Durham hosts inaugural Strep GBI conference, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration

Durham hosts inaugural Strep GBI conference

Researchers from across Great Britain and Ireland came to Durham University in March 2026 for the inaugural Strep GBI conference, a new initiative to bring together the streptococcal research community from across disciplines. Co-hosted by Dr Karrera Djoko (Durham University), Prof Helge Dorfmueller (University of Dundee) and Dr Alex McCarthy (Imperial College London) the meeting was hugely successful, attracting 80 delegates from 21 institutions.

Supported by the Biophysical Sciences Institute (BSI), the conference highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling major health challenges. By connecting expertise across molecular biology, microbiology, immunology and clinical research, the meeting fostered new cross-cutting research perspectives that span traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Building collaboration across disciplines

Strep GBI was established to unite scientists working on streptococcal bacteria, with the aim of building a cross-disciplinary network and generating new collaborations. The programme for the conference spanned fundamental and clinical science, covering topics from bacterial physiology and host–pathogen interactions to epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance across a wide range of streptococcal species.

Supporting the next generation of researchers

Essential to the idea for the conference was a strong focus on ECRs. Alongside keynote lectures from Dr Angela Nobbs (University of Bristol), Dr Matthew Sullivan (University of East Anglia/University of Western Australia) and Dr Tom Parks (Imperial College London), the majority of presentations were delivered by PhD students, research assistants and postdoctoral researchers.

Enabling impact through partnership

The success of Strep GBI 2026 was underpinned by strong institutional support, including sponsorship from the Biophysical Sciences Institute and the Microbiology Society. This support helped ensure broad participation and fostered an inclusive, collaborative environment, with networking continuing throughout the meeting.

Following highly positive feedback, the conference will return to Durham in 2027 and is set to become a biennial event. The 2026 meeting has established a vibrant, interdisciplinary network, showcasing how cross-disciplinary initiatives can address complex biomedical challenges and drive innovation.

Find out more

• Strep GBI conference
• Dr Karrera Djoko (Durham University)
• Prof Helge Dorfmueller (University of Dundee)
• Dr Alex McCarthy (Imperial College London)
• Biophysical Sciences Institute
• Department of Biosciences