In addition to the Conference Scientific submissions that launch on 19 February, there will be a separate call for TBScience abstracts, between 14 May and 10 June 2025.
TBScience focuses on the following research areas, for which abstracts will be considered: basic science (microbiology, immunology, cell biology, etc.), animal models, clinical, particularly investigational medicine and product development, and modelling for epidemiology and transmission.
TBScience does not focus on the following research areas, for which abstracts will not be considered: implementation science, health systems and policy, operational and programmatic, descriptive epidemiology (e.g., prevalence surveys), health economics, social science.
2025 Themes
Theme 1:
New frontiers in TB treatment development and monitoring
Description: Many TB patients are treated for longer than necessary, while others are undertreated. Time to sputum culture conversion for monitoring treatment response has limitations. This session will explore advances in biomarkers of treatment response that could accelerate drug development, through faster trials. Other key innovations in TB drug development will also be explored, including strategies to optimize regimen duration, and mitigate resistance risks.
Theme 2:
Artificial Intelligence advancing the TB field
Description: Artificial intelligence has the potential to accelerate discovery and development of drugs, vaccines and diagnostics, by guiding structural design, preclinical testing and clinical trial design. AI could also be applied to TB management throughout the cascade of care. This session will explore the use cases for AI, where tools are already making a difference, and what the future opportunities – and potential risks – are.
Theme 3:
TB vaccines and other prevention strategies
Description: The TB pandemic will not be controlled without optimal prevention strategies. This session will address the latest advances in TB vaccines, including correlates of protection. Alternative prevention strategies such as long-acting antimicrobials and nutritional intervention will be explored.
Theme 4:
Microscopic frontiers in TB pathology
Description: The cellular and molecular pathways at the TB infection site will be explored. It is proposed that minute changes can determine clinical trajectories such as lack of disease, asymptomatic or symptomatic disease and long-term sequelae. We will address how understanding of TB pathology could lead to actionable strategies to improve patient outcomes.