Old Members’ Trust Graduate Conference and Academic Travel Fund report by Jack Saunders (2021, DPhil Interdisciplinary Bioscience)

In October 2025, I had the opportunity to attend and give an oral presentation at the International Society for Vaccines (ISV) Annual Congress, held in Stellenbosch, South Africa. I am very grateful to the Old Members’ Trust Graduate Conference and Academic Travel Fund, as well as to University College, Oxford for making this trip possible.

The ISV Congress is one of the leading international meetings in vaccinology, bringing together scientists, clinicians, and industry representatives from around the world. I was honoured to be selected to speak in the Bright Sparks PhD Session, which highlights emerging researchers in the field, and was incredibly proud that my presentation was awarded Best Oral Presentation. This recognition reflected the hard work and collaboration across our team and was a rewarding highlight of the meeting.

My talk, titled “Development of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever ChAdOx2-vectored vaccines, with first-in-human Phase I clinical trial progression,” showcased preclinical work from across my DPhil, including candidate efficacy studies conducted in collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency, and the ongoing CCHF001 Phase I study at the Oxford Vaccine Group. I discussed how we have refined antigen designs, examined immune mechanisms of protection, and translated these findings into clinical development. Presenting this work to an international audience provided invaluable feedback and helped raise awareness of OVG’s contribution to global vaccine research on high-consequence pathogens.

The conference programme was highly relevant to my project, featuring sessions from Moderna, CEPI, and academic groups working on CCHFV and other viral haemorrhagic fever vaccines. These talks provided useful perspectives on preclinical evaluation, immune correlates of protection, and the clinical development pipeline for novel vaccine platforms. The diversity of speakers, from early-stage researchers to senior vaccine developers, offered a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities within the field of translational vaccinology.

Attending ISV 2025 also enabled me to build valuable professional connections and engage with fellow PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. Discussions with both academic and industry scientists were particularly insightful for understanding how preclinical discoveries translate into clinical application. The meeting fostered an encouraging and collaborative atmosphere that made my first international conference a truly memorable experience.

Following the conference, I had the chance to spend some time exploring Stellenbosch and Cape Town, taking in the region’s beautiful scenery and rich culture. Visiting the Cape Winelands and Table Mountain was a wonderful way to unwind after the meeting and reflect on the week’s events. Experiencing South Africa’s hospitality and natural beauty made the trip even more memorable and provided a welcome opportunity to connect with colleagues informally outside the conference setting.

Overall, attending the ISV 2025 Annual Congress was an invaluable and motivating opportunity. It strengthened my scientific understanding, improved my confidence in presenting to an international audience, and deepened my network within the global vaccine research community. I am sincerely grateful to my funders for supporting this trip, which has significantly contributed to both my DPhil research and my professional development as an early-career vaccine scientist.

Published: 9 January 2026

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