Looking Ahead

The 9th Annual CCIV Symposium exemplified the center’s continued growth, collaborative spirit, and scientific excellence. We thank all speakers, presenters, sponsors, and attendees for making this record-breaking event a success. We look forward to building on this momentum in the year ahead.9th Annual CCIV Symposium: A Record-Breaking Success

The Center for Childhood Infections and Vaccines (CCIV) proudly hosted its 9th Annual Symposium on November 6, 2025. The event brought together researchers, clinicians, trainees, and partners for a full day of scientific exchange, collaboration, and community building. With 150 attendees, this year’s symposium marked the largest turnout in CCIV history, reflecting the growing momentum and impact of pediatric infectious disease and vaccine research across Emory and its partner institutions.

Scientific Excellence and Innovation

The program featured 38 abstracts, including 10 oral (rapid-fire) presentations and 28 poster sessions. These presentations highlighted innovative work spanning several critical fields:

• Immunology and Virology
• Vaccinology
• Antimicrobial Resistance
• Public Health

The breadth and quality of the research underscored CCIV’s mission to advance discoveries that improve child health both locally and globally.

Distinguished Keynote Speakers

The symposium was anchored by two nationally renowned keynote speakers whose work bridges the gap between science, policy, and real-world impact:

• Paul A. Offit, MD Director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Dr. Offit delivered a compelling keynote on vaccine science, public trust, and the critical role of evidence-based medicine in protecting children worldwide.
• Stephen W. Patrick, MD, MPH, MS, FAAP Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health Dr. Patrick shared powerful insights on maternal and child health policy, substance use disorders, and translating research into meaningful systems-level change.

CCIV Internal Guest Speakers

In addition to the external keynotes, the symposium showcased leadership from within the CCIV community. Jens Wrammert, PhD, and Christina “Kristy” Rostad, MD, both Associate Professors in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, delivered featured talks.

Their presentations highlighted cutting-edge advances in human immune responses, vaccinology, and translational pediatric research, emphasizing the deep expertise and innovation housed within CCIV.

Celebrating Trainee Excellence

A hallmark of the CCIV Symposium is its commitment to recognizing outstanding trainee contributions. During the closing awards session, the following honors were presented:

• Best Oral Abstract Presentation Award: Barrett Breeze, for excellence in scientific rigor and presentation.
• Best Poster Presentation Award: Tyshawn Ferrell, recognizing the quality, clarity, and impact of their research.

CCIV congratulates both awardees and all trainees who presented their work, reflecting the incredible strength and potential of the next generation of scientists and clinicians.

Partnership and Support

The success of the 9th Annual Symposium was made possible through the generous support of our partners. CCIV gratefully acknowledges Sanofi and Pfizer for their sponsorship.

We also extend our deepest gratitude for the philanthropic contribution from Javier and Dolores Goizueta, whose support strengthened CCIV’s mission and programming.

Celebrating Success: The 8th Annual CCIV Symposium

The 8th Annual Center for Childhood Infections and Vaccines (CCIV) Symposium marked a significant milestone, drawing a record-breaking number of registrants and attendees from Emory University, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and our partner institutions.

This year's event was a vibrant celebration of innovation and collaboration, featuring over 30 oral and poster presentations from faculty, trainees, and students.

Featured Speakers

The highlight of the symposium was an inspiring lineup of experts sharing groundbreaking research and global perspectives:

• Keynote Speaker: Dr. Grace John-Stewart Professor of Global Health, Medicine, Pediatrics, and Epidemiology at the University of Washington In her powerful talk, "Pediatric HIV: Challenges and Opportunities," Dr. John-Stewart shared insights from her extensive work in Kenya and her leadership in global maternal-child health. With over 500 peer-reviewed publications and a legacy of mentoring more than 100 trainees, her presentation challenged attendees to think boldly about the future of pediatric infectious disease research.
• Internal Guest Speaker: Dr. Vineet Menachery Associate Professor, Emory University School of Medicine Dr. Menachery provided a deep dive into the frontiers of SARS-CoV-2 research, exploring the evolving landscape of viral pathogenesis and pandemic preparedness.
• Internal Guest Speaker: Dr. Una O’Doherty Professor, Emory University School of Medicine Dr. O’Doherty shared compelling updates on HIV research, highlighting innovative approaches to understanding and treating the virus.

Collaboration and Connection

The day concluded with a high-energy poster session and reception. This gathering provided a vital space for trainees and established investigators to foster the new connections and collaborations that drive the CCIV mission forward.