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:
8–12 June 2026 | Umeå University, Sweden
In June 2026, Umeå University hosted the NDP-VIP course on Mosquito-Borne Pathogens and Their Vectors, bringing together a diverse group of doctoral students and early-career researchers from across Sweden and Europe for an intensive week of learning, practical training, and scientific exchange.
The course attracted participants from several Swedish universities and institutes, including Umeå University, the University of Gothenburg, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), and the Swedish Veterinary Institute (SVA). International participants joined from Finland, Norway, and Germany, creating a highly interdisciplinary and international learning environment.
Group photo of the participants attending the Mosquito-Borne Pathogens and Their Vectors course in June 2026. Photo by Louise Lindbäck.
The course lecturers reflected the international nature of vector-borne disease research, bringing together experts from Sweden, Norway, Germany, Kenya, and Senegal. Through lectures, discussions, and interactive sessions, participants explored key topics including mosquito biology, pathogen transmission, vector surveillance, diagnostics, disease ecology, and integrated vector management strategies.
Lecture on “Vector Behavior and Chemical Ecology Studies” given by Rickard Ignell, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden. Photo by Louise Lindbäck.
Lecture on “Swedish Mosquitoes” given by Anders Lindström, Swedish Veterinary Agency, Sweden. Photo by Louise Lindbäck.
Lecture on “Past, Present and Future Projections of Arbovirus Situation in West Africa” given by Diawo Diallo, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Senegal. Photo by Louise Lindbäck.
A major strength of the course was its strong emphasis on practical training. Participants took part in fieldwork to collect mosquitoes and gained hands-on experience with surveillance methods commonly used in vector monitoring programs. In the laboratory, they worked with collected specimens and learned mosquito species identification techniques, providing valuable insight into the practical challenges associated with vector surveillance and research.
By combining lectures, field exercises, laboratory sessions, case studies, and poster presentations, the course provided participants with both a solid theoretical foundation and practical skills. Equally important, it fostered national and international networking opportunities among researchers and professionals working at the intersection of virology, entomology, epidemiology, veterinary medicine, and public health.
The course included a field trip during which mosquitoes were collected and subsequently used in a practical exercise on mosquito species identification.
To view the full course program, please visit: Mosquito-Borne Pathogens and Their Vectors | NDP-VIP
Special thanks to the organizing committee: Olivia Wesula Lwande, Umeå University, Sweden Kiran Dhobale, Umeå University, Sweden Côme Morel, Umeå University, Sweden Annasara Lenman, NDP-VIP National Director, Umeå University, Sweden Louise Lindbäck, NDP-VIP Project Coordinator, Umeå University, Sweden
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.