Bellinzona, January 28, 2026
On January 28–29, 2026, the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) in Bellinzona, affiliated with Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), will host the second edition of the Swiss Influenza Meeting, a biennial event bringing together leading Swiss researchers studying influenza in the fields of virology, immunology, and epidemiology.
The initiative was born from the need to strengthen collaboration across different research areas. As Prof. Silke Stertz from the Institute of Medical Virology at the University of Zurich and co-organizer of the meeting explains:
“Excellent influenza research is being conducted in Switzerland, but research groups often work in isolation within their fields of virology, immunology, and epidemiology. The meeting aims to foster connections and collaborations across these disciplines, making the most of the opportunities offered by a small country like ours.”
The first edition, held in 2024, attracted approximately 75 researchers. The second edition confirms continued interest from the scientific community, with over 80 participants expected in Bellinzona. According to Prof. Stertz, holding the meeting at IRB represents a unique opportunity:
“IRB hosts high-level immunology research groups, and bringing together virology and epidemiology researchers in this stimulating environment will allow the development of new collaborations and joint projects.”
The meeting program includes sessions on virology, epidemiological surveillance, immunology, pathogenesis, therapeutics, and vaccines, also featuring international speakers. One of the highlights of the meeting is the Lectio Magistralis by Prof. Adolfo García-Sastre, Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Director of the Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York. Sessions will be interspersed with networking opportunities, poster sessions, and coffee breaks to facilitate direct exchange among researchers.
