HORUS Partners Meet in Brussels for WP2–WP3 Workshop on Single-Cell Technologies

In September 2026, the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) hosted a HORUS WP2–WP3 Workshop in Brussels, bringing together partners to discuss the use of single-cell technologies to better understand T-cell immune responses to cytomegalovirus (CMV) in solid-organ transplant recipients.

The workshop brought together researchers from CentreULB, the University of Bordeaux, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), and Parean Biotechnologies. Discussions focused on the latest progress in single-cell analysis and how these technologies can provide a more detailed understanding of immune responses to CMV at the cellular level.

Key topics included the technical aspects of single-cell data analysis, as well as comparisons with complementary approaches such as flow cytometry. Partners also discussed ongoing efforts to harmonise and streamline analytical approaches across the HORUS consortium, helping to ensure that data generated by different partners can be effectively compared and integrated.

Another important area of discussion was the response of naïve γδ (gamma-delta) T cells to CMV, exploring their potential role in the immune response following transplantation.

The workshop provided a valuable opportunity for partners to exchange expertise, address methodological challenges and strengthen collaboration across WP2 and WP3. These efforts will contribute to the broader HORUS objective of improving our understanding of CMV immunity and identifying immune signatures that could ultimately support better management of CMV infection in solid-organ transplant patients.