Now that our #ISSAD2026 delegates are back home and settled into their routines, we want to say a huge THANK YOU for making the 4th International Symposium on Streptoccocus agalactiae disease so impactful.
#GBS#ISSAD2026
Highlights | MU-JHU at ISSAD 2026
MU-JHU proudly showcased its growing Group B Streptococcus research portfolio at the @IssadOrg 2026 Conference. Data Manager Valeria Tusubira presented a poster titled “Risk Factors of Vertical Transmission of Group B Streptococcus Among Colonised Mothers in Kampala, Uganda.”
We also celebrate our wider research team whose poster presentations strengthened the scientific dialogue: Dr. Agnes Ssali, Ritah Namugumya, Zam Nabalwanyi, Agnes Nyamaizi, Gordon Rukundo and Phiona Nalubega.
The meeting further featured MU-JHU expertise in Intrapartum Antibiotic Prophylaxis (IAP) for GBS Prevention during Plenary 6 chaired by Dr. Eve Nakabembe and Prof. Kirsty Le Doare.
Many thanks to the team for representing MU-JHU with excellence and commitment to improving maternal and newborn health.
For more information, visit: https://t.co/AI336AvZFV
Day 2’s sessions shifted the focus to the GBS vaccine pipeline and the complex policy frameworks required to ensure global access.
The energy among our 37-country delegation remained high as we moved into the final day of the symposium!🔬
#ISSAD2026#PublicHealth
The PS underscored the government's commitment to integrate GBS prevention into public health frameworks & praised the collective efforts of researchers and scientists present.
A call to action for all of us to ensure every newborn has a healthy start, regardless of geography.
"Collaboration is the bridge between policy & impact."
We were honoured to host Ms MARY MUTHONI, CBS, HSC., Principal Secretary in the State Department for Public Health (@MOH_Kenya), at our gala dinner.
@KEMRI_Kenya
Plenary 5 at #ISSAD2026 has taken us From Evidence to Action, moving beyond the lab to talk about how we actually reach the mothers & babies who need these vaccines most.
Because a vaccine only works if it's accessible, sustainable, & safe for everyone.
#ISSAD#GlobalHealth
Key Highlights:
📍 Policy Frameworks: Kirsty Le Doare on the evidence required by global health bodies.
📍 Effectiveness: Shamez Ladhani on the projected impact in the UK.
📍 The Business Case: Simon Procter on why GBS vaccines make economic sense for nations.
The science of GBS vaccines is advancing rapidly, but how do we implement them? In Plenary 4, we look at the evidence and economics behind the rollout.
#ISSAD2026#GBS#GlobalHealth
Plenary 3 at #ISSAD2026 has the architects of the next generation of maternal immunisation.
From the lab bench to phase trials, this is where the future of neonatal protection is being written.
#ISSAD2026#VaccineDevelopment#GBS#GlobalHealth
🔬 Per Fischer with progress toward the pivotal trial for the AlpN Vaccine.
🔬 Shabir Madhi on interim results from the Phase 1/2 study of IVT GBS-06 in healthy adult non-pregnant women.
🔬 Roberto Adamo on a Polysaccharide-Based GBS Vaccine tailored for global health.
🔬 Victor Akelo from the CHAMPS network on stillbirths attributed to GBS.
🔬 Anna Seale on scientific gaps in maternal GBS sepsis and GBS-associated preterm birth.
🔬 Susan Meiring on surveillance challenges & findings of invasive GBS in non-pregnant adults in South Africa.
Not all impacts of GBS are easily captured in standard surveillance. Today at #ISSAD2026, Plenary 2 dove into the "incomplete narratives" of GBS, from stillbirths to preterm births and the burden on non-pregnant adults in LMICs.
#ISSAD2026#PublicHealth#GlobalHealth
The session concluded with a critical Panel Discussion: How to Move Forward?, moderated by the esteemed Joy Lawn. Evidence is only as strong as our ability to measure it. Join us as we refine our lens on global GBS surveillance.
Plenary 1 at #ISSAD2026 is diving deep into the Disease Burden & Surveillance of Group B Strep. We’re moving beyond the basics to look at infant impact, adult disease, and the genetic "fingerprints" of GBS across the globe.
From Evidence to Action
#ISSAD2026#GBS
#ISSAD2026 is officially underway.
The fight against Group B Strep is in full swing, chaired by Dr Hellen Barsosio and supported by @KEMRI_Kenya and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Our official media partner is Willow Health Media
#FromEvidencetoAction#GBS#ISSAD
He will discuss StrepSure®, a lateral flow device that brings rapid diagnosis directly to the delivery room. For clinicians and researchers looking to bridge the gap in intrapartum care, this is a session you cannot miss.
How can we improve GBS diagnosis at the point of care? Nexsen Bio’s Prof. Vipul Bansal will be at #ISSAD2026
Session: Plenary C: Advancements in Diagnostics
Speaker: Prof. Vipul Bansal
Time: Tuesday, 24th Feb, 4:00 PM EAT
Venue: Hyatt Regency Westlands Nairobi (Muthithu)