Dr Hina Raxa, a pharmacist, vaccine researcher, and VALIDATE Associate from Pakistan, discusses the challenges of research in LMICs and how VALIDATE is helping her work and career.
youtube.com/watch?v=5CT0Kc…

Early Career Researchers Dr Breno Pimenta talks about the VALIDATE Annual Meeting youtu.be/pupUe0sVIVs?si…

At the VALIUDATE Annual Meeting 2026, Dr Chinedu Iwu from Ghana talked about how much he enjoyed the meeting and his excitement as a new member of our growing community

youtu.be/Jps0z74vLxE?si…

🔬The VALIDATE Network is happy to have hosted a successful VALIDATE for Schools programme in collaboration with the Societal Impact Task Team at Stellenbosch University’s Biomedical Research Institute. A great deal was learned, and we had a lot of fun exploring science!

Dr Alison Kraigsley is joining #VALIDATE2026 to discuss @gatesfoundation funding opportunities and updates relevant to global health research.

Prof Marcela Henao-Tamayo is giving an investigator talk on mucosal priming and sex as determinants of tuberculosis vaccine efficacy. #VALIDATE2026

Prof Ivo Steinmetz, on behalf of Dr Gabriel Wagner-Lichtenegger, is taking delegates through the VALIDATE Pump-priming Project, Melio MuSe, using multiplex serology to advance multicomponent melioidosis vaccines. #VALIDATE2026

Dr Paula Niewold is presenting on behalf of Dr Anouk van Hooij’s VALIDATE Pump-priming Project, CCR4LEP, exploring CCR4 as an immune correlate of protection for leprosy. #VALIDATE2026

Assoc Prof Suraj Parihar is exploring the role of Sestrin 2 in tuberculosis disease in his investigator talk at #VALIDATE2026

Right now Dr Robert Krause, presenting his VALIDATE Fellowship research on a novel DNA-launched therapeutic for tuberculosis in murine and human models. #VALIDATE2026

Dr Zimvo Obasa is sharing her VALIDATE Fellowship research on Curdlan-PLGA nanoparticles encapsulating Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens. #VALIDATE2026

Prof Lydia Mosi (@msmosi) is giving an investigator talk on the mysteriously titled “The Lost Genome” of Mycobacterium ulcerans and what it reveals about infection and transmission. #VALIDATE2026

Dr Menberework Chanyalew Negatue is taking delegates through her VALIDATE Pump-priming Project on immune signatures of chronic tuberculosis and cutaneous leishmaniasis. #VALIDATE2026

Dr Julen Tomás Cortázar (@JulenTomsCortza) is presenting his VALIDATE Pump-priming Project on developing versatile and cost-effective next-generation vaccines through multivalent approaches. #VALIDATE2026

Our Day 3 keynote speaker, Prof Ana Paula Fernandes, is discussing progress towards therapeutic clinical trials of a new recombinant vaccine for visceral leishmaniasis. #VALIDATE2026

Dr Mariana Delfino-Machin is joining #VALIDATE2026 to discuss MRC funding opportunities for researchers.

Prof Mitali Chatterjee is updating delegates on the VALIDATE project focused on innovative diagnosis for PKDL/leprosy. #VALIDATE2026

Dr Susana Flores Villalva is exploring vaccines across species and the shared benefits of a One Health approach in her VALIDATE project update. #VALIDATE2026

Dr Andy Tran (@andytran93) is back at the lectern with a VALIDATE project update on the design and development of an open-source ELISpot reader enabled by 3D printing. #VALIDATE2026

Dr Paula Niewold is sharing her VALIDATE Fellowship research on translating protective immune signatures in the lung to peripheral biomarkers for TB. #VALIDATE2026

Dr Daniela Pagliara Lage is taking delegates through her VALIDATE Fellowship project evaluating a recombinant chimeric protein vaccine with adjuvant for protection against visceral leishmaniasis. #VALIDATE2026

Dr Elena Stylianou is presenting her VALIDATE Fellowship research on the mechanism of BCG priming and its impact on subunit vaccine boosting. #VALIDATE2026

We’re hearing from Dr Monika Looney on her VALIDATE Fellowship research into tissue-based immunological profiles associated with TB at single-cell spatial resolution. #VALIDATE2026

Dr Camila Freitas is sharing her VALIDATE Fellowship work evaluating a novel recombinant chimeric vaccine for protection against tegumentary leishmaniasis. #VALIDATE2026

Dr Mariano Maio is exploring his VALIDATE Fellowship research on boosting BCG vaccine efficacy through metabolic modulation of T memory stem cells. #VALIDATE2026

Dr Andy Tran (@andytran93) is taking delegates through his VALIDATE Pump-priming Project comparing Ag85 isoforms and consensus sequence optimisation for next-generation TB vaccines. #VALIDATE2026

Dr Alba Llibre Serradell (@LlibreAlba) is presenting her VALIDATE Pump-priming Project on profiling mycobacterial immune responses in human lung tissue to inform novel TB vaccine design. #VALIDATE2026

At the lectern now is Dr Ivo Steinmetz, sharing findings from the VALIDATE Pump-priming Project, the BURNEP Study, on the burden of Burkholderia pseudomallei in Nepal. #VALIDATE2026

We’re starting the VALIDATE Annual Meeting Day 2 with keynote speaker Prof Ed Lavelle, who is discussing vaccine adjuvant strategies to enhance Burkholderia pseudomallei antigen-specific mucosal immunity. #VALIDATE2026

Dr Amin Khan is reflecting on lessons learned from 30 years in vaccine R&D in his investigator talk at #VALIDATE2026

Dr Luciana Balboa (@balboa_luciana) is taking delegates through her VALIDATE Pump-priming Project on accelerating BCG efficacy by targeting dendritic cell migration in tuberculosis immunisation. #VALIDATE2026

We’re hearing from Dr Cristian Alfredo Segura-Cerda on his VALIDATE funded project: LINE: Vaccines Around the City, and his experience using TikTok as a tool for science communication. Check out Cristian’s TikTok account here: tiktok.com/@drchristian_

#VALIDATE2026

Dr Mrinal Das is presenting his VALIDATE Pump-priming Project on the metabolic impact of BCG vaccination and host responses in TB. #VALIDATE2026

Dr Susana Flores Villalva is sharing her VALIDATE Fellowship research on bovine neutrophils during natural Mycobacterium bovis infection. #VALIDATE2026

At the lectern now is Dr Happy Tshivhula, taking delegates through her VALIDATE Fellowship research on recurrent TB, extreme phenotypes and correlates of risk for optimised vaccine development. #VALIDATE2026

Dr Thao-Thy Pham is exploring her fascinating VALIDATE Fellowship project on naturally presented Leishmania epitope vaccine candidates in Ethiopian cutaneous leishmaniasis. #VALIDATE2026

Our first keynote speaker, Ms Viktoria Bodnarova, is discussing EU-LAC cooperation for vaccine R&D and research capacity building. #VALIDATE2026

Mrs Samantha Vermaak is taking delegates through the VALIDATE Network update, reflecting on progress to date and future plans for the Network. #VALIDATE2026

Prof Samantha Sampson is opening #VALIDATE2026 and welcoming delegates to three days of science, networking and collaboration in Cartagena.

A huge success! Today’s VALIDATE ECR Workshop brought together early-career researchers for a day of grant-writing training, led by VALIDATE Executive Manager Samantha Vermaak and VALIDATE Co-Director Dr María Adelaida Gómez. Thank you to everyone who contributed! #VALIDATE2026

Day Two of the VALIDATE One Health Workshop is underway in Cartagena.

Today, delegates are exploring how we can better engage governments, funders and communities with our research, and how to ensure our work has impact beyond the workshop.
#VALIDATEOneHealth2026

Day One of the VALIDATE One Health Workshop is underway in Cartagena!

We’re excited to bring members together for Becoming Drivers of Change for Vaccines in One Health — three days of discussion, collaboration and shared learning. #VALIDATEOneHealth2026

For #WorldImmunizationWeek, we’re sharing a VALIDATE seminars from our archive.

Fernanda Oliveira Novais explores immune-driven tissue damage in cutaneous leishmaniasis, and Rachel Simmonds discusses mycolactone, Sec61 and Buruli ulcer biology.
Watch: youtube.com/watch?v=DJFJTy…

For #WorldImmunizationWeek, we’re sharing a VALIDATE seminars from our recent archive.
Here, Prof Paulo Antas and Thales A Campelo discuss BCG revaccination, immune responses, TB vaccine strategies, and insights from COVID-19-related research.

Watch: youtube.com/watch?v=I_U8TP…

For #WorldImmunizationWeek we'll be sharing VALIDATE talks on vaccines for our focus pathogens.

First up: Rajko Reljic on a promising Buruli ulcer subunit vaccine, and Camila I de Oliveira on attenuated parasites for cutaneous leishmaniasis vaccines
youtube.com/watch?v=ucGhTq…

World Tuberculosis Day is held each 24th March. We share some interesting facts with you:

To mark World TB day today, we share a VALIDATE for Schools talk on BCG:
youtube.com/watch?v=ye-0xS…

This disease does not kill you...but...

Dr María Adelaida Gómez exploresthe impact of #leishmaniasis.

Watch the full talk on YouTube:
youtube.com/watch?v=vd_EkR…

Premiering now!

Join Dr María Adelaida Gómez for a journey from the jungles of Colombia to the cutting edge of modern vaccine science, exploring leishmaniasis, a disease caused by a tiny parasite that hides from the immune system!

Watch and share now: youtu.be/vd_EkR_6Y-0

To mark International Women's Day , we featured an article by Dr Luciana Balboa, Co-Chair of the Latin American Regional Subcommittee. We are delighted to also share the video below, where Luciana speaks more about her work and research
youtu.be/AzZ8J70G9a4?si…

After sharing our recent article by Prof Lydia Mosi, Chair of the VALIDATE African Regional Subcommittee, we are also pleased to share the video below highlighting some of her research.
youtu.be/NZLz9EkbZCw?si… via @YouTube

For #InternationalWomensDay, VALIDATE is celebrating women across our global research community. In our latest news story, Prof Lydia Mosi and Dr Luciana Balboa share reflections on their journeys as women in science.

validate-network.org/article/iwd-20…

📷

When this was filmed at our Annual Meeting in October 2025, VALIDATE had just reached 950 members.
Now, we’ve surpassed 1,000.
What hasn’t changed?
The energy, diversity and collaborative spirit driving vaccine research forward from researchers across 79 countries worldwide.

Last week, we were celebrating our Network Reaching 1,000 members worldwide! Hear from some of these members about the benefits of VALIDATE.

With one week to go until VALIDATE’s first public talk, Chasing Parasites, here’s a preview.

Dr María Adelaida Gómez shares the story behind her work — from rainforest communities to the vaccine challenges scientists face in the lab.

youtube.com/watch?v=55yl3-…

The VALIDATE network has reached 1000 members! We are marking the moment with a series of special features celebrating both our growth and the people at the heart of VALIDATE:

The VALIDATE network has reached 1000 members! We are marking the moment with a series of special features celebrating both our growth and the people at the heart of VALIDATE:

VALIDATE - we are delighted to introduce Jéssica Brandão Dos Santos, the official 1,000th member of the VALIDATE Network!
She is a biomedical scientist at Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil. Read our full interview with Jessica here:
lnkd.in/eRgisNYm

Celebrating VALIDATE's Achievements:
To celebrate reaching our 1,000th member milestone, we will be sharing some infographics over the next few days showcasing some of VALIDATE’s key achievements.

Today, we are celebrating VALIDATE reaching 1,000 VALIDATE members!
To mark the milestone, we’ve created an entire webpage of activities — from an interactive timeline to interviews with our 1,000th member.
Learn more: validate-network.org/1000-members

VALIDATE is celebrating reaching 1,000 members by highlighting some of our major milestones over the years. Our Annual Meetings are a major highlight of the year for our members!

#VALIDATE1000

We are very proud to share a major milestone: VALIDATE has reached 1,000 members 🎉

From 32 founding members to a global community spanning 79 countries, united to advance vaccines for mycobacteria, leishmaniasis & melioidosis.

Explore our journey 👇
validate-network.org/1000-members

For #WorldNTDday, María Adelaida Gómez explains how the often neglected Leishmania parasite is “smart” — able to hijack and infect the very immune cells meant to destroy it.
Hear Adelaida talk about leishmaniasis live in London on 25 Feb:
validate-network.org/event/chasing-…

Sandflies. Parasites. Scars. Vaccines.
VALIDATE’s first public event dives into one of the world’s most overlooked diseases — from fieldwork in rural Colombia to high-tech research labs.
25 Feb, @Ri_Science

validate-network.org/event/chasing-…

In this short video for #WorldNTDDay , María Adelaida Gómez reflects on her career — and how a lifelong fascination with microscopic organisms led her into leishmaniasis research.

Adelaida is live in London on 25 Feb where she will be Chasing Parasites:
validate-network.org/event/chasing-…

It’s #WorldNTDday. In this short video, María Adelaida Gómez explains how the Leishmania parasite moves using a flagellum — and how it changes form as it passes from sandfly to human.

Hear Adelaida talk about leishmaniasis live in London on 25 Feb: validate-network.org/event/chasing-…

In a short video for #WorldNTDday, María Adelaida Gómez explains that even in the jungle, with giant plants and animals, it’s tiny parasites like Leishmania that can cause the most harm.

Hear Adelaida talk about leishmaniasis live in London on 25 Feb:
validate-network.org/event/chasing-…

It’s #WorldNTDday. In this short video, María Adelaida Gómez explains how the Leishmania parasite moves using a flagellum — and how it changes form as it passes from sandfly to human.

Hear Adelaida talk about leishmaniasis live in London on 25 Feb: validate-network.org/event/chasing-…

Today is #WorldNTDDay! To mark this occasion, we sat down with Dr Maria Adelaida Goméz, VALIDATE's Co-Network Director, to talk about #Leishmaniasis - a neglected tropical disease that can leave lifelong scars
youtu.be/55yl3-V2RxY

VALIDATE’s first-ever public event is taking place on 25 Feb at @Ri_Science, London.

Chasing Parasites takes you from the jungles of Colombia to cutting-edge research labs — and into the science behind a neglected disease.
validate-network.org/event/chasing-…

World NTD Day: Together, We're Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases youtu.be/lykbZltbIRM?si… via @YouTube

We are marking @WorldLeprosyDay!
Early diagnosis is key to preventing disability in leprosy.
Watch Dr Annemieke Geluk’s seminar on immunodiagnostic tests and how better tools can improve detection and care.
youtube.com/watch?v=YQm7Oh…
#Diagnostics #GlobalHealth #NTDs

Leprosy remains neglected — but vaccine research offers real hope.
Watch A Vaccine for Leprosy?, featuring VALIDATE member Dr Hua Wang, on how vaccination could transform leprosy control.
youtube.com/watch?v=1fzDWm…
#WorldLeprosyDay #Leprosy #Vaccines #NTDs #VALIDATE

Hundreds of thousands affected, barely any headlines.

Join us at the @Ri_Science 25 February for Chasing Parasites: The Science Behind the Leishmaniasis Scar — a free public talk on neglected disease, stigma, and why vaccine research matters.
validate-network.org/event/chasing-…

World Leprosy Day: 25 January 2026

A Vaccine for Leprosy? - The VALIDATE Network

youtu.be/1fzDWmAc2YY?si… via @YouTube

In our first public talk, Dr María Adelaida Gómez discusses her work with rural and indigenous communities and reveals the true impact of this disease. Please help spread the word about her upcoming talk.

Find out more and register: validate-network.org/event/chasing-…

Join Colombian biomedical scientist Dr María Adelaida Gómez as she reveals the human and scientific story behind cutaneous leishmaniasis at the Royal Institution on 25 February.

Please help us spread the word!

Find out more and register: validate-network.org/event/chasing-…

Leishmaniasis causes disfiguring wounds and deep social stigma for people in underserved communities.
Dr Maria Adelaida Gómez will share the stories, challenges and solutions at our free public event in London. Please share widely.
Information: validate-network.org/event/chasing-…

What if a single insect bite could leave a lifelong scar? Discover the science and human stories behind leishmaniasis at our free public talk with Dr María Adelaida Gómez on 25 February, 19:00, Royal Institution.
Details: validate-network.org/event/chasing-…

Dr María Adelaida Gómez has witnessed the social and psychological effects of leishmaniasis firsthand in rural Colombia. Her talk will explore why the disease persists and how science can change lives. Please share this event.
Event info: validate-network.org/event/chasing-…

And that’s a wrap from #VALIDATE2025 – the VALIDATE 2025 Awards and Farewell bring the Annual Meeting to a close. Congratulations to the winners of the best talk, Dr Alba Llibre Serradell, and best poster, Dr Nastassja Kriel!

The final talk from #VALIDATE2025: Dr Andy Tran testing Ag85 isoforms and consensus optimisation for TB vaccines.

Dr Julen Tomás Cortázar presenting multivalent strategies for cost-effective next-gen vaccines to #VALIDATE2025

Dr Robert Krause is on the stage at #VALIDATE2025, taking us through a DNA-launched therapeutic for TB in both murine and human models.

At #VALIDATE2025, Dr Monika Looney is explaining about a pilot study using single-cell spatial resolution to profile TB immune responses.

Prof Ivo Steinmetz discusses a VALIDATE funded project exploring Melio MuSe – multiplex serology advancing melioidosis vaccines. #VALIDATE2025

On stage right now at #VALIDATE2025: Dr Zimvo Obasa with preclinical results on curdlan-PLGA nanoparticles for TB antigens.

Next up for #VALIDATE2025: Dr Camila Freitas presenting a novel chimeric vaccine for tegumentary leishmaniasis.

#VALIDATE2025 is back from lunch with Prof Angelo Izzo discussing adjuvants driving the next generation of TB vaccines.

Wrapping the final morning here at #VALIDATE2025: Sam Vermaak discusses the outcomes from the VALIDATE Skin NTDs Workshop in Bogotá (#VALIDATESkinNTD).

Dr Menberework Chanyalew Negatue outlines her project exploring immune signatures across chronic TB and cutaneous leishmaniasis. #VALIDATE2025

Speaking now at #VALIDATE2025 - Alba Llibre Serradell on profiling TB immune responses in lung tissue to guide vaccine design.

Back from the break at #VALIDATE2025, and we start with Madhurima Roy providing an update on the PKDL/Leprosy diagnostic project – progress towards field-ready tools.

Powerful session at the #VALIDATE2025 Annual Meeting: Survivor-Led Advocacy with Candy Jacobs & Phumeza Tisile. 🌍

They shared how TB Proof’s survivor voices, lived experiences & community empowerment drive accountability, reduce stigma & strengthen TB care. #EndTB

Next up: Dr Elena Stylianou explaining how BCG priming shapes responses to subunit vaccines. #VALIDATE2025

Speaking now at #VALIDATE2025: Dr Daniela Pagliara Lage presenting a recombinant chimeric protein vaccine for visceral leishmaniasis.

Dr Susana Flores Villalva follows with work on bovine neutrophils and M. bovis infection – insights for animal and human health. #VALIDATE2025

Day Two of #VALIDATE2025 begins: Dr Veronica Pereira on LepVax – building partnerships and transforming leprosy control.

The #VALIDATE2025 Poster session and drinks underway – a showcase of member-led research and discussion.

Short wrap-up to close Day One’s talks. #VALIDATE2025