Symposium

The REVIDA and VIRESP chairs are organizing a symposium on October 21–22, 2026, at emlyon business school on the theme: “From Diagnostic to Preparedness: How to Be Better Prepared for the Next Pandemic?”. More broadly, the symposium will address the management of infections and epidemics: detecting, understanding, and anticipating them. The event is organized in partnership with I4ID and MabDesign.

The symposium, entitled “From diagnostic to preparedness – How to be better prepared for the next pandemic?”, is linked to two structuring projects funded under the French National Research Agency’s (ANR) Industrial Chairs call for proposals. These projects are led by Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 and co-financed equally by the ANR and their industrial partners. Together, the REVIDA and VIRESP chairs constitute a scientific continuum ranging from individual diagnosis to population-based analysis of respiratory virus transmission.

Pré-programme

21st of October 2026

Opening

Bruno Lina (France)

Sophie Trouillet-Assant (France)

Marta Nunes (France)

Role of genomics and modelling in virus circulation and in pandemic preparedness

Gregory Armstrong (Etats-Unis)

John McCauley (Royaume-Uni)

Laurence Josset (France)

Antonin Bal (France)

Role of host markers to refine the use of genomics and diagnostics

Tristan Clark (Royaume-Uni)

Michael Levin (Royaume-Uni)

Florence Allantaz (France)

22nd of October 2026 morning (common with I4ID)

Overview of challenges related to infection diagnostics

Senjuti Saha (Bangladesh)

Scientific Impact and Symposium Outcomes

This symposium represents a strategic forum for scientific discussion in the field of respiratory viruses. It will provide an opportunity to present the latest advances, identify emerging challenges for the future, and showcase the results generated by the two industrial chairs. In particular, the symposium will offer:

· dissemination of recent scientific findings, including novel data on diagnostic biomarkers, severity prediction, and the evolution of respiratory viruses;

· opportunities for dialogue between complementary disciplines (virology, immunology, epidemiology, public health, and modeling), fostering the emergence of new scientific synergies;

· the structuring of a national and international network dedicated to pandemic preparedness, in line with the objectives of REVIDA and VIRESP;

· the promotion of public–private partnerships, which are at the core of the Industrial Chairs framework, by demonstrating how academic research and industrial innovation can jointly address public health needs;

· the acceleration of knowledge transfer toward stakeholders involved in surveillance, diagnostics, vaccination, and infectious risk management.

Symposium Registration

The first day of the symposium will be organized as a side event of the 10th Congress on Immunotherapies and Innovations for Infectious Diseases organized by I4ID. A half-day session dedicated to respiratory infections will be integrated into the I4ID Congress program.

Registration for the symposium will be available on the following website: (link in progress).