Annual Meeting 2026
VALIDATE’s 8th Annual Meeting will take place from 22–25 June 2026 in the vibrant city of Cartagena on the Caribbean coast of Colombia.
ECR Workshop - 22 June 2026
The 2026 Annual Meeting will open with a dedicated training day for Early Career Researchers, led by VALIDATE's own Samantha Vermaak and Dr María Adelaida Gómez. This year’s ECR Workshop will focus on grant writing, offering practical guidance on how to turn research ideas into competitive proposals. Through interactive sessions, participants will learn how to identify funding opportunities and structure applications effectively — gaining valuable insights from experienced researchers and grant reviewers.
A Three-Day Annual Meeting - 23 - 25 June 2026
Following the workshop, VALIDATE’s Annual Meeting returns — now extended to three full days to provide even more opportunities for networking, discussion, and collaboration. The meeting is free for VALIDATE members and will showcase cutting-edge vaccine research on our core pathogens: Mycobacteria, Leishmania, and Burkholderia pseudomallei (melioidosis). The expanded format includes talks from international experts, poster sessions, interactive discussions, and social events — an unmissable opportunity to connect with peers and leaders across the global vaccine community.
The Venue- The Hyatt Regecy, Cartagena
Set on Cartagena’s Caribbean coastline, the Hyatt Regency Cartagena offers modern conference facilities, on-site accommodation, and excellent connectivity to the historic walled city. The venue provides an ideal setting for scientific exchange, networking, and collaboration, while also giving delegates the opportunity to experience one of Latin America’s oldest, most vibrant and culturally rich cities.
Your Safety and Travel to Colombia
The VALIDATE Management Team is monitoring international developments as we plan for the 2026 Annual Meeting. Based on current government travel advice, reputable news reporting, and guidance from our Colombian colleagues, we continue to plan for the meeting to take place in Colombia.
We recognise that the situation is complex and may evolve. The safety of our members and delegates remains our highest priority, and we will continue to monitor developments and adapt our plans if necessary, keeping members informed with clear and timely guidance. At this stage, we look forward to delivering a successful meeting in Colombia. If you have any questions, please contact the VALIDATE Team at VALIDATE@ndm.ox.ac.uk.
VALIDATE offers annual travel grants of up to £3,000 to LMIC members to attend the VALIDATE Annual Meeting (and ECR Workshop, if applicable). To apply, please consult the Annual Meeting Travel Grants guidance document for eligibility and funding details, complete every section of the application form, and submit it with all required documents using the portal below before the deadline of 30 January 2026.
We particularly encourage members from Latin American LMICs to apply for a VALIDATE Travel Grant, to cover their local travel and subsistence costs to join the 2026 Annual Meeting in-person.
Applications will be competitively reviewed by the VALIDATE Network Management Board.
We also invite you to submit a poster abstract for the Annual Meeting, which can strengthen your travel grant application. Further information on poster submissions can be found on the VALIDATE Annual Meeting webpage.
The VALIDATE Annual Meeting 2026 will include keynote talks, research presentations from VALIDATE-funded projects, and networking opportunities, as well as a Poster Session allowing members to showcase important areas of their research and discuss them in person with fellow VALIDATE members from around the world.
To get a sense of what a successful poster abstract looks like, have a look at those presented at the Annual Meeting 2025.
To submit a Poster abstract, please complete the application form and submit it via the portal below by 30 January 2026, after which the VALIDATE Network Management Board will competitively review submissions at their March meeting. Applicants will receive their review outcomes within a week of the board’s decision.
VALIDATE Investigator members are encouraged to apply to present a research talk at the 2026 VALIDATE Annual Meeting.
To submit a Research Talk abstract, please complete the application form by 30 January 2026, ensuring that all stated word limits are followed. Abstracts will be reviewed competitively by the VALIDATE Network Management Board during their March meeting, and applicants will be informed of the results within a week of the Board’s decision.
