Professor of microbiologyCarlos Martin Montanes and the rector of the University of Zaragoza, Rosa Bolea, announced this Thursday, December 11 that the largest world congress on the tuberculosis vaccine will bring together some 500 experts from 35 countries. … in the Aragonese capital in April 2027. The “Global Tuberculosis Vaccines Forum” chooses for the first time Spain to organize the main forum that debates one of the most important challenges currently facing the world.
At the “Global TB Vaccine Forum”, the state of the science around the TB vaccine is discussed, the latest advances from the international research community are shared, and developments that bring the goal of a vaccine that can contribute to the eradication of the disease closer are identified. Organizing this forum in Spain and more particularly at the University of Zaragoza constitutes an exceptional opportunity to host an exchange of scientific ideas between researchers from all over the world, considered Dr. Martín and Rector Bolea.
Spain is an international reference in vaccine research against tuberculosis thanks to the development of the MTBVAC vaccine, which is already in the final stages before its production and distribution, since it has reached phase 3 of clinical trials in newborns and phases 2 and 2b in adolescents and adults in India and Africa. Missing is the final push in funding and trial results.
In fact, the recognized and proven work in the fight against tuberculosis, carried out by the University of Zaragoza in collaboration with the Galician biotechnology company Biofabri, was the key for Zaragoza to host the eighth “Global Forum” on vaccines against tuberculosis in 2027. In addition, the Aragonese capital benefits from the determined support of the Ministries of Health and Science, Innovation and Universities, the Government of Aragon, the City Hall of Zaragoza. and the Cortes of Aragon.
According to the institutional information provided, the Paraninfo of the University of Zaragoza will be the place where the sessions of this forum will take place, in which researchers, international organizations, civil society and the health industry will meet. The previous locations were as follows: the seventh in Rio de Janeiro (2024), before that in Toulouse (2022), New Delhi (2018), Shanghai (2015), Cape Town (2013), Tallinn (2010) and the first, sponsored by WHO, in Geneva in 2001.
The rector of the University of Zaragoza, Rosa Bolea, praised the values that “Zaragoza combines scientific excellence, “The institutional commitment and cultural appeal of the upcoming “Global Tuberculosis Vaccines Forum”, which will be hosted by the University of Zaragoza, will be a showcase of the capacity of our university, our region and our country to lead vaccine research and will also be a unique opportunity to strengthen international alliances in the fight against tuberculosis.”
For his part, professor and researcher Carlos Martín Montañés recalled that “Every year, tuberculosis kills 1.2 million people, a figure similar to the entire population of Aragon” and added that the new tuberculosis vaccine is “a necessity and we must always defend the universal right to access to vaccines.” According to the doctor, progress in vaccination has come at a cost, more than three decades of research are behind him, but he hopes to obtain results as soon as possible.
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