All posts by Louise Lindbäck

Summary of the Vaccine Development course – 2025

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-VIP

Special 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

Summary of the 11th National Infection Biology (NIB) Meeting 2025

The 11th National Infection Biology (NIB) meeting 2025 was held between 20-21 October at Aronsborg Konferenshotell in Bålsta. This meeting brought together over 120 researchers from across Sweden to explore cutting-edge developments in infection biology. The program featured a dynamic mix of presentations from leading scientists in Sweden and abroad, as well as young researchers, fostering inspiring discussions and valuable networking opportunities.

Group photo of the participants at the 11th National Infection Biology (NIB) Meeting 2025, held at Aronsborg Konferenshotell in Bålsta. Photo: staff at Aronsborg.

Participants represented all major Swedish universities, from Umeå University in the north to Lund University in the south. The aim of the meeting was to promote cross-disciplinary research and to strengthen the national network of scientists working within infection biology and microbiology.

The scientific program showcased research across a wide range of sub-disciplines, including:

  • Bacteriology
  • Virology
  • Eukaryotic Microbiology
  • Host-microbe interactions
  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Data Driven Life Science

In addition to the talks, poster walks provided a platform for participants to present and receive feedback on their own research projects in an informal and engaging setting.

Award winners for Best Short Talk or Poster Presentation at NIB 2025! Congratulations to our top presenters, Miren Urrutia Iturritza (Stockholm University), Elin Svedholm (Uppsala University), and Nuno Rufino De Sousa (Karolinska Institutet)! Photo: Ingrid Söderbergh.

Thank You to All Participants, Co-organizers, and Sponsors!

This meeting was co-organized by:

We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funding sources and sponsors:

Upcoming Events in Virology and Gene Therapy

We are happy to announce two upcoming events that are offered to NDP-VIP members through our collaboration with the German Young Society of Virology (jGfV).

jGfV Virology Lecture Series: Viral Vectors in Gene Therapy and Tumor Therapy

Date & Time: 15 September 2025, 5:00 – 6:30 PM
Speakers: PD Dr. Jennifer Altomonte, Prof. Dr. Christopher Baum
Registration: jGfV Online Lecture “Viral Vectors”

HPV Symposium in Honour of Prof. Harald zur Hausen

Date & Time: 19 September 2025, 3:00 – 7:00 PM
Organizers: Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen & GRK 2504
Broadcast: Part of the jGfV Virology Lecture Series
Keynote Speakers: Prof. John Doorbar Prof. Mario Schelhaas Prof. Jean-Laurent Casanova Prof. Joakim Dillner Prof. Thomas Iftner Prof. Carole Fakhry
Program: Programme-HPV-Symposium_jGfV.pdf
Registration: Registration-HPV-Symposium_jGfV

Summary of Antivirals – mechanisms, resistance and innovation course – 2025

From August 18 to 20, 2025, NDP-VIP held its first on-site course titled Antivirals – Mechanisms, Resistance and Innovation at Bohusgården in Uddevalla. The course brought together early-career researchers from the University of Gothenburg, Umeå University, Karolinska Institutet, Örebro University, Linköping University, and SLU. 

This event also marked the first exchange of PhD students as part of the newly initiated collaboration between NDP-VIP and the German Young Society of Virology (jGfV). Five PhD students from various institutions across Germany were invited to participate in the course.  

Group photo of the participants attending the antivirals course in August 2025. Photo by Louise Lindbäck.

Lecture on “Antivirals against Influenza and SARS-CoV-2″ given by Lieve Naesens, KU Leuven, Belgium. Photo by Louise Lindbäck.

Lecture on “An antiviral journey – from bench to bedside and back to bench again” given by Niklas Arnberg, Umeå University, Sweden. Photo by Louise Lindbäck.

In addition to lectures, the program included two poster sessions, giving students the opportunity to present, discuss, and receive feedback on their research from peers, course organizers, and lecturers.  The course also included social activities designed to encourage networking and collaboration among participants. 

Students showcased their research through engaging poster presentations, fostering valuable discussions and peer learning. Photo by Louise Lindbäck.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to all the lecturers who took the time to participate and engage in the course. The course evaluations clearly showed that the students were deeply inspired by the interactions and appreciated the lecturers’ involvement. 

Looking ahead, NDP-VIP plans to organize another course in connection with the Smögen meeting in 2026. The theme will be Viral Pandemics and Pandemic Preparedness. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information! 

To view the full Antivirals course program, please visit: Antivirals – mechanisms, resistance, and innovation | NDP-VIP 

Special thanks to the organizing committee:
Annasara Lenman, NDP-VIP National Director, Umeå University, Sweden
Mårten Strand, Umeå University, Sweden
Louise Lindbäck, NDP-VIP Project Coordinator, Umeå University, Sweden 

Join us for a course in Vaccine Development in connection to the NIB Meeting 2025!

Illustrator: Instagram @Ina.Schuppe.Koistinen

Welcome to the 11th National Infection Biology Meeting!

NIB 2025 is taking place at Aronsborg Konferenshotell in Bålsta, Sweden, on October 20-21, 2025.

The biannual NIB Meeting aims to bring together the community of infection biology researchers in Sweden, with a focus on networking and young researchers. Don’t miss the opportunity to present yourself and your research at this meeting!

Read more and register here: NIB 2025

Join us for a course in Vaccine Development

The Vaccine Development course is being held at Aronsborg Konferenshotell on October 22-24, right after the NIB Meeting.

As a joint course between NDP-VIP and its sister school NDPIA, this course explores the critical field of vaccine development, from basic research to clinical trials and regulatory approval.

Read more and register here: Vaccine Development 2025