XVIth International Nidovirus Symposium 2023

We would like to submit a funding application for the symposium "The XVIth International Nidovirus Symposium" taking place from the 14th to the 18th May 2023 in Montreux, Switzerland. (http://nido2023.com).In this five-day symposium, we aim to facilitate scientific exchange and collaboration of high-level specialists in the field of Nidovirology. The Nidovirales is an order of RNA viruses that include the now infamous Coronaviridae virus family, as well as Arteriviridae, Roniviridae, and Mesoniviridae. This eclectic group of viruses including SARS-CoV-2, zoonotic SARS- and MERS-coronaviruses, common cold viruses and many other highly relevant livestock viruses are not only of interest due to their impact on public and animal health but also the economic damage they do. Indeed, as we enter 2023 and the fourth year of the COVID pandemic, the role of specialists in this field cannot be underestimated. The International Nidovirus Symposium has developed over the past 40 years into its present format of a triennial event. It is through meetings like this that multidisciplinary collaborations develop and facilitated the unprecedented reaction to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. In little more than a year, we went from discovery of a new pandemic virus to the development of functional vaccines and antiviral therapies. This would not have been possible without the groundwork put in place in several interconnected fields over many years. After more than 3 years where scientific collaboration has mostly taken place through the medium of online meetings, it is important to meet face-to-face again to build on existing collaborations but also to develop new connections also in a more informal environment provided by the additional poster sessions, networking dinner and social activities planned during the symposium.With a total of 26 speakers from across the world, we have put together a programme including the leading lights in the field of nidovirology, who will present on a variety of subjects ranging from surveillance and epidemiology, virus biology through to vaccine and antiviral development. Our scientific programme will also address topics such as pandemic preparedness and the response to SARS-CoV-2, discussing what we have learnt, and what we could do better in the future. The strength of this symposium is not only the world-class line-up of speakers but the inclusion of shorter talks, flash presentations and poster sessions where basic researchers will be able to present their work, enabling further interaction with their peers. For our industry partners this is an unprecedented opportunity to interact with the leading scientists in the field, many of whom contributed to the innovative research that led to the fast roll out of SARS CoV-2 vaccines and antivirals. The symposium which will be a physical meeting has been divided up into 4 keynote lectures, 22 speakers, split over 11 sessions as well as shorter 15-minute abstract presentations, 5-minute flash presentation for each and 2 poster sessions. Additionally, a TWiV podcast (This Week in Virology, hosted by Vincent Racaniello http://microbe.tv/twiv) will be broadcast onsite during the meeting.