Programme Highlights & Keynotes

Staphylococcus aureus can go unnoticed in the composition of human skin microflora. However, if this Gram-positive opportunistic pathogen enters the blood or respiratory tract of the host, S. aureus can cause serious infections like pneumonia and sepsis. In this keynote lecture, Juliane Bubeck Wardenburg will review the pathogenesis and virulence, focusing on the interaction between S. aureus's alpha-toxin and the host's receptor ADAM-10. Additional topics on current treatments and vaccine development will be highlighted. 

Dengue is one of the common viral vector-borne diseases today including persistent outbreaks in Asia and Latin America. Extensions into North America are currently signals of its global importance as global warming increases the likelihood of dengue spreading into regions previously unaffected. With new vaccines available, policy makers have difficult decisions to take in selecting the proper one for the population at risk. This keynote lecture aims to explore the geographic distribution, clinical presentation, treatment algorithms and potential utility of current vaccines against Dengue.

Tuberculosis, leprosy and Buruli ulcer are the three most common infectious diseases caused by the same family of mycobacteria: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium leprae, and Mycobacterium ulcerans, respectively. Stewart Cole will discuss perspectives on the current knowledge of these three mycobacteria infectious diseases and how genomics played an integral role in transforming the diagnosis, treatment and prevention practices for these infectious diseases. His keynote will reflect much of his current research that builds the bridge between fundamental science and medicine.

Solid organ transplantation has progressed by leaps and bounds over the last few years globally. Knowledge of infections after solid organ transplantation has also improved the standard-of-care protocols mitigating infection by including pre-transplant screening, prophylaxis and vaccination. Newer and more potent immunosuppressive regimens have led to decreased rejection while exposing them to the risk of infections. Jay Fishman will discuss the history of infection development after solid organ transplantation, the evolution of prophylactic/pre-emptive strategies, and the harmonisation of quantitative CMV PCRs and vaccination. This session also looks to the future, elucidating the exciting new technologies enabling clinics to provide more organs to patients.

From the initial emergence of the epidemic in needle parks to recent breakthroughs in injectable treatments, this keynote session offers an in-depth exploration of the history of HIV-1. This keynote lecture will provide a comprehensive understanding of the HIV landscape including scientific advancements, societal responses and current medical interventions. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges faced by individuals and communities affected by HIV/AIDS, as well as the progress made in combating the disease through compelling narratives and historical perspectives.

AMR is a global public health threat, especially in Asia where high population density, fewer antibiotic regulations and surveillance, poor sanitation and limited access to quality healthcare have resulted in a disproportionate number of deaths from drug-resistant infections. David Paterson is the Director of ADVANCED ID - a clinical trials network across over 20 Asian countries. This keynote lecture will give an overview of AMR in ASIA and review the results of the epidemiological study ACORN-HAI. Additionally, it will explore strategies for developing clinical trial capacity in many low- and middle-income countries in Asia and why this is vital in combating AMR in the long term.

Since 2005, ECDC focused on improving lives in Europe and globally through sound science by working with the European Union and global partners to drive public health policy and practice. In 2025, the agency will celebrate its 20th birthday and be equipped with a new mandate; this is a good time to look ahead. As we move into the second quarter of the 21st Century, there is a need for proactive and anticipatory approaches to public health to identify and prepare for unknown future threats and seize opportunities to reduce the impact of infectious disease. In this keynote, the new ECDC Director will outline some of these threats, and novel activities/approaches by the Centre to prevent and control them. These include setting up EU reference laboratories, establishing and coordinating an EU Health Task Force for rapid health interventions in the event of major outbreaks, and new frameworks for assessing EU countries’ preparedness.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat according to the WHO and one of the strategies to reduce the burden of AMR on global public health is reducing unnecessary antibiotic usage. Karin Thursky is one of the pioneers in the field of antibiotic and antifungal therapy publishing various studies on the prudent use of antimicrobials. The aim of this keynote is to give an overview on ways to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics as well as give perspectives on the future of AMR and the impact on modern medicine

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a pressing global health issue, exacerbated by the growing prevalence of drug-resistant strains, including multi-drug resistant TB. Clinical trials are needed to fill in the missing evidence for this life-threating disease. This keynote lecture will review the current situation regarding TB treatment and highlight where the gaps are. Guy Thwaites will describe the need for new clinical trials concerning drugs for the optimal treatment of TB as well as the potential for host-directed therapies.