ICHS Awards

Dr. Robert Finberg Award Updates

Dr. Robert Finberg was an integral part of the ICHS and being part of its council, with exceptional contributions to our society over the years. His dedication was vital in our mission to provide education and better patient outcomes through a global multidisciplinary forum to improve understanding and management of the immunocompromised host.

As an advocate for mentorship, and in his honor, the Finberg family along with ICHS proposed an initiative for early-career physicians to access critical educational opportunities that strengthen their clinical and research skills, professional development, and leadership in Immunology and Infectious Diseases in the Immunocompromised Host by donating a scholarship named after the late Dr. Finberg: “Dr. Robert Finberg Memorial Scholarship Award.” These awards were presented at the ICHS Symposium.

Following is a featured update from the award winners with a note of gratitude to Dr. Joyce Fingeroth and the Finberg family for this incredible support.

Georgios Angelidakis, MD (USA)

"I am very grateful to have received the Dr. Robert Finberg Memorial Scholarship of 2026 for our ongoing work evaluating combination antiviral therapy with baloxavir and oseltamivir for influenza infection in immunocompromised patients.

Since the ICHS conference, we have continued enrolling additional patients; although we do not yet have updated results, we are expecting resistance data by the end of the summer which will provide important additional insight into this treatment strategy.

My sincere thanks for your generosity and support for this award and for helping recognize and encourage early-career investigators working to improve care for immunocompromised patients."

Claudia Bartalucci, MD (Italy)

"Since receiving the Finberg Top Oral Abstract Award, this work has continued to progress. The manuscript based on this research has been published in a peer-reviewed indexed journal, with me as first author: Bartalucci C. et al., Targeted Screening to Predict Magnusiomyces Infections in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients: Evidence from an Outbreak Setting. Journal of Fungi (Basel). 2026;12(4):254. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof12040254

Working on this topic has further strengthened my interest in rare fungal infections in immunocompromised patients. I am currently collaborating with the EBMT on an international multicenter project focused on rare fungi in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients. In addition, I have submitted a proposal as project coordinator for an analysis within the international FungiScope registry to investigate rare fungal infections in solid organ transplant recipients. I am currently writing the study protocol and hope that the proposal will be accepted.

... I am truly grateful for this recognition, which has been an encouragement to continue my research. Support for young researchers like this is greatly appreciated and makes a meaningful difference.

Thank you again for your continued support, and I look forward to keeping you updated on the progress of these projects."

Francesco Peracchi, MD (Italy/USA)

"Our research has focused on understanding immune function after CAR-T cell therapy, particularly the role of T-cell responses as a marker of infection risk.

Our recent analyses have confirmed the main findings, including additional sub-analyses. We are also observing that phytohemagglutinin responses may be associated not only with viral infection risk but also with hematologic outcomes, and we are currently expanding our work in this direction.

I would like to sincerely thank you for your generous support. I am truly grateful, as your contribution will be very valuable in supporting my efforts in education and in advancing and sharing our research."

Gemma Reynolds, MD (Australia)

"Thank you very much for your generous support of the Dr. Finberg Top Oral Abstract Award. It was a tremendous honour to receive this recognition, and I am sincerely grateful that your generosity helped make it possible. As an early-career clinician-researcher travelling from Australia to the United States, the award also provided valuable support to attend the conference and share my work with colleagues from around the world.

The research recognised by the award examined Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) in people receiving immunosuppressive therapies for autoimmune diseases and cancer. We hope this work will contribute to improving how patients at highest risk are identified and protected from this serious infection. The research is currently under review for publication, and we will be re-submitting revisions in the coming months.

I was humbled to learn about Dr. Finberg's legacy from colleagues who had the privilege of knowing and working with him, including Professor Camille Kotton, who publicly acknowledged his enduring contribution during the Top Abstract sesion. Hearing about his commitment to scientific discovery, mentorship and patient care made it especially meaningful to receive an award in his name. It is wonderful that his legacy continues to encourage and support researchers through your generosity.

Thank you again for your kindness and support. It was a privilege to receive this award, and I am very grateful for the opportunity it provided."

International Immunocompromised Host Society

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