Research on adaptive humoral immunity started in Europe at the end of the 19th century with the discovery of antibodies and continued at the highest level until today. European B cell immunologists produce outstanding work, but they are dispersed across the continent and have only few occasions to exchange their results, build cooperative networks and provide an international platform for students and young researchers. At large international and national meetings, B cell themes are often hidden within more general symposia.

To change this situation at the national level, in 2003 the German Society of Immunology (DGfI) established a DGfI Research Study Group that concentrates on B cell immunology (http://www.b-lymphocytes.de/).

Based on this concept, we wished to establish an EFIS Research Focus Group for B cell immunologists working in Europe. The 1st EFIS workshop on B Cells was organized in 2018 in Landshut (Germany) with over 80 group leaders working on basic, translational and clinical aspects of B cell biology from 15 European countries and saw the birth of the European B cell Network (EBCNet). Since then, the network has grown and is at the basis of constructive research cooperation, scientific exchange, short-term laboratory rotations, and rapid scientific exchange of ideas and reagents. EBC Network meetings took place in Frascati, Italy (2019), Lyon, France (2020, online) and Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands (2023). In addition, the network is developing an educational platform for young Europeans working in the field in B cell immunology. The first EBC Summer School was organized in July 2023 in Lohr, Germany.