400 Experts Examine Pandemic Preparedness at SRM Medical College iCER-ID 2026

Dr. R. Jayanthi, Dean Medical at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, said the two day conference connected researchers, clinicians and public health experts across eight scientific sessions, with more than 30 speakers participating.

More than 400 scientists, clinicians, researchers and public health experts came together at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre to examine pandemic preparedness and scientific responses to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
The second International Conference on Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, iCER-ID 2026, was organised as a two day scientific conference covering immunology, vaccinology, virology, systems biology, translational medicine and public health.
More than 30 speakers participated across eight scientific sessions covering pandemic preparedness, HIV pathogenesis, respiratory virology, mucosal immunity, precision diagnostics, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and global health.

The conference placed particular emphasis on interdisciplinary research and international scientific collaboration as infectious disease threats continue to require coordinated responses across research, clinical medicine, diagnostics, surveillance and public health.
Lifetime Achievement Awards were conferred on Dr. S.P. Thyagarajan, Professor of Eminence and Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Madras; Prof. Rafick Sékaly, Professor, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, USA; Prof. Bali Pulendran, Director, Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, Stanford University, USA; Prof. Marie Larsson, Professor, Linköping University, Sweden; and Dr. Priya Abraham, Former Director and Scientist, ICMR National Institute of Virology, Pune.
The Excellence in Scientific Conference Leadership Award was presented to Prof. Mirko Paiardini, Professor, Emory University School of Medicine, USA; Dr. Priti Kumar, Associate Professor, Yale University School of Medicine, USA; and Dr. Vijayakumar Velu, Associate Professor, Emory University School of Medicine, USA.

Dr. S.P. Thyagarajan said coordinated action was required to address the burden of infectious diseases.
There is a need for coordinated efforts to tackle the growing burden of infectious diseases. We have to have an integrated approach in these programmes, Dr. Thyagarajan said.
He called for rapid and cost effective molecular diagnostic systems, stronger surveillance programmes, more effective immunisation and coordinated infectious disease prevention and control.
Prof. Rafick Sékaly said the participation of young researchers was among the important aspects of iCER-ID 2026.

One of the most inspiring aspects of iCER-ID 2026 is seeing so many young researchers eager to learn and engage with science, Prof. Sékaly said.
He added that scientific progress depends on sharing knowledge, encouraging questions and translating ideas into discoveries that can contribute to global health.
Dr. Sunil Narayan, Dean Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, said scientific conferences have an important role at a time when researchers and healthcare professionals are dealing with large volumes of information as well as misinformation.

In an era of information overload and misinformation, conferences like iCER-ID 2026 are more important than ever, Dr. Narayan said.
He added that bringing young researchers into direct interaction with experienced scientists supports evidence based learning and can lead to research collaborations with relevance to healthcare.
Dr. R. Jayanthi, Dean Medical at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, said scientific progress benefits when specialists from different fields work towards a common objective.
Scientific progress is accelerated when experts from diverse disciplines come together with a common purpose, Dr. Jayanthi said.

She added that iCER-ID 2026 brought together researchers, clinicians and public health experts to encourage collaborations capable of advancing scientific research and improving patient outcomes.
The conference also provided a platform for researchers at different stages of their careers to interact with scientists from India and overseas across areas ranging from disease biology and immunity to diagnostics, vaccination and global health.

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