DAY BEFORE

25 November 2026

  • 5.15 pm

     

    Meeting at Sants Station and shuttle departure to the hotel (Parador d'Aiguablava)

  • 7.30 pm

     

    Arrival at the Parador

  • 8.15 pm

     

    Informal welcome

    FOYER PARADOR AIGUABLAVA

  • 8.30 pm

     

    Welcome dinner

    RESTAURANT OF PARADOR AIGUABLAVA


DAY 1

26 November 2026

  • 8.30 am

     

    Shuttle's departure from the hotel to Gardens of Cap Roig

  • 9.15 am

     

    Welcome

    Moderator: Quentin Cooper

  • 9.30 am

     

    SCIENTIFIC SESSION #1: Immunity, infection and therapeutic innovation

    FLOOR 0, AUDITORIUM

    Moderator: Quentin Cooper

    #1.1 From immune mechanisms to new therapeutic opportunities

    How can a deeper understanding of immune mechanisms open new avenues for treating disease? In this session, we will explore how advances in immunology are reshaping our understanding of physiology and disease across diverse clinical areas, from vascular and intestinal health to cancer. By uncovering the mechanisms that shape immune responses and developing new models to study them, these projects reveal new opportunities to translate fundamental discoveries into innovative therapeutic strategies.

    Speakers:

    • Manuela Ferreira, CNC-UC- Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular

    • Vera Martins, GIMM - Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine

    • Patricia Perez, IDIBAPS - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer

    • Almudena Ramiro, CNIC - Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares  

    #1.2 Translational perspectives on host-microbe biology

    How can a deeper understanding of host-microbe interactions help us develop new ways to prevent and treat infections? In this session, we will explore the biological mechanisms that shape susceptibility to infection and microbial survival, and how this knowledge can be translated into new therapeutic approaches. From identifying new antibacterial targets to accelerating the development of precision antimicrobials and antiviral therapies, these projects highlight how advances in host-microbe biology can open new avenues to tackle infectious diseases.

    Speakers:

    • Esteban Ballestar, IJC - Institut de Recerca Contra la Leucèmia Josep Carreras

    • João Cabral, i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto

    • Alfonso Jaramillo, CSIC - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

    • Cláudio Soares, ITQB-NOVA - Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica

  • 11.00 am

     

    Coffee-break

  • 11.30 am

     

    Parallel working sessions

    SESSION #2A - From Data to Discovery: are we ready to harness the full potential of omics sciences?

    FLOOR 1

    Omics sciences are transforming our understanding of health and disease, generating increasingly complex datasets across multiple molecular layers. But does more data necessarily lead to more discovery, and are omics always the best approach to get us there? In this session, we will explore how advances in bioinformatics and Al are helping us integrate and interpret omics data, while addressing challenges around quality, reproducibility, standardisation and translation. We will discuss how to harness the full Health potential of omics while ensuring that technology serves the scientific question, rather than defining it.

    Moderator: Ana Rojas, CABD - Computational Biology and Bioinformatics

    SESSION #2B - From Diversity to Equity: Can Science Be Truly Inclusive?

    FLOOR 1

    Inclusive science is not only about who conducts research, but also about who is represented, who participates and who benefits from its outcomes. But does the evidence we generate truly reflect the diversity of the societies we aim to serve? In this session, we will explore how research priorities, study design and barriers to participation can shape the relevance and equity of scientific research. We will discuss what it takes to move beyond representation towards a more inclusive and equitable approach to science.

    Moderator: Raquel Yotti, MICIU - PERTE Commissioner for Avant-Garde

  • 12.55 pm

     

    Group Photo + Lunch + visit around Gardens of Cap Roig

  • 3.15 pm

     

    SCIENTIFIC SESSION #2 - The biology of ageing: Mechanisms of decline and resilience

    FLOOR 0, AUDITORIUM

    Why do biological systems become increasingly vulnerable with age, and what determines their capacity to withstand or respond to age-related changes? In this session, we will explore the mechanisms that drive age-related decline, as well as the protective pathways that help maintain resilience and healthy function over time. Through complementary approaches spanning the brain, vasculature, immune system and retina, these projects provide new insights into the biology of ageing and point towards potential strategies to prevent or mitigate age-related disease.

    Moderator: Quentin Cooper

    Speakers:

    • Angel Barco, CSIC - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

    • Claudio Franco, UCP - Universidade Católica Portuguesa

    • Luis Graca, GIMM-Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine

    • Miguel Seabra, NMS - NOVA Medical School

  • 4.00 pm

     

    Short break

  • 4.15 pm

     

    Conclusions parallel working sessions

    FLOOR 0, AUDITORIUM

    Moderator: Quentin Cooper

  • 4.30 pm

     

    PLENARY SESSION - From Evidence to Trust: Strengthening the Foundations of Science

    FLOOR 0, AUDITORIUM

    Science depends not only on the strength of its evidence, but also on the trust it inspires. Yet how is that trust built, maintained and sometimes lost? In this plenary session, we will explore the complex relationship between scientific evidence and public trust, examining how transparency, communication, conflicts of interest, politicization and research priorities can shape perceptions of science. We will reflect on what the scientific community can do to strengthen the foundations of trustworthy science and reinforce its relationship with society.

    Moderator: Quentin Cooper

    Speaker: John Ioannidis, SPRC - Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health and, by courtesy, of Biomedical Data Science

  • 5.45 pm

     

    End of the 1st day. Shuttle to Parador Aiguablava

  • 8.30 pm

     

    Dinner

    PARADOR AIGUABLAVA


DAY 2

27 November 2026

  • 8.30 am

     

    Shuttle departure from the hotel to Cap Roig

  • 9.15 am

     

    Introduction

    FLOOR 0, AUDITORIUM

    Moderator: Quentin Cooper

  • 9.30 am

     

    SESSION #5: Emerging infections: from anticipation to public health action

    FLOOR 0, AUDITORIUM

    Moderator: Quentin Cooper

    #5.1 Emerging infections and pandemic intelligence: prevention, trust and decision-making in a One Health world

    How can we better anticipate and respond to the next infectious threat in an increasingly interconnected world? In this session, we will explore how pandemic intelligence, integrated surveillance and emerging technologies can strengthen our ability to detect and respond to infectious disease risks. Taking a One Health perspective, we will examine how scientific evidence can inform timely public health decisions, and how effective communication, trust and collaboration across sectors can contribute to more resilient responses to future epidemics and pandemics.

    Speaker: Oliver Morgan, WHO - Head of the Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence

  • 10.45 am

     

    Coffee-break

  • 11.15 am

     

    #5.2: From scientific evidence to public health action: anticipating and responding to emerging infections

    FLOOR 0, AUDITORIUM

    How can we turn scientific evidence into action before an emerging infectious threat becomes a public health crisis? In this round table, we will explore how complementary perspectives on pandemic intelligence, vectors and environmental surveillance, host immunity and zoonotic infections can be connected to support earlier and better-informed public health decisions. Bringing together expertise from research and public health, the discussion will examine how multidisciplinary collaboration can help us move from reacting to infectious threats to anticipating and preventing them.

    Speakers:

    • Oliver Morgan, WHO Head of the Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence

    • Jordi Figuerola, CSIC - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

    • Nuria Martínez, CSIC-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

    • Joaquim Sagalés, IRTA - Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries

  • 12.45 pm

     

    Conclusions

    FLOOR 0, AUDITORIUM

  • 1 pm

     

    Lunch

  • 2.15 pm

     

    End of the meeting. Shuttle service to Barcelona (Barcelona Airport or Sants Station)