Welcome to NDP-VIP!
The National Doctoral Programme in Virus Infections and Pandemics (NDP-VIP) is a research school funded by the Swedish Research Council (VR) and is affiliated with UCMR (Umeå Centre for Microbial Research) at Umeå University.
NDP-VIP aims to advance the training and recruitment of PhD students and postdocs in virology and pandemic preparedness. This collaborative initiative involves nine leading Swedish universities and provides an interdisciplinary research environment integrating virology, epidemiology, public health, and social sciences for comprehensive training and understanding of infectious disease dynamics. The suggested NDP-VIP programme presents in-depth training courses and activities that equip individuals with the necessary comprehension to tackle these pressing health-care challenges using a One-Health strategy.
NDP-VIP supports participation in these activities by co-funding the course and accommodation costs for its members. PhD students and postdoctoral fellows enrolled at a Swedish university/institute and studying virus infections and/or pandemics are welcome to apply for membership.
Recent news:
Photo of the participating NDP-VIP members, from left: Preeti Moar (UMU), Kiran Vilas Dhobale (UMU), Hao Wang (GU), Magdalena Neijd (LiU), and Colores Uwamariya (GU).Through NDP‑VIP’s collaboration with the Junge Gesellschaft für Virologie (jGfV), five of our members travelled to Heidelberg to participate in the ACHIEVE career‑development workshop and the 35th Annual Meeting of the Society for Virology (GfV) in March 2026. The initiative aimed to support early‑career virologists in strengthening both their scientific and professional development.
The ACHIEVE workshop provided focused training on career planning, CV preparation, and grant writing, while also offering insights into diverse career paths across academia and industry. Participants described the event as both inspiring and timely:
- “I really appreciated the diversity of career paths presented during the workshop… The CV session was particularly valuable,” said Colores Uwamariya (University of Gothenburg).
- Hao Wang (University of Gothenburg) added: “Attending this workshop came at the perfect time for me… and really helped clear the options for my future career path.”
- Kiran Vilas Dhobale (Umeå University) highlighted the practical benefits: “The workshop was particularly beneficial in strengthening my skills in CV preparation, grant writing, and identifying funding opportunities for virologists.”
Following the workshop, the group joined the GfV’s annual meeting which is one of Europe’s larger virology conferences. The programme featured keynote lectures, short talks, poster sessions, and opportunities for both structured and informal networking.
Together, the workshop and conference offered a unique combination of skill‑building, scientific exchange, and international networking. The collaboration with jGfV continues to strengthen NDP‑VIP’s mission to support early‑career virologists and expand access to high‑quality training environments across Europe.
We are pleased to announce that NDP-VIP members have been invited to participate in an online seminar series hosted by ACHIEVE, a working group within the young German Society for Virology (jGfV).
Each year, ACHIEVE offers its online seminar series “Expert insights…” which covers a broad range of scientific topics, ranging from soft skill development to practical tips and tricks for specific methodologies. All sessions are held in English.
All NDP-VIP members are welcome to register now for the upcoming talks in December 2025 by registration here: Registration Seminar | ACHIEVE
Stay tuned for further updates on the 2026 program! Planned sessions include various microscopy techniques (e.g., STORM, FLIM, super-resolution microscopy, etc.), and a session addressing funding opportunities and programs that enable Swedish researchers to engage in scientific exchange or research stays in Germany.
22–24 October 2025 | Aronsborg Konferenshotell, Bålsta, Sweden
The 2025 Vaccine Development course brought together doctoral students and early-career researchers from across Sweden for three intensive days of learning and exchange. Held at Aronsborg Konferenshotell in Bålsta, this was the first course jointly organized by NDP-VIP and its sister school NDPIA, marking a successful collaboration that attracted participants from SLU, Karolinska Institutet, Lund University, Umeå University, the University of Gothenburg, and Uppsala University.
Group photo of the participants attending the Vaccine Development course in October 2025. Photo by staff at Aronsborg Konferenshotell.
The course program spanned the full spectrum of modern vaccinology from the fundamentals of immune protection and classical vaccine platforms to next-generation technologies, GMP manufacturing, and regulatory pathways for vaccine approval. Participants also explored the scientific and practical challenges of developing vaccines against viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections, as well as specific topics such as travel and oral vaccines, cancer immunization, and determinants of vaccine effectiveness.
Lecture on “Challenges in vaccine development against parasitic diseases” given by Simon Draper, University of Oxford, UK. Photo by Louise Lindbäck.
Lecture on “Determinants of vaccine effectiveness: vaccine mechanisms, host factors and the epidemiological impact of herd immunity” given by Margaret Liu, University of California San Francisco, USA. Photo by Louise Lindbäck.
Beyond the lectures delivered by leading Swedish and international experts, the course emphasized interaction and collaboration. Poster sessions provided a platform for students to present their research, while informal networking and discussion sessions fostered scientific exchange and community building across disciplines and institutions.
Students presented their research through engaging poster walks, fostering discussions and peer learning. Photo by Louise Lindbäck.
The Vaccine Development course not only deepened participants’ understanding of the science and strategy behind vaccine innovation but also strengthened the national research network dedicated to advancing immunology and infectious disease research.
To view the full course program, please visit: Vaccine Development 2025 | NDP-VIPSpecial thanks to the organizing committee:
Ali Mirazimi, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
Annasara Lenman, NDPIA and NDP-VIP Director, Umeå University, Sweden
Louise Lindbäck, NDPIA and NDP-VIP Project Coordinator, Umeå University, Sweden