Keynotes

Nicholas P.J. Day is Director of the MORU Tropical Health Network, a Wellcome Major International Programme, and a Professor of Tropical Medicine at the University of Oxford. He has over three decades of experience researching epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of neglected pathogens in Southeast Asia and beyond. In this keynote lecture, he will focus on rickettsioses: a group of infections that, despite causing significant mortality and morbidity, remain undiagnosed and under-reported from many parts of the world. Prof. Day will discuss the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnostic challenges, and public health implications of rickettsial diseases including scrub typhus, murine typhus, and spotted fever rickettsioses. The talk will highlight recent advances in diagnosis and management, as well as the urgent need for greater awareness and investment in tackling these neglected but important infections.

Abdoulaye Djimdé is CAMES Professor of Parasitology and Mycology at the Malaria Research and Training Centre University of Science, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali. In this keynote lecture, he reflects on his extraordinary journey from a young boy in rural Mali, personally affected by malaria, to becoming one of Africa's leading molecular parasitologists and a global voice in the fight against the disease. Drawing from over three decades of groundbreaking research, Dr. Djimdé will share how science at the molecular level, from decoding drug resistance genes to leading continent-wide genomic collaborations, has shaped health policies and saved countless lives across sub-Saharan Africa. He will also highlight the critical importance of investing in local scientific leadership, training the next generation of African researchers, and building sustainable networks for infectious disease control.

Dimitrios P. Kontoyiannis is Professor and the Robert C Hickey Endowed Chair in Clinical Care, and Professor in the Division of Internal Medicine at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, US. He is amongst the most highly cited researchers in mycology, especially in the field of infections in cancer patients. In this keynote lecture, he will discuss how the shift from bacterial to fungal pathogens transformed infection-related morbidity and mortality in the early pre-triazole era. He will review how early post-mortem discoveries shaped initial understanding of invasive fungal diseases and how advances in diagnostics, antifungal therapies, and personalised risk assessment have transformed current clinical practice. His presentation will provide a perspective on how far the field has come, and where the next breakthroughs in fungal infection management are likely to emerge.

Hans Hirsch is Professor at the Medical Faculty of the University of Basel. Throughout his career, he has tremendously contributed to our understanding of BK virus pathogenesis, latency and reactivation. These developments were driven by advances in molecular diagnostics, immunology, and transplantation medicine. Despite this progress, effective antiviral therapies remain elusive, and BKV-related complications continue to challenge clinicians and scientists alike. This keynote lecture will provide a state-of-the-art review of the key milestones in BKV research, from its discovery to our current understanding of disease mechanisms, host interactions, and the latest developments in diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine strategies. By integrating historical perspective with current innovations, this session will offer valuable insights into BKV's clinical relevance and the broader implications for virus-host dynamics in immune-compromised populations.

Eddie Holmes is Professor of Virology in the School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia. He is internationally recognised for his work on the evolution and emergence of infectious diseases, with a focus on how RNA viruses cross species barriers to infect humans and other animals. His research has greatly advanced our understanding of pathogen emergence, adaptation, and transmission. He has made fundamental contributions to viral phylogenetics, molecular epidemiology, and virus-host co-evolution, and has investigated the origins and dynamics of major pathogens including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, dengue, HIV, hepatitis C, myxoma virus, rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus, and Yersinia pestis. His work has significantly shaped approaches to pandemic preparedness, zoonotic spillover risk assessment, and real-time genomic surveillance. In this keynote lecture, he will draw on his long-standing expertise and talk about how studying virus evolution can help to identify and prepare for the next pandemic threat.

Filomeen Haerynck is associate professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Ghent University and clinical head of Paediatric Pulmonology, Infectiology and Immunology at Ghent University Hospital. In this keynote lecture, she will share insights from her pioneering research that has transformed our understanding of human susceptibility to infectious diseases. Challenging long-held assumptions, her work demonstrates that individual genetic variations, not just pathogens, can determine the severity of infections. Drawing on her expertise from coordinating the Centre for Primary Immune deficiency at Ghent University, she will explain how genetic predispositions influence immune responses and the importance of considering host genetics in diagnosis and treatment, paving the way for more precise, personalised approaches to infectious disease management.

Senjuti Saha is the Deputy Executive Director of the Child Health Research Foundation (CHRF), Bangladesh, where she leads research on paediatric infectious diseases. She is internationally recognised for her pioneering work at the intersection of genomics, data systems, and public health as well as a strong advocate for equitable science through the initiative "Building Scientists for Bangladesh", which fosters equitable access to science education and opportunities. In this Keynote Interview she will highlight strategies for leveraging technological innovations to enhance surveillance infrastructure, foster local scientific capacity, and promote equitable access to tools and knowledge. Participants will gain Her presentation will provide a deeper understanding of how integrated, sustainable approaches can strengthen global health security and improve preparedness for emerging infectious diseases.

Liesl Zühlke is a paediatric cardiologist at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. Amongst many other achievements, she was the first woman to serve as a full professor in paediatric cardiology in her country. Her work spans clinical care, implementation science, genetics, and strengthening health systems. In this keynote lecture, Liesl Zühlke will discuss the global burden of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) resulting from an autoimmune reaction after Group A Streptococcus infection. She will highlight its ongoing impact on children and young adults in low- and middle-income countries. Her talk will also explore the social, economic, and health-system factors that drive RHD, recent progress in prevention and early detection, and the urgent need for coordinated global action to reduce morbidity and mortality.