COMBINE Meets in Ghent for 1st Progress Meeting

4 - 5 March 2026

The COMBINE consortium gathered in Ghent for its first Progress Meeting to review the achievements of the first project year and align on the next steps. Hosted by VIB, the two-day meeting brought partners together in the inspiring setting of a historic monastery to discuss scientific progress, project management, and strategic priorities.

The first day focused on project oversight and scientific advancements. Following a welcome by the coordinator, partners received an update on overall project status and administrative aspects. Dedicated Work Package sessions highlighted progress across all scientific pillars – from BSL-4 virology and MARV host-cell interaction to AI-based data exploration, and the identification of small-molecule inhibitors and vaccine-relevant antigen candidates. The lively discussions enabled valuable cross-disciplinary exchange and constructive feedback. The day concluded with a joint consortium dinner, providing further opportunity for informal networking.

On the second day, the focus shifted towards communication, dissemination, exploitation, as well as more in-depth exchanges on screening set-ups, sustainability perspectives, future funding opportunities and potential joint outputs. The meeting concluded with a summary of key action points and a refined scientific roadmap for the months ahead.

Partners left Ghent with fresh insights and renewed motivation – and we are already looking forward to our next in-person meeting in 2027!