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Next-generation mRNA vaccines against complex pathogens: From antigen selection to clinical translation

25–26 March 2026, Leuven, BE
Supported by VIB Training & Conferences
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Next-generation mRNA vaccines against complex pathogens: From antigen selection to clinical translation

Next-generation mRNA vaccines against complex pathogens: From antigen selection to clinical translation

Supported by VIB Training & Conferences

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The advent of mRNA technology has opened a new era of possibilities for tackling infections resulting from complex pathogens like bacteria and parasites. This conference will focus on the state of the art in mRNA vaccine development against such pathogens, with sessions spanning the entire development process. The topics covered will include antigen identification strategies, mRNA design & production, vaccine formulation, and pathogen-specific mRNA vaccine development progress. There will also be a dedicated session for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, given its distinction as the deadliest infectious pathogen in the world and the ongoing challenges in effective vaccine design for this important pathogen.

The conference will feature keynote lectures by Dr. Drew Weissman and Dr. Pieter Cullis, pioneers in the field of mRNA-based nanomedicines, as well as insights from other leading experts from academia and industry. Together, these contributions will provide a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and future directions of mRNA vaccines against complex pathogens.

This international event is organized by BAXERNA (www.baxerna.eu, GA 101080544), an EU-funded consortium that aims to establish a next-generation mRNA vaccine pipeline against bacterial pathogens, with support from VIB Conferences.

Join us to exchange ideas, foster collaborations, and hear the latest developments in this rapidly evolving field!

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Confirmed speakers

Program

Day 1 - Wednesday, 25 March, 2026

08:20
08:50
Registration & Welcome Coffee
08:50
09:00
Opening Remarks
09:00
10:40
Antigen Discovery

Chair: Francis Impens

09:00
09:25
Identifying targets of T cell immunity in complex pathogens
09:25
09:50
Learning the rules of Mtb antigen presentation to inform vaccine design
09:50
10:15
Mapping the T-cell response with immunoinformatics: Connecting Antigen Presentation to TCR Specificity
10:15
10:30
IMMUNOPEPTIDOMICS OF LEISHMANIASIS PATIENTS REVEALS THE NATURAL ANTIGENIC LANDSCAPE

Wim Adriaensen

Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, BE
Selected from abstracts
10:30
10:35
Advancing RNA Therapeutics with RNA Engineering and Targeted Lipid Nanoparticles Delivery

Olivier Petitjean

VectorBuilder, FR
Sponsored talk
10:35
10:40
Unlocking HLA-Presented Antigens through Advanced Immunopeptidomics

Elise Pepermans

CEO & Co-founder ImmuneSpec, BE
Sponsored talk
10:40
10:50
Coffee break
10:50
11:50
Poster Session 1
11:50
12:50
Lunch
12:50
13:40
Keynote 1

Chair: Ine Lentacker

12:50
13:40
Design of lipid nanoparticles for delivery of nucleic acid cargos: the past, the present and the future
13:40
14:10
Coffee break
14:10
16:10
Vaccine Formulation

Chair: Ine Lentacker

14:10
14:35
Lipid nanoparticles for mRNA vaccine delivery
14:35
15:00
The immune paradox: Acute inflammation tempers lipid nanoparticle loss of efficacy
15:00
15:25
A Next-Gen multivalent mRNA Vaccine for Malaria Prevention
15:25
15:40
The mRNA component of LNP-mRNA vaccines triggers IFNAR-dependent immune activation which attenuates the adaptive immune response

Liat Bar-On

Israel Institute for Biological Research, IL
Selected from abstracts
15:40
15:55
Lipid nanoparticles do not contain intrinsic adjuvants activity

Sophie Janssens

VIB Center for Inflammation Research, BE; Ghent University, BE
Selected from abstracts
15:55
16:10
Utilising biorenewable agricultural waste to synthesise ionisable lipids for RNA vaccine delivery

Dylan Kairuz

Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, IDORI, University of the Witwatersrand, ZA
Selected from abstracts
16:10
16:40
Coffee break
16:40
17:45
mRNA Design & Production

Chair: Karine Breckpot

16:40
17:05
mRNA vaccine platforms: opportunities and challenges
17:05
17:30
Coupling structural antigen selection with innovative LNP formulation for the development of a multivalent Orthopoxvirus mRNA vaccine
17:30
17:45
In vivo cytokine cancer therapy using mRNA-loaded apolipoprotein nanoparticles

Yuri van Elsas

Radboud University Medical Center, NL
Selected from abstracts
17:45
18:45
Reception

Day 2 - Thursday, 26 March, 2026

08:20
09:00
Welcome Coffee
09:00
10:35
Tuberculosis Vaccines & Immunology

Chair: Karin Loré

09:00
09:25
Correlates of TB protection after intravenous BCG immunization in nonhuman primates
09:25
09:50
mRNA-based Vaccination Strategies against Tuberculosis
09:50
10:15
TITAN mRNA Vaccines for TB: Accelerating Innovation in South Africa
10:15
10:30
Immunopeptidomics-based design of a tuberculosis mRNA vaccine

Kia Ferrell

Institut Pasteur, Department of Immunology, FR
Selected from abstracts

Laura Van Moortel

VIB, Center for Medical Biotechnology, BE; Ghent University, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, BE
Selected from abstracts
10:30
10:35
Inside Therapeutics pitch

Audrey Nsamela

Inside Therapeutics, FR
Sponsored talk
10:35
10:50
Coffee break
10:50
11:50
Poster Session 2
11:50
12:50
Lunch
12:50
13:40
Keynote 2

Chair: Francis Impens

12:50
13:40
Nucleoside-Modified mRNA-LNP Therapeutics
13:40
14:10
Coffee break
14:10
16:10
Vaccines Against non-TB Pathogens

Chair: Caroline Demangel

14:10
14:35
Development of next generation saRNA vaccines
14:35
15:00
Development of next generation mRNA vaccines for malaria
15:00
15:25
Treating a 14th Century Pathogen with 21st Century Technology; Development of a Novel mRNA-LNP Vaccine Against Pneumonic Plague
15:25
15:40
mRNA-Based Delivery of Circumsporozoite Protein for Pre-Erythrocytic Malaria Immunisation

Cesar Lopez-Camacho

The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford , GB
Selected from abstracts
15:40
15:55
mRNA vaccines encoding Sm-TSP-2 variants protect against Schistosoma mansoni

Jeroen Pollet

Baylor College of Medicine, US; Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, US
Selected from abstracts
15:55
16:10
Distinct Innate and Antibody Responses by mRNA vs Protein-Based RSV Vaccines

Florian Gegenfurtner

Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, SE; Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE
Selected from abstracts
16:10
16:40
Coffee break
16:40
18:10
Real-World Translation

Chair: Isabel Leroux-Roels

16:40
16:55
From innovation to impact – RNA technologies for CEPI’s 100 Days Mission
17:10
17:25
Nforce toolboox :Seamless product development to Tech adaption
17:25
17:40
A decision support modelling tool for mRNA vaccine platform manufacturing
17:40
18:10
Questions & Panel Discussion
18:10
18:20
Closing Remarks

Organizing committee

Abstracts

Poster information
The format for your poster should be: A0 (841 x 1189 mm / 33.1 x 46.8 in), portrait orientation.

The full list of abstracts will be available on 25-02-2026 until 26-06-2026
This list will only be available for registered attendees of the event.

Attendees

The full list of attendees will be available on 25-02-2026 until 26-06-2026
This list will only be available for registered attendees of the event.