Overview

Vaccines As Tools To Combat Antimicrobial Resistance is due to take place as an in-person meeting on 27–28 February 2023, at Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre in Birmingham, UK.

COVID-19 demonstrates the devastation of infection when treatment options are limited. The pandemic also demonstrates how vaccines normalise social and economic freedom and equality. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has a greater potential to impact our lives.

AMR is a growing global problem, with 1.27 million deaths attributable to AMR bacteria annually. Vaccines can impact AMR by preventing infections and reducing the need for antibiotics which will slow the emergence of AMR.

There are no vaccines, or extant vaccines are sub-optimal, against many human-specific or veterinary/zoonotic bacterial infections. Generating new vaccines for bacterial pathogens is complex. The antigen content, delivery platform and host immune status all influence vaccine development, cost, pathogen evasion and use. Therefore, successful vaccine development requires combined expertise in microbiology (antigen selection), chemistry (platform technology) and host response (immunology). This meeting will address these key areas along the AMR-vaccine platform-veterinary/human immunology axis.

Key topics:
  • AMR – the problem in the context of human and veterinary health
  • The strengths and gaps in using vaccination to limit AMR
  • Host responses to different bacterial antigens and vaccines – key lessons learned
  • Enhancing the use of existing and novel platforms, technologies, adjuvants – the spectre of ‘Pathogen X’
  • The targeting of bacterial pathogens to reduce AMR – addressing unmet needs
Organising committee:
  • Professor Adam Cunningham (BactiVac Network, University of Birmingham, UK)
  • Professor Calman McLennan (BactiVac Network, University of Birmingham, UK)
  • Dr Jo Dean (BactiVac Network, University of Birmingham, UK)
  • Dr Marisol Perez-Toledo (University of Birmingham, UK)
  • Dr Matt O'Shea (Consultant in Infectious Diseases & Clinical Microbiology and Surgeon Lieutenant Commander, Royal Navy, UK)
Further information will be announced in the build up to the meeting on our social media channels and you can follow us on Twitter @MicrobioSoc using the hashtag #Vaccines4AMR and #BactiVacEvents

 

Image credit: iStock/Dr Microbe.

Programme

Type

Session

Session View

Monday 27 February, Morning

Monday 27 February, Afternoon

Tuesday 28 February, Morning

Lecture View

Monday 27 February, Morning

Monday 27 February, Afternoon

Tuesday 28 February, Morning

Tuesday 28 February, Afternoon

Poster Abstracts
Vaccines as Tools to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance 2023 Poster Abstract Book
 
Microbial Genomics Outstanding Poster Prize

Microbial Genomics is pleased to provide the Outstanding Poster Prize to a scientific poster at the ‘Vaccines as tools to combat antimicrobial resistance’ meeting, selected by members of the organising committee, will win a cash prize and be featured on the Microbe Post. All posters displayed at the meeting are automatically entered for the prize.

Grants and Professional Development

BactiVac LMIC Travel Bursaries

The BactiVac Network is offering up to 20 travel bursaries, of up to £1,500 GBP each, to support travel and accommodation costs to attend this Focused Meeting on 27 and 28 February 2023. Travel bursary will cover early bird registration fee, travel, accommodation, subsistence and visa costs.

Applicants must be members of BactiVac and currently based in an organisation within an LMIC country. The Network will typically only support one travel bursary from each institution and preference will be given to applicants not previously awarded a BactiVac travel bursary.     

The deadline for submitted applications is 4 November 2022 at 12:00 midnight (GMT). Successful applicants will be notified by 30 November 2022. 

Learn more and apply for the bursary on the BactiVac website.

Learn more and apply

 

For all queries, please contact: [email protected]

Registration

Registration fees 

Microbiology Society members get heavily subsidised registration fees for Annual Conference, Focused Meetings and other Society events – both online and in-person. Join now to enjoy these discounts and many other opportunities that are designed for microbiologists at all stages of their career.

BactiVac Network members are also eligible to receive a discounted registration rate for this meeting. You should only select this registration rate if you have a current BactiVac membership but are not a Microbiology Society member.

Covid-19 policy statement

As part of the preparations for Microbiology Society events due to be held in 2023, the Microbiology Society Council has further discussed the implementation of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 mitigations and has agreed the following:

  • Attendance at any Microbiology Society event is a personal choice and Council expects delegates to take personal responsibility for their actions in relation to minimising the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
  • The Microbiology Society will continue to ensure adequate ventilation at our venues, with real-time monitoring of CO2 levels where appropriate, and increased spacing particularly during communal activities.
  • We strongly urge all delegates to ensure they are as fully vaccinated as practicable, which we recognise will depend on their age and home country, and to test before travelling to our events.
  • Delegates should not attend if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, should they wish to delegates should feel comfortable to wear a mask in any of our venues.
  • Masks (FFP3) and lateral flow tests will be made available upon request at all Society events should any delegates feel unwell and wish to make use of them, although these will not be routinely supplied in delegate bags.

The Microbiology Society Council will continue to monitor the situation and update these mitigations as required.

What's included in your registration fee?

  • Admission to all scientific sessions
  • Lunch and refreshments
  • Drinks reception and conference dinner
  • Certificate of participation (upon request)

 

Ticket Early bird Full price
Non-member  £230 £280
Microbiology Society Full member  £130 £180
BactiVac Network Member £130 £180
Microbiology Society Concessionary member  £100 £140
Microbiology Society Student member  £70 £90

Registration confirmation 

Upon registration, you should receive an automated confirmation email. Please contact [email protected] if after 24 hours this has not been received. 

Payment information 

All registration fees must be paid in full before the start of the event. Any outstanding registration fees must be paid before any joining instructions containing information on how to access the event are sent out. 

Visa applications

If you require a letter of invitation to support a visa application, we will be happy to supply this after we have received full payment.
 
It is the policy of the Microbiology Society not to supply an invitation letter to any delegate that has not registered to attend the meeting and paid the registration fees in full.
 
Requests for invitation letters should be sent to [email protected] after registration has been completed.
 
Please note that all meeting delegates are responsible for their own travel and visa arrangements.
Venue & Accessibility

Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre

The meeting will take place in Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre. It is the University of Birmingham’s hotel and is part of the University of Birmingham Group.

Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre
53 Edgbaston Park Road
Birmingham
B15 2RS
United Kingdom

Venue Accessibility

Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference centre is an accessible building, with level access to both the buildings and the main conference suite. A lift is available between levels, as part of the conferences takes places on the first floor, and the lift also serves the venue’s hotel accommodation.

Accessible parking bays are available, and should you choose to stay at the hotel itself, accessible bedrooms with adapted en-suite bathrooms are also available: please choose an Adapted Standard room when you book.

When registering for the meeting, please indicate if you have any accessibility requirements, and if staying at the hotel, you should indicate this when you book directly.

Further information can be found on the venue accessibility statement.

 

Travel & Accommodation

Travel

Rail: University Station is the closest railway station to the venue, at 0.7 miles away. The station is a few stops from Birmingham New Street, and trains run frequently. 

Birmingham New Street is one of the best connected railway terminals in the country and is very close by Rail from Birmingham International Station, which serves the airport.

Attendee’s can plan their journey using National Rail’s Journey Planner tool.

Coach: Birmingham is well connected with coach and bus services from other major cities and towns throughout the UK. The closest bus station to Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre is Westmere.

Visit the National Express website to book coach tickets.

Car: Birmingham is easily accessible by car. Attendees are encouraged to car-pool where possible.

For sat-nav, use post-code B15 2RS. Please note parking is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Taxi: There are taxi ranks at New Street Station and throughout the city centre. If you hail a cab, you’ll need to pay the driver in cash. The Uber and Ola apps are also available in Birmingham.

The journey to the hotel from the city centre takes around 15 minutes, depending on traffic.

Air: Birmingham International Airport is just a 25-minute drive away. Alternatively, take a train from the airport’s own station and travel to University station, changing at Birmingham New Street.

Accommodation

Edgbaston Park Hotel offer discounted delegate rates for visiting conference attendees.

The given promotional code is valid for reservations for 27 February–1 March 2023 and entitles you to 15% off the best available flexible Bed & Breakfast rate at the time of booking.

You may book by emailing [email protected]  or by ringing 0121 414 8888 (Option 1). In either case, please quote your given promotional code. BACTIVAC23

To book your bedroom online, please visit Edgbaston Park Hotel. When booking your room please ensure you select ‘SPECIAL CODES OR RATES’ and apply the promotional code.

Please note that this code is valid for Standard rooms only and the given code must be applied at the time of booking to guarantee the agreed discounted rate. Additional fees are applicable should you wish to upgrade to an Executive or Deluxe Room, subject to availability. All standard rooms have a maximum occupancy of 2 persons per room. Additional camp beds can be provided within all Executives and some Deluxe rooms at a charge of £25.00 per bed. Additional beds must be requested in advance and are subject to availability.

Please note that any bedrooms not reserved by 16 January 2023 will be released back on the system for general resale to the public. Guests will not be able to book using the code after this date but may be able to book at the standard rate if there is availability.

Sustainability

Carbon footprint offsetting

Delegate travel is the biggest contributor to the carbon emissions involved with Focused Meetings, we would therefore like to encourage all delegates to offset their carbon footprint.

A carbon offset is a way to compensate for your emissions by funding an equivalent carbon dioxide saving elsewhere.

You can calculate and offset your carbon footprint from travelling to the meeting by using this carbon calculator, this supports international projects and sustainable development worldwide.