As part of the EU project #VaccinAction2025, the closed-door workshop on 3 December will explore the next frontier of vaccine development. Together with experts and association representatives, we will discuss the main steps in vaccine R&D; innovation and investment priorities, including new platforms (mRNA, DNA) and delivery methods; the return of data to participants and their engagement in research. The initiative is reserved by invitation to leaders of patients’ associations, Patients Advocacy Gropus (PAGs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) already engaged in the ACN’initiatives on the topic. Read more about #VaccinAction2025.

Agenda (Click on the names to download the presentations)

EU policy workshop

3 December 2025 – 12.30 – 18.00
The Hotel, Boulevard de Waterloo 38, 1000 BRUSSELS
Room: Meet 26.2

12:30 Networking lunch and workshop in room Meet 26.2

Moderator: Daniela Quaggia, Senior Project Manager, Active Citizenship Network (ACN)

14.30 Introduction:

• Mariano Votta, Director, Active Citizenship Network (ACN)

14.45 - 15.30 Session A Educational: Vaccine Research & Development and Innovation: development pathways, new platforms & delivery methods (with Q&A)

• Stephen Lockhart, Senior clinical leader in global vaccine development - Overview of development steps in vaccines R&D

• Charlotte Vernhes, Director Scientific and Medical Affairs, Vaccines Europe -Innovation: why to invest, in what direction, the different ways in which they are constructed (e.g., mRNA vaccines / DNA vaccines, etc.), and new forms of vaccine delivery

15.30 – 16.00 – coffee break

16.00 - 16.45 Session B – Policy & advocacy in practice: Future vaccines & returning individual trial data (including questions & answers)

• “Vaccines of the future” - Rita Carsetti, President, International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS), Senior Advisor for Human Immunology, Fondazione Biotecnopolo di Siena

• “Return of individual data to clinical trial participants & engagement — where do we stand?” - Johanna Blom, Professor of Psychobiology, Pediatric & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE), and IHI FACILITATE Coordinator

Internal Session

16:45 – 17:00 #VaccinAction campaign & Handbook update

17:00 – 17.45 Towards #VaccinAction2026: brainstorming

17:45 – 18.00 Next steps and final discussion

19:00 to 21:00 Social dinner at the hotel’s Iris restaurant

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