OptiViVax research presented at the World Vaccine Congress Europe 2026

Three researchers from the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM) presented OptiViVax research at the World Vaccine Congress Europe 2026 in Amsterdam. Prof. Miguel Prudêncio, Dr Diana Fontinha and Eyob Workneh shared new findings spanning whole-sporozoite vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and transmission-blocking immunity against Plasmodium vivax malaria.

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The conference brings together researchers, industry representatives, policymakers and funders from across the vaccine sector to discuss advances spanning basic discovery research through to clinical development and manufacturing. 

Within OptiViVax, the GIMM team is advancing whole-sporozoite vaccine strategies against Plasmodium vivax, while developing tools and models to evaluate vaccine-induced immune responses and support the development of next-generation malaria vaccines.

During the conference:

• Prof. Miguel Prudêncio presented Novel surrogate whole-sporozoite vaccine candidates against Plasmodium vivax malaria.
• Dr Diana Fontinha presented research on the development of monoclonal antibodies targeting P. vivax.
• Dr Eyob Workneh presented work assessing transmission-blocking immunity elicited by whole-sporozoite vaccines for P. vivax. 

We are delighted to see OptiViVax research featured at one of Europe's leading vaccine meetings and thank Miguel, Diana and Eyob for representing the consortium.