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Vaccinology Course 2026

Warm congratulations to all participants who have successfully completed the Institut Pasteur Vaccinology Course 2026!

From February 16 to March 13, 2026, learners from around the world for a rich blended experience.This prestigious course, directed by Prof. Armelle Phalipon and Prof. Chetan Chitnis, provided an integrated overview of Vaccinology, covering critical topics such as vaccine development, from design to delivery, and addressing challenges faced in both industrialized and developing countries.

Throughout the course, participants explored:

Basic concepts in immunology and vaccination
Update of vaccine development against major infectious diseases
Future challenges and the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic
A highlight of the course was the collaborative group project, where participants developed and presented innovative vaccine proposals to a panel of experts. An experience that certainly strengthened both their expertise and global professional networks.
HSeT Foundation, as educational partner of Institut Pasteur, is proud of their dedication and achievement, and looks forward to the meaningful contributions they will bring to the future of global vaccinology.

New member of HSeT Scientific Advisory Board

Dr. Fiona Ecarnot has been a key contributor to the HSeT Foundation through her involvement in the eTRIGGER training programme since 2021. She has supported its academic and strategic development, contributing to programme design, quality assurance, and international expansion across multiple regions.

Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Dr. Fiona Ecarnot works as a research engineer at the Cardiology Department of the University Hospital of Besançon, France. She received an MSc in biostatistics and epidemiology from the University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, and obtained a PhD at the same university in 2019 in the field of cardiovascular sciences, focussing on the use of qualitative research methods in the field of cardiology. She qualified as a director of doctoral research (Habilitation à Diriger les Recherches, HDR) in 2024. Her research areas include vaccines, geriatrics and gerontology, ethics in healthcare, palliative care, and end-of- life issues. She has authored or co-authored over 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals, plus numerous book chapters.

CAS/DAS of Translational Nephrology Course

Start of new 2-year cycle with Module 1 ‘Salt, Water and Hypertension’.
The Translational Nephrology course became 2022 a CAS/DAS of the Universities of Zurich and Bern. Its third 2-year cycle will start on March 20, 2026.
The kick-off session of this blended course will take place at the University of Bern and can also be attended online.
For more information about the program and registration details, please visit the webpage
https://www.nephrologie.unibe.ch/.

Click here to download the program

IP RABIES COURSE

Since 2013, the Institute Pasteur in Paris has organized a series of intensive 11-day rabies workshops in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OIE), and the Health Sciences eTraining Foundation (HSeT). Additional support has been provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC).
To date, these workshops have been hosted in the following locations:
Dakar, Senegal (2013); Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2015); Yaoundé, Cameroon (2016); Amol, Iran (2017); Casablanca, Morocco (2019); Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (2022);Yaoundé, Cameroon (2023); and Harare, Zimbabwe (2024).

The next workshop is scheduled to take place at the Institut Pasteur of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in November 2026. While this may be the final instalment in this specific series of eight workshops, discussions are currently underway with the Institut Pasteur and HSeT to determine how the program might continue in the future.

IAGG e-TRIGGER ASIO

The IAGG e-TRIGGER ASIO (Asian & Oceania) Program proudly celebrates a new milestone with the graduation of 82 trainees who have successfully completed the one-year course. Representing 19 different countries, this diverse group reflects the global spirit of the ASIO community.

Their achievement highlights the program’s continued role in fostering international collaboration and excellence in the field of geriatric medicine and gerontology.

The HSeT Foundation warmly congratulates all trainees and looks forward to following their future contributions to science, education, and healthy aging worldwide.

Registration to the new eTRIGGER ASIO cohort is still open. Please click here (add the link of asio registration page) for more information.

Dr. THIERRY BRUN & Prof. CHARNA DIBNER

On Friday, 23 January 2026, the Geneva Medical Students’ Association (AEMG) recognised several teachers for their excellence in teaching at the Med’Gala. The purpose of this event is to celebrate the dedication of teachers in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in medicine.

The prize for the best references in the second year of the Bachelor’s degree in human medicine was awarded to Dr Thierry Brun from the Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism and Prof. Charna Dibner from the Department of Surgery. It recognises the significant involvement of all those involved in designing the bibliographic references and the e-learning for the Nutrition, Digestion and Metabolism Unit, in particular Ms Aviva Sugar Chmiel and all members of the HSeT Foundation (Health Sciences eTraining Foundation). The winners warmly thank the AEMG for organising the Med’Awards/Med’Gala event for the third consecutive year and for recognising the significant involvement of all teachers in the preparation of teaching and their commitment to excellence in medical training. They see this as a remarkable sign of the quality of the relationships between faculty and students within the Faculty of Medicine.

CAS BIOBANKING

CAS Biobanking – Programme Kick-off and Open Registrations

The CAS in Biobanking (University of Geneva) officially kicked off on Monday, 12 January 2026, marking the start of a new edition of this advanced training programme dedicated to biobank management and quality research infrastructures.

For more information about the programme and registration details, please visit the University of Geneva CAS Biobanking webpage: https://www.unige.ch/formcont/en/courses/cas-biobanking

AMOS BAIROCH

It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Professor Amos Bairoch, a pioneer in bioinformatics and founder of major resources such as SwissProt, UniProt as well as on cell lines with Cellosaurus. Amos was a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of HSET.
He was an outstanding colleague and a generous human being whose vision and commitment had a lasting impact on the international scientific community. His scientific and human legacy will continue to inspire researchers and students around the world.

IMVACC

The IMVACC program, a Master of Advanced Studies in Vaccinology, was introduced by the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2016 and concluded in 2024. Since its inception in 2016, the Master’s program has enrolled a total of 39 student, of with 33 have successfully completed and defended their master’s theses.

Predominantly, these students hail from low and middle-income countries, with 33 earning a UNIL diploma along with 60 ECTS credits. Four students were unable to complete their thesis projects; however, they did receive a certificate recognizing 40 ECTS credits. Notably, five students have succeeded in publishing their Master’s thesis work in peer-reviewed journals. The program’s significant impact on the students’ careers can be explored through the « Achievements » section on the IMVACC (https://imvacc.org) public website.