Speakers
The symposium features a diverse lineup of speakers, including leading experts in infectious diseases, microbiology, epidemiology, and global health. The symposium aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue to explore innovative solutions for global health challenges.
Special Pre-Symposium Event: Honoring Dr. Bob Tesh
We are excited to offer a special pre-symposium event on September 16th honoring Dr. Bob Tesh, virologist and former director of UTMB's World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses. This special half-day session includes scientific discussions and a keynote dinner recognizing Dr. Tesh’s lasting contributions to virology and tropical medicine. Registration is encouraged.
Agenda
Tuesday September 16, 2025: Pre-Symposium Special Session - Honoring Dr. Bob Tesh
Registration & Check-in
Coffee Meet & Greet
Welcome Remarks
- Presentation - Lark L. Coffey, PhD, UCD
- “A New Era for Chikungunya Prevention: Licensed Vaccines IXCHIQ and VIMKUNYA”
- Thomas Ksiazek, DVM, PhD, MS, UTMB
- “TBD”
- David H. Walker, MD, UTMB
- “Tools to Combat Epidemic Highly Lethal Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Northern Mexico”
- Kenneth Plante, PhD
- “TBD”
- Shannan Rossi, PhD, MBA
- “Dr. Tesh and the Zika Virus Outbreak”
Recognition Honoring Dr. Robert Tesh
Social Mixer & Happy Hour
Dinner & Keynote
- Keynote – Tony Schountz, PhD, CSU
- “Jamaican Fruit Bats for Virology and Immunology Research”
Wednesday September 17, 2025: TropEID Day 1
Registration & Check-In
Poster Set-Up
Breakfast
Welcome Remarks
Block 1 - Emerging Bacterial Diseases
- Keynote - Albert Ko, MD Yale Institute for Global Health
- "Building a Sustainable International Research Program"
- Presentation - John Crump, MD Duke University
- "Global Epidemiology of Acute Febrile Illness"
- Presentation - Marylin Hidalgo, PhD Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
- "Emerging tick-borne bacteria in Latin America"
- Presentation - Stephen Dumler, MD USUHS
- "Global Emergence of Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis"
- Roundtable Exercise - Symposium Faculty & Speakers
- "Outbreak of a Severe Febrile Illness in Rural Burundi"
Lunch
Block 2 - Pathogenesis and Prevention of Emerging Viral Diseases
- Presentation - Michael Berg, PhD, Abbott Global Surveillance Program
- "Global Surveillance for Emerging Pathogens"
- Presentation - Anne Rimoin, PhD, MPH, UCLA School of Public Health
- "Emerging Disease in Emergency Settings: Lessons from Ebola, Mpox, & COVID-19"
- Presentation - Bobo Paessler, DVM, PhD, UTMB
- "Hearing Loss Induced by Lassa Fever"
- Presentation - Katheryn Anderson, MD, PhD, SUNY Upstate
- "Pathogenesis of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever"
- Roundtable Exercise - Symposium Faculty & Speakers
- "Outbreak of a Severe Acute Respiratory Disease"
Poster Viewing Session
Dinner & Keynote
- Keynote - Anna Durbin, MD, Johns Hopkins University
- "Vaccines for Vector-Borne Viruses"
Thursday September 18, 2025: TropEID Day 2
Breakfast
Tours of UTMB GNL & BCU
Block 3 - Emerging Vector-borne Diseases
- Presentation - Gerardo Alverez-Hernandez, PhD, U. Sonora
- “Emergence of RMSF in Northern Mexico”
- Presentation - William de Souza, PhD U. Kentucky
- “Emergence of Oropuche in Brazil”
- Presentation - Laura Dickson, PhD, UTMB
- “Understanding Aedes Biology and Behavior to Reduce Arbovirus Transmission”
- Roundtable Exercise - Symposium Faculty & Speakers
- "Outbreak of a Vector-Borne Disease in the Gulf Coast Region "
Lunch
Block 4 - Molecular Diagnostics for Emerging Infectious Diseases
- Presentation - David Brett-Major, MD, MPH, UNMC
- “Diagnostic Test Design Considerations for Surveillance, Case Management, and Discovery”
- Presentation - Maureen Laroche, PhD, UTMB
- “MS-based diagnostic approaches for VBD”
- Presentation - Luca Giurgea, PhD, NIH
- “Influenza Human Challenge Models”
- Roundtable Exercise - Symposium Faculty & Speakers
- “Vaccine development and deployment to limit spread of a severe hemorrhagic fever virus”
Social Mixer & Happy Hour
Poster Presentation & Poster Judging Session
Friday September 19, 2025: TropEID Day 3
Breakfast
Welcome Remarks
Block 5 - Vaccines for Emerging Infectious Diseases
- Keynote - Sten Vermund, MD, PhD, USF
- “Planetary warming and implications for subtropical Gulf infectious diseases”
- Presentation – Dennis Bente, DVM, PhD, UTMB
- “Emergence and Prevention of CCHF”
- Presentation - Tom Evans, MD
- “Development of a Vaccine for MERS”
Trainee Presentations
Awards Ceremony & Closing
Tours of GNL & BCU
UTMB Tours
Galveston National Laboratory
The Galveston National Laboratory (GNL) is one of only two federally funded Biosafety Level 4 research laboratories within an academic institution. This state-of-the-art, high-containment facility conducts research on some of the world’s most dangerous pathogens and plays a crucial role in the global fight against infectious diseases. It is located on the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) campus and operates under the Institute for Human Infections and Immunity.
Tours will be organized by CTD-SPECTRE Symposium Team.
Biocontainment Care Unit
The Biocontainment Care Unit (BCU) at UTMB is one of 13 federally funded Regional Emerging and Special Pathogens Treatment Centers, serving a five-state region known as HHS Region IV. This specialized healthcare facility is designed to treat patients affected by highly infectious diseases.
The unit consists of six rooms, each with full intensive care capabilities. It is equipped with a dedicated laboratory, advanced negative pressure systems, a pass-through autoclave for sterilizing equipment, and a controlled entrance that separates it from the main hospital’s emergency area. These features ensure the highest level of care while maintaining strict safety and containment measures.