Successful recipients of travel bursaries awarded for the 5th Annual Network Meeting 2024 are listed below, together with testimonials highlighting the value of receiving these awards to facilitate travel to our Annual Network Meetings.
Dr Caroline Chisenga
Senior Biomedical Scientist,Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia
Zambia
‘The meeting is one of the unique platforms where equity and diversity is strongly upheld especially with regards networking.’
Miss Terry Komo
Research Officer, Kenya Medical Research Institute
Kenya
‘I had an opportunity to meet and network with women doing exceptionally well in their careers.’
Ms Agness Ethel Lakudzala
PhD Student, Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust
Malawi
‘I was particularly inspired by how researchers from diverse backgrounds came together to share insights, discuss challenges, and brainstorm innovative solutions.’
Dr Samira Shuaibu
Senior Lecturer, Maryam Abacha American University
Nigeria
‘The meeting was an excellent opportunity for professional growth, networking and collaboration contributing to the global effort in fighting against antibiotic resistance associated with bacterial infections.’
Dr Baleng Mahama Wutor
Research Clinician, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Ghana
‘The meeting provided a platform to network with researchers and experts across the spectrum of efforts to combat bacterial pathogens.’
Dr Waqas Ahmad
Assistant Professor, Khan Bahadar Choudhry Mushtaq Ahmed University College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Pakistan
‘The meeting enabled me to interact with a number of early career scientists and advanced career professionals working in various working streams of bacteriology.’
Mr Ritam Guha
PhD Student, Cochin University of Science and Technology
India
‘I met a pool of people with similar interests, and interestingly, people from other fields showed interest in my field of aquaculture.’
Dr Manish Kumar
Associate Professor, Amity Institute of Biotechnology
India
‘This annual meeting is a fabulous conference, a gathering of world renowned and budding researchers that leads to fruitful discussions and collaborative research for the befit of human welfare.’
Mr Nandhakumar Kumar
PhD Student, Cochin University of Science and Technology
India
‘Witnessing researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers come together to discuss innovative solutions and advancements in bacterial vaccines was truly inspiring.’
Dr Bhishma Pokhrel
Assistant Professor, Patan Academy of Health Sciences
Nepal
‘It was great to learn how developed and developing nations along with the industries are collaborating to provide effective bacterial vaccines focusing mainly the LMICs where the burden of the disease is the highest.’
Ms Swati Rani
Young Professional – II, Indian Council of Agricultural Research – National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics
India
‘It was an inspiring opportunity that will shape my future work.’
Dr Hina Raza
Research Associate, Bahuddin Zakariya University
Pakistan
‘Everyone seemed genuinely invested in working together towards common goals, and there was a lot of energy around finding creative solutions.’
Dr Tintu Varghese
Assistant Professor, Christian Medical College Vellore
India
‘It was great to gain a wider perspective on current developments in the vaccine field.’
Mr Jeremy Aboagye
PhD Student, Trinity College Dublin
Ireland
‘Very few specialists in the disease (Bukrholderia pseudomallei) exist in the world and this meeting was a rare opportunity to meet them.’
Dr Giuseppe Ercoli
Research Fellow, University College London
United Kingdom
‘I had the opportunity to expand my scientific network, engage in detailed scientific discussion, and to stimulate new collaborations to progress my work.’
Dr Marisol Perez-Toledo
Research Fellow, University of Birmingham
United Kingdom
‘This meeting reinforced my choice to stay in the infectious diseases field and highlighted that it is still possible to do impactful science in low medium income settings.’
Dr Chris Smith
Clinical Research Fellow, Imperial College London
United Kingdom
‘Perfect balance of lectures/speakers covering a range of relevant contemporary topics to address the need for bacterial vaccines globally.’
Recipients from North America
Miss María Guadalupe García Valeriano
Master's Student in Vaccine Science and Biotherapeutics Technology, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social
Mexico
‘The meeting was highly impactful, offering new perspectives and tools to advance my Salmonella vaccine research.’
Dr Rochelle Da Costa
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Queensland
Australia
‘There were lots of opportunities to network with experts in the field of bacterial vaccines and facilitated new connections.’
Recipients from South America
Mr André Rio Tinto
Researcher, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
‘Is very exciting to learn and hear about the excellent work other groups have been doing, being able to clearly see the positive impact the BactiVac Network has on vaccine development.’
The BactiVac Network events are open to members only. If you would like to become a member, please complete our short online membership application form.