COMBAT - Virology Next 2026: Pandemic Preparedness and Virus–Host Interactions

The meeting will focus on virus–host interactions, immune responses, viral pathogenesis, viral immune evasion, emerging viruses, and translational approaches spanning molecular mechanisms to public health preparedness. The conference aims to strengthen interdisciplinary collaborations across academia, healthcare, public health agencies, and industry while highlighting the growing life science ecosystem at Campus Flemingsberg. Confirmed keynote and invited speakers include: Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO, SwitzerlandAdolfo García-Sastre, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USAEric Bergeron, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USADebby van Riel, Erasmus MC, The NetherlandsStefan Pöhlmann, German Primate Center (DPZ), GermanySusana Guerra, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, SpainClive M. Gray, Stellenbosch University, South AfricaNerea Irigoyen, University of Cambridge, United KingdomElena Martinelli, Northwestern University, USAIsabelle Imbert, CNRS, FranceAsier Sáez-Cirión, Institut Pasteur, FranceJayanta Bhattacharya, THSTI, IndiaMagnus Evander, Umeå University, SwedenJonas Klingström, Linköping University, SwedenLeo Hanke, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden The conference is organized by the Systems Virology Lab, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, in collaboration with Flemingsberg Science Foundation and the EU-COMBAT consortium. Selected abstracts will be chosen for:- Short oral presentations- Poster presentations Submission deadline: 1 September 2026Please submit abstracts by email to: [email protected] More information, scientific program and confirmed speakers are available on the KI event page (Virology Next 2026 | Karolinska Institutet). Photos will be taken during the conference. If you do not wish to be photographed, please contact [email protected].