The Animal Health Programme also played an active role in the scientific programme of this European network of research institutions working on infectious diseases.

Enrique Ezcurra, a PhD researcher in the African swine fever research line, received the Best Abstract Award at the conference.

EPIZONE 2026 brought together around fifteen researchers from five different research lines within IRTA-CReSA’s Animal Health Programme. The IRTA-CReSA delegation presented research on some of the most relevant threats to animal health, including African swine fever, classical swine fever, avian influenza and Newcastle disease.

The contributions covered areas ranging from pathogenesis and virus–host interactions to vaccines, epidemiology, surveillance and rapid diagnostics, together with innovative approaches such as chicken lung organoids to study avian influenza infection.

In addition, the EPIZONE conference provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships with other members of this international network of veterinary research institutes working on epizootic animal diseases, including those with zoonotic potential. The mission of the network, of which IRTA-CReSA is a member, is to promote research, knowledge exchange and scientific collaboration to improve the prevention and control of these diseases.

IRTA-CReSA’s presence also went beyond the presentation of research results, with participation in the EPIZONE Scientific Committee, chairing of several scientific sessions and contributions to Young EPIZONE. This reflects IRTA’s commitment not only to generating knowledge, but also to scientific exchange, collaboration and the next generation of researchers.

Enrique Ezcurra, winner of the Best Abstract Award

It is also worth highlighting that one of the awards presented at the conference went to PhD researcher Enrique Ezcurra Zubizarreta, who received the Best Abstract Award and the opportunity to present his work during the final plenary session. Enrique Ezcurra’s doctoral thesis, conducted within the African swine fever research line, investigates which early virus–host interactions are associated with the development of protective immunity against ASFV, as opposed to those involved in a virulent and pathogenic infection.

The EPIZONE 2026 annual meeting took place from 2 to 4 September in Bern, Switzerland.