Prof. Luiz Carlos Alcantara (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil) and Prof. Tulio de Oliveira (CERI, Stellenbosch University and Wellcome Sanger Institute), are the main organizers.
Workshop teachers include about 41 world-renowned researchers from top international universities and research institutions.
The preliminary list of teachers (to be confirmed) is as follows:

Name Affiliation
Alexander G Lucaci Weill Cornell Medicine, USA
Ana Isabel Bento Cornell University, USA
Anna Zhukova Pasteur Institute, Paris, France
Anne Mieke Vandamme KU Leuven, Institute for the Future, Rega Institute, Belgium
Ayda Susana Ortiz-Baez University of Sydney, Australia
Carla Mavian University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
Chris Tomkins-Tinch Broad Institute, USA
Cornelius Roemer Biozentrum (Center for Molecular Life Sciences), University of Basel, Switzerland
Daniel Park Broad Institute, USA
Darren Martin University of Cape Town, South Africa
Eduan Wilkinson CERI, University Stellenbosch & KRISP, University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
Francesco Pinotti University of Oxford, UK
Gabriel Fernandes Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Brazil
Gerald Mboowa Africa CDC
Heiko Schmidt University of Vienna, Austria
Houriiyah Tegally CERI, University Stellenbosch & KRISP, University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
Jenicca Poongavanan CERI, University Stellenbosch
Joicymara Xavier Institute of Agricultural Science, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri
JT McCrone Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
Julio Croda Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Brazil
Koen Deforche Emweb bv, Herent, Belgium
Luciane Amorim Santos Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Brazil
Luiz Carlos Junior Alcantara Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Brazil
Mandev Gill Department of Statistics, University of Georgia
Marta Giovanetti Fiocruz, Brazil / University of Rome, Rome Italy
Maya Van Leemput Erasmus University, Applied Futures Research Center, Brussels, Belgium
Nidia Trovão National Institutes of Health, USA
Richard Lessells CERI, University Stellenbosch & KRISP, University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
Richard Scheuermann National Library of Medicine (NLM), USA
Rodrigo Kato Ministry of Health, Brazil
Ronaldo de Jesus Ministry of Health, Brazil
Samuel Leandro Hong KU Leuven, Institute for the Future, Rega Institute, Belgium
Simona Pesaresi KU Leuven, Institute for the Future, Rega Institute, Belgium
Taylor Paisie University of Florida, USA
TinhTam Nguyen KU Leuven, Institute for the Future, Rega Institute, Belgium
Tommy Lam University of Hongkong
Tulio de Oliveira CERI, University Stellenbosch & KRISP, University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
Vagner Fonseca Bahia State University
Verity Hill Yale University, USA

Important VEME Update
2025 Workshop Cancelled
2026–2027 Secured

Dear VEME applicants,

We regret to inform you that, due to a global decline in international funding, we will need to cancel VEME2025. Despite our best efforts to secure financial support for this exceptional workshop, we were unable to obtain the necessary commitments to host the event at the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) this year.

While this is disappointing news, we are pleased to share that funding has been secured for VEME2026—and most likely for 2027 as well. The 2026 edition is expected to take place in Stellenbosch, South Africa, and the 2027 workshop in Dakar, Senegal. Both events will be supported through the CERI and IPD African Stars Fellowship Program, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. Unfortunately, these funds could not be applied to the 2025 event, as it was reliant on a different funding source.

We thank you for your patience and regret we cannot give you better news. We encourage you to apply again for next year’s VEME. Now more than ever, it is essential that our VEME training continues to prepare the next generation of scientists to respond to global health challenges.

Warm regards,
Xavier, Tulio, Luiz, and Anne-Mieke