Translation Workshop 2024

The VALIDATE Workshop, titled "From Candidate to Vaccine - Translating the Next Generation of Vaccines for Intracellular Pathogens," took place on 18-19 July 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. This two-day event, held at the scenic Avani+ Riverside Hotel, brought together experts from academia and industry to advance vaccine candidates for mycobacterial diseases, leishmaniases, and melioidosis.

The workshop kicked off with a session led by Prof Samantha Sampson and featured "Turbo Talks," where each delegate had three minutes to introduce themselves and their work. The first day included presentations on tuberculosis, melioidosis, and leishmaniasis vaccine development by leading experts such as Dr Rhea Coler, Prof Direk Limmathurotsakul, and Prof Abhay Satoskar. Discussions also focused on first and second-generation vaccines, with insights from Dr Alison Kraigsley on next-generation TB vaccines and Dr Claudia Brodskyn on immunotherapy for canine visceral leishmaniasis. The day concluded with round-table discussions and a networking dinner at Trader Vic's restaurant, set along the picturesque Chao Phraya River.

Day two of the workshop explored third-generation platforms, including mRNA and viral vectors, with presentations by Dr Steve Reed on mRNA vaccines and Dr Alvaro Borges on the tuberculosis vaccine candidate H56. Dr Lisa Morici later discussed advances in vaccine development for leishmaniasis and Burkholderia. The afternoon focused on the challenges of transitioning vaccine candidates to clinical trials, with contributions from Dr Pia Steigler and Prof Siobhan McClean. Throughout the event, round-table discussions facilitated the exchange of ideas and the formation of new collaborations, successfully supporting the progress of vaccine candidates towards clinical application.

Published 23 July 2024