Jairo Mendez, Luiz Alcantara, Tulio de Oliveira, Juan Miguel Pascale, Ana Riviere, Luis Sucre
16:40
to
17:00
Keynote lecture 1: Genomic pathogen surveillance in Panama, from research to public health, Gorgas Memorial Institute experience
Alexander Martinez
17:00
to
17:20
Keynote lecture 2: PAHO Genomic Surveillance Regional Networks: genomics to support public health response for the world
Juliana Leite
17:20
to
17:30
Questions & Answers
A. Martinez and J. Leite
17:30
to
19:00
Keynote lecture 3: Collaboration in South Africa to help the world on the characterisation of pandemics and epidemics
Tulio de Oliveira
19:00
to
21:30
VEME Cocktail
Monday 22 AUGUST
8:30
to
9:00
Welcome and practical instructions
L. Franco and L. Alcantara
9:00
to
10:30
Fundamentals of molecular evolution
A-M. Vandamme
10:30
to
11:00
Coffee break.
11:00
to
12:30
Wicked problems and transdisciplinarity: Theory
A-M. Vandamme
12:30
to
14:00
Lunch.
14:00
to
16:00
Problem framing, safe space, theory of change: Case practice
AM. Vandamme, S. Hong, C. Van Cleemput, JR. Blanco Nova
16:00
to
16:30
Coffee break
16:30
to
17:00
Case practice and reflections
Team
17:00
to
17:40
Keynote lecture 4: A transdisciplinary approach to pandemic preparedness
A-M. Vandamme
17:40
to
18:20
Keynote lecture 5: Portable DNA sequencing: impacting the response to emerging and re-emerging viral pathogens on the ground
M. Giovanetti
Tuesday 23 AUGUST
8:30
to
9:00
Report on reflections and results of the framing experience
Team
9:00
to
10:30
How to make sense of phylogenetic trees in a policy context
T. Bedford
10:30
to
11:00
Coffee break.
11:00
to
12:30
Systems thinking and systems mapping: Theory
A-M. Vandamme
12:30
to
13:30
Lunch.
13:30
to
15:30
Systems mapping, searching for leverage points: Case practice
A-M. Vandamme, S. Hong, C. Van Cleemput, JR. Blanco Nova
15:30
to
16:00
Coffee break.
16:00
to
16:50
Case practice and reflections
Team
16:50
to
17:10
Keynote lecture 7: Project VigenDA: Genomic Surveillance of Dengue in the Americas.
Jorge L. Munoz
17:10
to
18:10
Keynote lecture 8: Putting ecology into virus evolution
Edward Holmes
Wednesday 24 AUGUST
8:00
to
8:30
Keynote lecture 9: Modernizing Pathogen Surveillance with Fully Automated Genomic Sequencing and Data Ecosystem
Sasan Amini
8:30
to
9:00
Report on reflections and results of the systems mapping
Team
9:00
to
10:30
How to communicate molecular epidemiological knowledge and its context to decision makers
T. de Oliveira
10:30
to
11:00
Coffee break.
11:00
to
12:30
Multilevel stakeholder interactions and stakeholder mapping: Theory
A-M. Vandamme
12:30
to
13:30
Lunch.
13:30
to
16:00
Actor constellation exercise: Case practice
A-M. Vandamme, S. Hong, C. Van Cleemput, JR. Blanco Nova
16:00
to
16:30
Coffee break.
16:30
to
17:00
Case practice and reflections
Team
17:00
to
17:40
Keynote lecture 10: Quick and Accurate identification of SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Lineages in Africa
H Tegally
17:40
to
18:20
Keynote lecture 11: Modeling and forecasting virus evolution and pathogenesis in the XXI century: from genomic epidemiology to single cell sequencing
M Salemi
Thursday 25 August
8:00
to
8:30
Keynote lecture 6: Molecular Epidemiology based on Ampliseq Technology: SARS-CoV 2 and Beyond
Gonzalo Sepulveda
8:30
to
9:00
Report on reflections and results of the stakeholder mapping
Team
9:00
to
10:30
What do policy makers expect from molecular epidemiologists
A. Bento
10:30
to
11:00
Coffee break.
11:00
to
12:30
Futures: Theory
A-M. Vandamme
12:30
to
13:30
Lunch.
13:30
to
15:30
Futures wheel: Case practice
A-M. Vandamme, S. Hong, C. Van Cleemput, JR. Blanco Nova
15:30
to
16:00
Coffee break.
16:00
to
17:30
Making sense of desirable futures in the context of the case study
Team
18:30
to
20:30
Course teachers dinner
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.
