VALIDATE Workshop - Becoming Drivers of Change for Vaccines in One Health

Please note that this is an invitation-only workshop.

Taking place from 17–19 June 2026 in Cartagena, Colombia (ahead of the main VALIDATE Annual Meeting), this three-day, in-person workshop will bring together ~30 researchers from across the world for a practical, interactive programme that will help delegates become effective drivers of change for vaccines in One Health and develop skills that will benefit both their research and career development.

The workshop will:

explore how researchers can engage more effectively with communities, the general public, governments, funders and other stakeholders
consider how environmental perspectives can be better integrated into One Health research
share knowledge and best practice from across disciplines and settings
showcase inspiring case studies of innovative engagement projects and interdisciplinary collaboration
create space for networking, discussion, and the development of new connections and partnerships
support delegates to identify practical next steps for building change-focused activities into their own research

The workshop will provide both training and inspiring case studies to stimulate ideas and discussions. By the end of the workshop, delegates will be equipped with clearer ideas, practical tools, and have concrete next steps to strengthen the wider impact of their research and each become a driver for change for vaccines in One Health.

VALIDATE will cover all travel/subsistence costs for delegates to be able to attend the workshop.

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Agenda

Day One – Wednesday, 17 June 2026

Session 1 – Introductions

This opening session will help delegates get to know who is in the room, the experience they bring, and what they hope to gain from the workshop.

Aim: To ensure everyone knows who else is in the workshop, their experience, and their goals.

08:30–09:00 Registration, tea and coffee

09:00–09:10 Welcome to the Workshop
Dr María Adelaida Gómez, VALIDATE Co-Director & CIDEIM, Colombia

09:10–10:25 Delegate Introductory Turbo Talks
All delegates

10:25–10:40 Day in the Life
Dr Tuhina Gupta, University of Georgia (UGA), USA

10:40–10:55
A Day in the Life Dr Juan Dib, Fundación Salud para el Trópico & Universidad del Norte, Colombia

10:55–11:25 Break

11:25–11:40 A Day in the Life Dr Lin-Mari de Klerk-Lorist, Department of Agriculture, South Africa

11:40–11:55 A Day in the Life Dr Ernesto Jaramillo, Independent Global Health Consultant, Colombia

11:55–12:05 Q&A

12:05–13:05 Lunch

Session 2 – Environmental Health in One Health Research

This session will explore how environmental conditions, climate, landscapes and livestock systems shape disease risk and transmission.

Aim: To map zoonotic transmission systems and consider the environmental drivers relevant to One Health research.

13:05–13:50 One Health Equity Agenda and Prevention at the Source
Prof Natalia Cediel Becerra, Universidad de La Salle, Colombia

13:50–14:20 Climate Adaptation and Forecasting
Dr Camilo Barrios-Pérez, Alliance of Bioversity International / CIAT, Colombia

14:20–14:50 When Landscape Matters: Environmental and Anthropogenic Drivers of Zoonotic Tuberculosis at the Wildlife–Livestock Interface
Dr Soledad Barandiaran, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

14:50–15:20 Social-Ecological Determinants of Health and Disease Surveillance Systems in Africa
Prof Bassirou Bonfoh, CSRS, Côte d’Ivoire

15:20–15:35 Q&A

15:35–16:05 Break

16:05–16:50 Roundtable Discussions

16:50–17:00 Day One Wrap-up

Day Two – Thursday, 18 June 2026

Session 3 – Engaging Government and Funders

This session will focus on how researchers can engage more effectively with policy, funding and implementation landscapes.

Aim: To equip researchers to influence policy and implementation more effectively.

08:30–09:00 Tea and coffee

09:00–09:45 Making Research Matter: Influencing Policy and Practice
Dr Amanda Gibson, Aberystwyth University, UK

09:45–10:15 Promoting Access to Healthcare: How to Work in a Collaborative Environment to Achieve the Best for Patients
Mr Carlos Gouvêa, CBDL, Brazil

10:15–10:45 Taking Stock of Power to Uptake Medical and Social Innovations
Dr Ernesto Jaramillo, Independent Global Health Consultant, Colombia

10:45–11:15 Once Bitten? Policy Engagement in the Cape Fur Seal Rabies Outbreak in Southern Africa
Dr Gill Black, Stellenbosch University, South Africa

11:15–11:30 Q&A

11:30–12:00 Break

12:00–12:40 Mapping Your Influence Landscape

Facilitated by Dr Amanda Gibson, Aberystwyth University, UK

12:40–13:40 Lunch

Session 4 – Engaging Communities

This session will examine how researchers can engage successfully with communities, the public, and other stakeholders connected to their work.

Aim: To better equip researchers to engage successfully with the communities and stakeholders relevant to their research.

13:40–14:25 Working With Communities in One Health: Practical Approaches for Researchers
Dr Susana Flores-Villalva, INIFAP, Mexico

14:25–14:55 Stop Teaching, Start Connecting: Science Communication in the Age of Social Media
Dr Cristian Segura-Cerda, SECIHTI, Mexico

14:55–15:25 Co-creation and Public Engagement for One Health
Dr Kate Parsons, Aberystwyth University, UK

15:25–15:55 Break

15:55–16:25 Engaging Communities to Uptake TB Vaccine in High TB Burden Countries
Dr Ernesto Jaramillo, Independent Global Health Consultant, Colombia

16:25–16:40 Q&A

16:40–17:25 Roundtable Discussions

17:25–17:30 Day Two Wrap-up

Day Three – Friday, 19 June 2026

Session 5 – Distilling Your Research for Advocacy

Facilitated by Dr Gill Black, CERI, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and Dr Amanda Gibson, Aberystwyth University, UK.

This facilitated, interactive session, led by Dr Gill Black and Dr Amanda Gibson, will help delegates unpack how to effectively communicate their research to priority audiences. Through guided exercises and discussion, delegates will work on reframing their research by identifying key audience groups, refining central messages, and developing targeted communication approaches.

Aim: To support delegates in translating their research into clear, audience-focused messages and practical communication strategies for engagement and advocacy beyond the workshop.

08:30–09:00 Tea and coffee

09:00–09:45 Part 1: Who needs to know about your research?

09:45–10:30 Part 2: What do they need to know?

10:30–11:00 Break

11:00–12:00 Part 3: How will you communicate your message?

12:00–12:45 Part 4: Building the plan

12:45–13:00 Part 5: Speedy Feedback

13:00–14:00 Lunch

Session 6 – Becoming Drivers for Change

Facilitated by Dr Simon Payne and Dr Kate Parsons, Aberystwyth University, UK.

This session will help delegates think about how change happens in practice and how behavioural science can support more effective engagement, influence and implementation. The session will begin with a case study from Dr Susana Flores-Villalva before moving into guided exercises and discussion.Aim: To support delegates in understanding how behavioural science and implementation science can be applied to One Health and public health challenges across individual, community, organisational, and policy levels.

14:00–14:30 Case Study: Vaccines Across Species: Understanding Mechanisms, Importance, and Shared Benefits Under a One Health Approach

Dr Susana Flores-Villalva, INIFAP, Mexico

14:30–15:00 Behaviour Change and Implementation Strategies

15:00–15:30 Post-Workshop Accountability

15:30–16:00 Break

16:00–16:30 Individual Commitments and Outputs

16:30–17:00 Final Reflections and Next Steps

17:00 Workshop Farewell