ICGEB New Delhi Successfully Concludes International Conference on Novel Strategies for Vaccines and Drug Discovery
On 18 February 2026, ICGEB, New Delhi, successfully hosted the International Conference on New Approaches to Discover Vaccines and Drugs for Infectious Diseases. The meeting brought together an prominent researchers working across parasitology, immunology, structural biology, and translational sciences, creating a vibrant platform for scientific exchange and collaboration.
The conference was jointly organized by the Dr. Asif Mohmmed, Parasite Cell Biology Group; Dr. Pawan Malhotra, Malaria Biology Group, and Dr. Dinesh Gupta, Translational Bioinformatics Group at ICGEB New Delhi, reflecting a strong interdisciplinary effort to address pressing challenges in infectious disease research.
The programme commenced with inaugural addresses by the Dr. Ramesh Sonti, Director, ICGEB New Delhi, and Dr. Sergio Ledda, Scientific Attaché, Embassy of Italy and Dr Pawan Malhotra, Arturo Falaschi Fellow. Their remarks highlighted the importance of international scientific partnerships and collaborative innovation in accelerating the discovery of next-generation vaccines and therapeutics.
The programme featured stimulating lectures by globally renowned scientists, highlighting cutting-edge advances in vaccine development, immune mechanisms, pathogen biology, and structure-guided drug discovery. The event was honoured by the presence of distinguished speakers, including: Prof. Alan Cowman from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Australia; Prof. Alessandro Sette from the La Jolla Institute for Immunology, USA; Dr.Umesh Shaligram from the Serum Institute of India, India; Prof. Cyrille Botte from the University of Grenoble Alpes, France; Dr. Krishanpal Karmodiya from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune, India; Prof. B.V. Venkataram Prasad from the Baylor College of Medicine, USA; Prof. Hong Zhou from the University of California Los Angeles, USA; and Dr. Nimesh Gupta from the National Institute of Immunology, India. Their presentations showcased transformative approaches and offered valuable insights into addressing emerging and persistent infectious threats.
A major highlight of the conference was the dynamic poster session, where PhD scholars and early-career researchers presented impressive research and engaged directly with international experts. The lively discussions encouraged mentorship, fostered potential collaborations, and strengthened cross-disciplinary interactions among participants.
The conference witnessed participation from approximately 100 scientists and researchers representing five nationalities, reflecting its truly international character. The event was generously supported by the DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance, whose continued commitment to advancing biomedical research contributed significantly to the success of the meeting.
Overall, the conference reinforced ICGEB’s commitment to promoting global scientific collaboration and advancing innovative research towards next-generation vaccines and therapeutics for infectious diseases.
