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JAFRAL Phage Summit 2026: Connecting the global phage community will be held in Ljubljana, Slovenia from Tuesday 19th May till Thursday 21st May 2026.
What is the JAFRAL Phage Summit and Why attend?
Phage therapy is reaching an important turning point. As antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to rise and antibiotics become less effective, the world is urgently seeking new, patient-focused treatments. Bacteriophages, viruses that specifically target and kill bacteria are rapidly emerging as one of the most promising therapeutic options.
What the phage field needs most today is deeper global connection, stronger collaboration, and a shared roadmap for transforming scientific progress into real-world therapies. And that is exactly what the JAFRAL Phage Summit 2026 will deliver.
As a global meeting shaping the future of phage therapy, the summit brings together every key stakeholder driving the next era of innovation; from clinicians, pharmacists and infectious disease specialists to biotech innovators, regulatory authorities, industry leaders and researchers.
Over three intensive days, participants will explore new developments, share clinical experiences, and accelerate the translation of phage science into safe, effective and accessible therapies for patients worldwide. This is more than a conference. It is a collective step toward redefining how we treat bacterial infections.
The JAFRAL Phage Summit 2026 will focus on:
- Real-world clinical experience & compassionate use cases: Learn directly from frontline clinicians applying phage therapy in patient care and understand practical implementation challenges and successes.
- Active clinical trials & emerging outcomes: Gain insights into ongoing studies and the latest data shaping the evidence base for phage therapeutics.
- Cross-disciplinary collaboration: Join discussions that bring together science, medicine, regulation and industry to spark new partnerships and accelerate progress.
- Translating innovation from lab to clinic: Discover how research breakthroughs are moving toward clinical application and broader patient access.
- Global networking & community building: Connect with an international network dedicated to advancing patient care through phage therapy.
- Regulatory insight & evolving pathways: Engage with regulatory experts to gain clear perspectives on the frameworks guiding the safe and effective advancement of phage therapies.
Why this summit matters
2026 marks a turning point for phage therapy:
- More clinical evidence is emerging, giving the field stronger data and clearer direction.
- Regulatory agencies are increasingly engaged, helping shape practical pathways for future therapies.
- Hospitals and healthcare systems are showing growing interest, driven by real patient needs and rising AMR.
- Biotech and pharma investment is expanding, accelerating innovation and development.
- Global collaboration on AMR is strengthening, uniting experts across sectors and regions.
The JAFRAL Phage Summit 2026 brings all these forces into one place creating momentum toward a future where phage therapy becomes a safe, accessible and routine option for patients who need it most.
Who will be at the JAFRAL Phage Summit?
The summit will gather pharma and biotech professionals; medical doctors, clinicians and infectious disease specialists; regulatory authorities and policymakers; hospital, clinical and community pharmacists; researchers and translational scientists; healthcare organisations and hospital networks; industry partners; academic, public health and AMR educators; and students and early career professionals eager to join the field, bringing together both seasoned experts and those new to the field to learn, collaborate and contribute to meaningful progress.
Agenda for the JAFRAL Phage Summit 2026
Tuesday 19th May 2026
Global Infectious Disease Landscape & Phage Therapy
- The global AMR challenge
- EU policy, regulation & innovation
- Insights from infectious disease specialists
- Phage therapy as a global health solution
Speakers:
Dr. Rob Lavigne, KU Leuven
Dr. Jochem Spoor, Erasmus Medical Center
Dr. Tobi Nagel, Phages for Global Health
Dr. Zuzanna Kazmierczak, Hirszfeld Institute
Mr. Anthony Rodiadis, European Commission
Mr. Pietro Erba, European Commission
Ms. Tine Rikke Jørgensen, Former WHO AMR Innovation / The Globe Institute
Wednesday 20th May 2026
Clinical Trials & Current Results
- Latest outcomes from completed trials
- Updates from ongoing studies
- Regulatory guidance shaping clinical development
- Breakthroughs from biotech innovators
Speakers:
Dr. Christian Grøndahl, SNIPR Biome
Dr. Radu Botgros, EMA
Dr. Alexander Sulakvelidze, Intralytix
Dr. Shawna McCallin, Balgrist University Hospital
Dr. Minmin Yen, PhagePro
Dr. Carmen Coxon, MHRA
Ms. Amanda Burkardt, Phiogen Pharma
Dr. Sofia Corte Real, Technophage
Thursday 21st May 2026
Compassionate Use & Magistral Preparations
- Practical approaches to personalised phage therapy
- Case studies & patient journeys
- Compassionate use regulations
- Real world hospital experiences
Speakers:
Dr. Saima Aslam, UC San Diego Health
Ms. Karen Northshield, phage therapy patient
Dr. Anja Düchtling, BfArM
Dr. Mark Sutton, UK Health Security Agency
Dr. Silvia Würstle, Frankfurt University Hospital
Dr. Andrej Trampuž, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control
Dr. Jean Paul Pirnay, Queen Astrid Military Hospital
Dr. Kārlis Rācenis, Rīga Stradiņš University
Dr. Steffen Lanwald, BG Klinikum Bergmannstrost Halle
View past events by JAFRAL
