy, immune dysregulation, and malignancy, reinforcing the complexity, and clinical importance, of immune system disorders.
A central theme throughout the symposium was the integration of laboratory science with clinical decision-making. Sessions on first-line investigations and the role of genetic sequencing in diagnosing immune disorders underscored how advances in technology are reshaping patient care.
This alignment between bench and bedside reflects the core mission of the IInspire FCE: to advance clinically relevant immunology that directly improves patient outcomes.
The event also served as a platform for capacity building and interdisciplinary collaboration. With representation from clinicians, researchers, and diagnostic specialists, the symposium fostered meaningful dialogue across traditionally separate domains.
The establishment of the IInspire FOCIS Centre of Excellence positions the University of Pretoria as a leader in clinical immunology on the African continent. As the field continues to evolve, the centre will play a critical role in training the next generation of clinician-scientists, advancing research, and strengthening the integration of immunology into everyday clinical practice.
Figure 3: Prof André van Niekerk (IInspire)
The success of the symposium was made possible through the generous support of its sponsors. Sanofi served as the Platinum Sponsor, with additional contributions from Ampath Laboratories, AstraZeneca, Cipla, Gen-Eye, Glenmark, iAgno, La Roche-Posay, the National Bioproducts Institute, Novartis, Nutricia, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Trinity Pharma, and SPUR Steak Ranches.
As clinical immunology continues to move from the periphery to the centre of medical practice, initiatives such as the IInspire FCE are essential in ensuring that healthcare systems are equipped to meet the demands of increasingly complex patient care.
This launch marks not just the beginning of a centre, but the beginning of a new era.