2026/06/02

International experts in animal health analyze the challenges of vaccination at a meeting organised by CIC bioGUNE and the European SPIDVAC project

Ikerbasque researcher Nicola Abrescia, leader of the Structure and Cell Biology of Viruses Lab at CIC bioGUNE, member of BRTA, is organizing a new edition of the Open Doors Talks on 4 June, within the framework of the European project SPIDVAC, funded by the European Union.

The event will bring together international experts to address some of the most relevant challenges in the control of priority animal diseases, with a particular focus on the development of innovative vaccines and strategies for their implementation across different socio-economic contexts.

The programme includes the participation of Jeroen Kortekaas, an infectious disease expert at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health (Netherlands), who will present advances in a vaccine against highly pathogenic avian influenza designed to provide broad and durable protection, overcome pre-existing immunity, and reduce virus transmission.

In addition, Alexis Delabouglise, an animal health economist at CIRAD (France), will discuss the challenges associated with the use of livestock vaccines in resource-limited settings, sharing evidence and experience from West African countries.

This initiative is part of the dissemination and knowledge transfer activities promoted by SPIDVAC, a European project aimed at improving the control of high-priority animal diseases through the development of new vaccine-based solutions. The meeting also provides an opportunity to foster knowledge exchange between researchers, professionals in animal health, and students interested in infectious disease prevention.

• Date: 4 June 2026
• Time: 12:00-13:00
• Place: Sala Adela Moyua, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (EHU)

About CIC bioGUNE

The Centre for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA), located in the Bizkaia Technology Park, is a biomedical research organisation conducting cutting-edge research at the interface between structural, molecular and cell biology, with a particular focus on generating knowledge on the molecular bases of disease, for use in the development of new diagnostic methods and advanced therapies.

About Ikerbasque

Ikerbasque -Basque Foundation for Science- is the result of an initiative of the Department of Education of the Basque Government that aims to reinforce the commitment to scientific research by attracting, recovering and consolidating excellent researchers from all over the world. Currently, it is a consolidated organization that has 290 researchers/s, who develop their work in all fields of knowledge.

About BRTA

BRTA is an alliance of 4 collaborative research centres (CIC bioGUNE, CIC nanoGUNE, CIC biomaGUNE y CIC energiGUNE) and 13 technology centres (Azterlan, Azti, Ceit, Cidetec, Gaiker, Ideko, Ikerlan, Leartiker, Lortek, Neiker, Tecnalia, Tekniker y Vicomtech) with the main objective of developing advanced technological solutions for the Basque corporate fabric.

With the support of the Basque Government, the SPRI Group and the Provincial Councils of the three territories, the alliance seeks to promote collaboration between the research centres, strengthen the conditions to generate and transfer knowledge to companies, contributing to their competitiveness and outspreading the Basque scientific-technological capacity abroad

BRTA has a workforce of 3,500 professionals, executes 22 % of the Basque Country's R&D investment, registers an annual turnover of more than 300 million euros and generates 100 European and international patents per year.

Spanish version