Top Virologists to Meet in Monaco to Tackle Ongoing Pandemic Challenges and Emerging Viral Threats

World-Renowned Experts of the Global Virus Network will Discuss Ending Viral Threats Through Global Collaborative Science, Innovation, and Implementation

BALTIMORE, Md., Oct. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Virus Network (GVN), in partnership with the Centre Scientifique de Monaco (CSM, a GVN Affiliate), the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco, and the Princely Government of Monaco, will host the GVN 2023 international meeting of top virologists 19-21 October 2023 in Monaco. This coalition of the world’s leading medical virology researchers, who work together to prevent illness and death from viral disease, will hold high-level scientific sessions examining pandemic preparedness and current threats. A special GVN-CSM joint session will focus specifically on preparedness in European Union countries and will be attended by the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, among other dignitaries.

"Global collaboration, partnership, and leadership are critical in mitigating pandemic threats and in preventing future outbreaks,” said Robert Gallo, MD, Co-Founder and Emeritus Director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, a GVN Center of Excellence, and Co-Founder and Chair of the Scientific Leadership Board of the GVN. "I am pleased to join my friends and colleagues in Monaco as these personal, face-to-face interactions among our colleagues are integral to sharing information and inspiring international collaborations that otherwise might not exist.” Dr. Gallo is most renowned for his pioneering discovery of human retroviruses, his co-discovery of HIV as the cause of AIDS, and development of the HIV blood test.

GVN experts will exchange ideas on themes including: Harnessing A.I. to Transform Pandemic Preparedness; Advancing Pandemic Preparedness across EU Small Countries Initiative – Under the Presidency of Prince Albert II; Exploring the Host-Virus Relationship in Acute and Post-Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection; Cancer-Causing Viruses and New Understandings; Anticipating and Responding to Emerging Viruses; GVN’s Initiative in Tackling the Challenges of Arboviruses and Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses; and, Advancing Antiviral Diagnostics & Treatment Through Innovation.

"We are pleased to build on our successful scientific meeting last year held in Monaco and broadly broadcasted virtually to move forward in the continued spirit or preparedness,” said Christian Bréchot, MD, PhD, GVN President and a professor at the University of South Florida in Tampa. "The GVN is critically positioned to establish and lead global efforts in facilitating collaborations with universities, industry, governments and communities to merge efforts and find solutions together.”

The GVN will also be introducing Sten Vermund, MD, PhD, Anna M.R. Lander Professor of Public Health, Yale School of Public Health as its next GVN President, effective November 1, 2023.

For a full program visit https://gvn.org/gvn-2023-monaco/. One-on-one interviews can be arranged upon request.

About the Global Virus Network (GVN)

The GVN is essential and critical in the preparedness, defense, and first research response to emerging, existing, and unidentified viruses that pose a clear and present threat to public health. Working in close coordination with established national and international institutions, the GVN is a coalition comprised of eminent human and animal virologists from 71 Centers of Excellence and 9 Affiliates in 40 countries, working collaboratively to train the next generation, advance knowledge about how to identify and diagnose pandemic viruses, mitigate and control how such viruses spread and make us sick, as well as develop drugs, vaccines, and treatments to combat them. No single institution in the world has expertise in all viral areas other than the GVN, which brings together the finest medical virologists to leverage their individual expertise and coalesce global teams of specialists on the scientific challenges, issues, and problems posed by pandemic viruses. The GVN is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, please visit https://gvn.org/. Follow us on X at @GlobalVirusNews. 

Media Contact: Nora Samaranayake, +1 443 823 0613 or nsamaranayake@gvn.org