TB scientists worldwide gather in Africa to advance discovery and build future leaders

Scientists, clinicians, and researchers from around the world – including a number of SANTHE scientists – gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, from 8 to 12 June 2026, for the annual Gates Foundation Collaboration for TB Vaccine Discovery (CTVD) Meeting, a key forum for advancing efforts to develop new tuberculosis vaccines. Held at the Radisson Blu Upper Hill, the meeting brought together 210 participants, including 34 early career researchers (ECRs), to share the latest scientific advances and discuss priorities for the future of TB vaccine development.

The event opened with a dedicated two-day workshop for ECRs, designed to strengthen leadership, communication and personal development skills. Sessions covered topics including rhetoric and advocacy, confronting the realities of the “circumference of care”, guided reflection, interactive storytelling, and succession and legacy. Scientific plenary sessions on 10 and 11 June showcased cutting-edge research across the TB vaccine pipeline. Discussions explored protective and non-protective immune responses, correlates of protection emerging from the M72 Phase 2b trial, novel antigens and immunostimulants, the natural history and bacteriology of TB, updates on clinical vaccine candidates, and approaches for selecting the most promising candidates for clinical development. Participants also examined next-generation vaccine design concepts, highlighting the innovation and collaboration driving progress in the field.

By combining scientific exchange with researcher development, the CTVD Annual Meeting continues to play an important role in accelerating TB vaccine discovery while supporting the next generation of scientists working to end one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.