Insights from World Vaccine Congress US 2026: A Shifting Vaccine Landscape

The World Vaccine Congress US, held in Washington from March 30–April 2, brought together global leaders from across vaccine R&D, clinical development, regulation, and commercial strategy to address the evolving needs of the field, as the sector continues to adapt to funding considerations, shifting public perception, and the drive to innovate more efficiently.

We were pleased to contribute to this year’s program, with Leon De Waal, Principal Scientist, Ph.D., presenting in the emerging and re-emerging infectious disease track. He highlighted how scientifically robust preclinical and clinical strategies can help address ongoing global health challenges, even within a difficult funding and policy landscape.

An industry under pressure, but still moving forward

A recurring theme throughout the event was the challenging funding environment, particularly in the United States. Reduced investment from major public funding bodies is having a global impact, influencing vaccine development from early discovery through late-stage clinical programs.

Despite these pressures, the overall tone of the conference remained constructive. Many speakers emphasized the importance of diversifying funding strategies, increasing international collaboration, and continuing to invest in innovation to ensure vaccine pipelines do not stall.

There was also a strong consensus that vaccine development remains a global public health priority, especially as emerging and re-emerging pathogens continue to pose significant risk.

Emerging and re-emerging threats in focus

Across the emerging diseases track, discussions reinforced the importance of maintaining proactive preparedness in the face of an evolving infectious disease landscape. Rather than reacting to outbreaks as they occur, speakers emphasized the need for sustained scientific investment, early insight, and long-term development strategies.

Key areas of focus included:

• Influenza with pandemic potential, highlighting the ongoing need for predictive models and early efficacy assessment to support timely vaccine development.
• Re-emerging diseases such as polio, where scientific capability must be closely aligned with public health engagement, surveillance, and policy considerations.

Together, these discussions underscored the importance of continued vigilance and preparedness, even for diseases that have historically been considered well controlled, and reinforced the role of robust science in supporting global vaccine readiness.

Presentation highlights: addressing emerging and re-emerging threats

As part of the emerging and re-emerging diseases track, Leon De Waal, Principal Scientist, Ph.D., delivered a presentation titled “Tackling tomorrow’s threats: innovation to address emerging pandemic potential influenza and reemerging poliovirus.”

Drawing on scientific data and real-world project experience, Leon demonstrated how innovation across the development pipeline can support global vaccine preparedness and more informed decision-making.

Key elements included:

• Pandemic-potential influenza, presented as a continuously evolving threat, with emphasis on the development of relevant preclinical models to evaluate vaccine efficacy.
• How robust preclinical data can inform clinical study design, helping to de-risk downstream development and support efficient progression.
• Poliovirus as a re-emerging pathogen, influenced by factors including vaccine coverage gaps, geopolitical instability, and disruptions to immunization programs.

The presentation concluded by highlighting the importance of innovation not only in pathogen focus and vaccine platforms but also in preclinical strategy, including the growing role of alternative models aligned with evolving regulatory expectations.

Read the presentation

The growing role of alternative preclinical models

Alternative preclinical approaches emerged as an increasingly important theme, reflecting both evolving regulatory expectations and a broader drive toward more predictive, efficient development strategies.

Several sessions referenced the 3 Rs framework:

• Reduction – minimizing animal use wherever possible.
• Replacement – incorporating non-animal alternatives such as organoids and advanced in vitro systems
• Refinement – enhancing study design to increase the quality and breadth of data generated from each experiment.

These approaches were positioned not only as an ethical consideration but also as a scientific opportunity to improve data relevance, support earlier decision-making, and reduce downstream development risk. As regulatory bodies continue to encourage movement away from traditional animal models, investment in well-validated alternative preclinical strategies is increasingly viewed as both a scientific and strategic priority.

What the poster sessions revealed about current priorities

Poster content revealed clear trends across the field, with the majority focused on immunogenicity studies. Immunogenicity is a key area of research and has been used to evaluate a vaccine’s ability to induce a functional immune response, measuring antibody production, T-cell activation, and memory cell formation. These studies are critical for selecting vaccine candidates, optimizing doses, and setting immunization schedules. Further studies also highlighted:

• Ongoing work on respiratory viruses, including RSV, influenza, and COVID-19
• Increased attention on dengue and other climate-driven vector-borne diseases
• Early discussion of “exotic” viruses, which are becoming increasingly relevant as climate change alters geographic risk patterns

mRNA-based platforms received relatively limited attention in the infectious disease space, reflecting current regional funding priorities.

Expanding horizons beyond infectious disease

While infectious disease dominated much of the program, several sessions explored cancer vaccines, often also referenced as precision neoantigen therapies.

These sessions highlighted the following:

• Greater convergence between oncology, immunology, and virology
• Shared delivery platforms and technologies
• Growing demand for partners capable of supporting complex, immune-driven development programs

This convergence further reinforced the value of end-to-end development support, from early modeling through clinical testing.

Key considerations shaping vaccine development in the years ahead

Looking forward, several persistent challenges were emphasized throughout the congress:

1. Sustained investment
   Funding constraints are expected to persist in the near term, making efficient development strategies increasingly important.
2. Public and political perception
   Public perception dynamics continue to play a role in shaping funding, policy decisions, and development priorities, particularly in the US.
3. Innovation across the development pipeline
   From sequencing technologies to preclinical modeling and immunogenicity assessment, innovation remains essential.

Final thoughts: commitment to science in a complex landscape

Even against a backdrop of financial uncertainty and evolving public perception, the congress revealed a sector that remains highly collaborative and firmly committed to scientific progress and innovation.

For organizations involved in vaccine development, the message was consistent: future success will depend on adaptability, partnership, and scientifically driven decision-making across the entire development pathway.

Looking to move your vaccine program forward? Connect with our team to explore how our integrated scientific expertise can help address today’s development challenges.