The next PIE meeting is planned from

21. to 24.04.2027

Since the 20th Century

The History:
Psychoimmunology Expert Meeting

PIEMs were founded in the 20th century by Prof. Volker Arolt as 3-person workshop at Lübeck University and continued with raising participant numbers from Germany and international guests at Münster University. In 2003 I took over 8th PIEM`s organization on the occasion of Prof. Reinhold Schüttler`s retirement, head of our psychiatric department at Ulm University / Günzburg.  The 8th PIEM covered a wide range of themes, including psychoimmunology, neurovirology, histopathology, imaging, genetic research, epidemiology, clinical psychiatry and neurology. Participant numbers from Germany and abroad were increased and audience and faculty alike became much more international.  Inspired by the success of the 8th meeting, I have continued to organise such meetings biennially since 2007, together with Prof. Bernhard Bogerts (Magdeburg University), then Prof. Thomas Frodl (Magdeburg, now Aachen University), Prof. Ludger Tebartz van Elst and Prof. Dominique Endres (both Freiburg University), supported by an international board. The scientific focus group also continuously broadened to soon include international experts and participants from all over the world. Content wise, these PIEMs have always had an interdisciplinary focus, with varying special themes and an emphasis on clinical relevance. Further details can be found in the enclosed programmes from the 8th to the most recent 17th PIEM in 2025.

Karl Bechter