Join internationally leading researchers for a one-day symposium exploring the latest advances in precision diagnostics in paediatric infectious diseases and critical care – from pathogen and host biology to bioinformatics and real-world clinical implementation.

The symposium will address key questions shaping the future of precision diagnostics:

• How can precision diagnostics improve the care of febrile and critically ill children?
• How can we improve the early diagnosis of sepsis, infection and inflammation to enable more targeted and effective treatments?
• How can innovations in omics technologies and artificial intelligence advance our understanding of disease and treatment responses?
• How can novel biomarkers be effectively implemented in clinical practice?
• How will precision diagnostics transform the field over the next decade?

 

The symposium marks the concluding scientific meeting of DIAMONDS, an EU Horizon 2020 project developing innovative diagnostic approaches for children with suspected infections, and is supported by Learn4Sepsis, a new initiative of University Medicine Zurich (UMZH).

 Registration is now open, Friday, 27 November 2026, with options to attend either on-site in Zurich or online:

Programme 

We would like to draw your attention to the 27th ADVAC course, which will again take place in Veyrier-du-Lac, France, from 10 to 21 May 2027.

The application portal will open on July 1st, and the deadline for applications is 15 November 2026.

This advanced Course is for scientists and decision-makers involved in vaccine development, in the elaboration of new vaccination strategies or in policy decisions related to the introduction of new vaccines in public health programmes, at national or international levels. It is relevant for both the public and private sectors.

The selection of participants is very competitive at there a maximum of 75 participants. Participants will be selected by the ADVAC Scientific Committee, according to their: educational background, experience in vaccinology, decision-making level of responsibilities in vaccinology, and expected impact of the Course at personal, institutional and national levels.  Each application is assessed individually by at least 8 Scientific Committee members. ESPID supports up to two members for the participation in the course in the form of a fellowship.

Further information about ADVAC and the course can be found here.

ADVAC – Advanced Course of Vaccinology | Global Vaccine Training Program

FLYER

Admissions are open for the Postgraduate Certificate, the Postgraduate Diploma, and the Master of Science in Paediatric Infectious Diseases, which are run in Oxford and are supported by the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Disease (ESPID). The courses bring leaders in the field from around the world to teach a comprehensive syllabus to inspire and educate a new generation of paediatricians, and ultimately improve Child Health.

Postgraduate Certificate in PID

The Postgraduate Certificate is a one-year, part-time course taught primarily online providing you with an in-depth understanding of both the theoretical and practical aspects of paediatric infection. The course will appeal to doctors who have experience in paediatrics, including trainees in paediatrics who have an interest in specialist knowledge in the field of paediatric infectious diseases, for example those training for the RCPCH paediatric infectious diseases special interest (SPIN) module. It is also suitable for GPs with an interest in paediatric infectious diseases.

Postgraduate Diploma in PID

The Postgraduate Diploma is a two-year, part-time course taught primarily online, providing you with an in-depth understanding of both the theoretical and practical aspects of paediatric infection. It also places the practice of paediatric infectious diseases in the broader context of applied sciences, such as pathogenesis, population biology and epidemiology. The course will appeal to doctors who have experience in paediatrics, including trainees in paediatrics who have a specialist qualification equivalent to the Membership Examination of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH), specialist trainees in paediatric infectious diseases or relevant medical subspecialties, and clinical research fellows. It will provide in-depth knowledge and is aimed at those working in specialist PID centres.

Master of Science in PID

The MSc in Paediatric Infectious Diseases can be taken part-time over one year as an extension to the Postgraduate Diploma in Paediatric Infectious Diseases. It is for those who wish to broaden their knowledge about paediatric infection and develop research skills in the subspecialty. The MSc is intended to assess your capacity to formulate research questions, and select, design and manage a research project. You will complete a research project of between eight and fourteen weeks and write a dissertation. The research can be carried out in Oxford or locally, making the programme suitable for overseas as well as UK residents.

You can find more information at Study – Department of Paediatrics (ox.ac.uk)

Congratulations to Patrick Meyer Sauter on winning the SSI Research Award 2025 at the annual meeting in Interlaken. This is a well-deserved recognition for his outstanding research in the field of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

We are pleased to announce the election of PD Dr. Christian Kahlert from St. Gallen as the new President of the PIGS. The election took place on June 4, 2025. We are confident that Christian will successfully continue the efforts of the previous president, Prof. Ulrich Heininger from Basel, in positioning PIGS as an active, agile, and strong society.

At the same time, we would like to sincerely thank Uli for his commitment and dedication over the past eight years—years that were particularly challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the iGAS outbreak.

Congratulations to Christian on his new role. We look forward to an exciting chapter ahead.

It is our great pleasure to share the PIGS annual report 2024 with you!

Jahresbericht 2024

Rapport annuel 2024