The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has commenced registration for the 4th International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE) Annual Scientific Symposium. Researchers, policy makers, public health experts, health workers and student, within and outside Nigeria are invited to register for the symposium to hold from 31st August to 1st September, 2026 at the IHVN Campus in Abuja. This year, the symposium is themed, “Shaping the Future of Public Health Research, Sustainable Funding, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and Innovation.” Early Bird registration is open until June 30, 2026, and offers a 10% discount. Organizations or groups registering multiple participants can receive an additional 5% group registration discount. The symposium has been held yearly since 2023 with researchers exploring themes such as “Expanding Partnerships to Sickle Cell Disease and Cancer Research,” “Addressing Local Health Challenges through Quality Research and Partnerships” and “Combating Viral Threats Through Public Health Response and Research.” Register now by clicking here

The Global Virus Network (GVN), for the first time, it is awarding pandemic preparedness research grants, totaling $160,000, to GVN scientists across four continents. These awards support innovative, investigator-led projects designed to enhance viral surveillance, early detection, and scientific preparedness, particularly in regions vulnerable to emerging and re-emerging viral threats. One of the grant recipients is Victoria Etuk ( a research affiliate at IRCE–IHVN), whose project will establish a wastewater-based early-detection system for emerging pathogens in Nigeria – using metagenomics, AI, and geospatial mapping. Read the full press release here: https://tinyurl.com/mw6c8sk7

Through its Mpox Action Committee and Centers of Excellence, GVN has initiated one of the first coordinated, multi-country evaluations of rapid point-of-care mpox diagnostics, a critical step to prevent resurgence and ensure the world is better prepared for future epidemics. GVN’s coordinated effort spans four countries and includes leading scientists from Emory University (USA), the University of St Andrews (UK), the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, and the University of Health Sciences Otukpo (Nigeria). Teams are comparing rapid diagnostic kits against gold-standard PCR assays, testing their performance on real clinical samples, and analyzing operational feasibility in resource-limited settings. Sophia Osawe, MPH, PhD, head of department research operations and senior research manager at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, a GVN Center of Excellence, is leveraging her team’s biorepository of mpox samples to compare diagnostic kits under ISO-accredited lab conditions. Read more: https://gvn.org/global-virus-network-launches-multi-country-mpox-diagnostic-evaluation-to-close-global-preparedness-gaps/