Reflecting on an inspiring experience at the 15th EMBO Young Scientists’ Forum (EYSF 2025) in Vilnius.

It was energizing to interact with so many young researchers driven by curiosity, creativity, and scientific passion. Their thoughtful questions and bold perspectives sparked wonderful discussions and reminded me how science thrives when ideas are shared openly across generations.

In my invited talk, “Tissue Niches Under Stress: Microenvironmental Remodeling in Infection and Cancer,” I reflected on how cancer niches evolve under chronic stress and how infections reshape these tissue ecosystems, influencing resilience and transformation. The conversations that followed — from mechanistic insights to translational possibilities — were deeply enriching.

Each interaction reaffirmed that our collective journey in science is not only about discovery — but also about mentorship, reflection, and growing together through shared vision and purpose.

For information on our research, please visit 🌐 www.chumdurilab.org

Grateful to the organizers and Bhupesh Prusty for connecting us, and to all participants for creating an atmosphere of genuine scientific curiosity and collaboration.