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A global non-profit network of expert virologists advancing pandemic preparedness through education and training, research, and global health strategies and solutions that inform policy, foster alliances, and combat misinformation.
04/06/2026
Applications are now open for GVN's Global Guardians for Pandemic Preparedness, with the deadline extended to April 30, 2026.
At the 2025 program, students learned how scientists track outbreaks using tools such as vector surveillance, PCR testing, and GIS modeling.
Hosted at University of South Florida, the program offers Florida high school students the opportunity to explore virology, epidemiology, and public health through hands on learning and engagement with experts.
Program Details:
• July 20 to 24, 2026
• University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
• Open to Florida high school students in grades 9 to 12 who have completed at least one biology course
• Free to attend after a 30 dollar non refundable application fee
• Residency option available
Dr. Robert C. Gallo (GVN Co-founder and International Scientific Director; GVN Center of Excellence Director at USF Health-University of South Florida's Institute for Translational Virology & Innovation, spoke during the Oncogenesis and Retroviruses panel at the on March 4, 2026.
Dr. Gallo, who discovered HTLV-1, the first known human retrovirus, discussed the global distribution of HTLV and emphasized the need for increased research investment and targeted interventions in regions where the virus remains highly prevalent.
04/06/2026
Dr. Damien Purcell (GVN; The University of Melbourne) spoke during the Oncogenesis and Retroviruses panel at the on March 4, 2026.
He highlighted the high prevalence of HTLV-1 in certain endemic populations and its association with chronic inflammatory diseases, emphasizing the role of proviral load in disease severity.
Purcell underscored the need for improved surveillance and targeted interventions to address HTLV burden in high-risk communities.
04/05/2026
Research from USF Health-University of South Florida is advancing new approaches to improve long term health for people living with HIV.
Dr. Robert C. Gallo, Co founder and International Scientific Director of the Global Virus Network and GVN Center of Excellence Director of USF Health's Institute for Virology & Innovation, is leading research into how ongoing immune dysfunction persists even when HIV is well controlled.
By targeting interferon alpha, the team is exploring ways to reduce long term complications and move closer to a functional cure.
Dr. Heidi Larson (GVN Board of Directors Member; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) spoke during the Vaccine Hesitancy lecture at the on March 4, 2026.
She highlighted how vaccine confidence is shaped by trust, social influence, and misinformation, drawing on global research across more than 70 countries.
Larson emphasized that improving vaccine uptake requires engaging trusted community voices and addressing the broader social and economic concerns that influence public health decision-making.
04/05/2026
Dr. William Moss (GVN; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health) spoke during the What’s New With Measles session at the on March 4, 2026.
He emphasized that measles remains one of the most infectious human viruses and highlighted how stagnant vaccine coverage, immune amnesia, and continued misinformation are sustaining the risk of outbreaks globally.
Moss reinforced that the problem is not vaccine failure, but failure to maintain uniformly high uptake.
04/05/2026
Dr. Sten Vermund, Chief Medical Officer of the Global Virus Network and Dean of USF College of Public Health, spoke during the What’s New With Measles session at the on March 4, 2026.
He highlighted the resurgence of measles in North America and emphasized that even when overall vaccination rates appear high, localized pockets of under-vaccination can drive major outbreaks.
Vermund stressed the importance of strong surveillance, hyper-local vaccination data, and maintaining the high coverage needed to prevent further spread.
04/04/2026
Dr. Daniela Weiskopf (GVN; La Jolla Institute for Immunology) spoke during the Post-Acute Infectious Syndromes session at the on March 4, 2026.
She presented research showing how CD4+ T cell responses are associated with chronic chikungunya virus disease, highlighting differences in immune responses between individuals who recover and those with persistent symptoms. Weiskopf emphasized the role of immune profiling in understanding long term viral disease outcomes.
04/03/2026
The Global Virus Network is monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.3.2, informally referred to as the “cicada” variant, and emphasizes that current evidence does not indicate cause for public concern.
BA.3.2 is part of the Omicron lineage and shows expected patterns of immune escape, but there is no evidence of increased disease severity or sustained rises in transmission.
This reinforces the importance of continued global surveillance, monitoring viral evolution, and clear, evidence based communication.
Sustained global collaboration and data driven assessment remain essential to pandemic preparedness.
Applications are now open for GVN's Global Guardians for Pandemic Preparedness, with the deadline extended to April 30, 2026.
At the 2025 program, students explored how viruses spread through hands on demonstrations on aerosols, surface transmission, and airflow.
Hosted at University of South Florida, the program offers Florida high school students the opportunity to explore virology, epidemiology, and public health through hands on learning and engagement with experts.
Program Details:
• July 20 to 24, 2026
• University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
• Open to Florida high school students in grades 9 to 12 who have completed at least one biology course
• Free to attend after a 30 dollar non refundable application fee
• Residency option available
Tiffany Butterfield (GVN; The University of the West Indies, Mona) spoke during the Post-Acute Infectious Syndromes session at the on March 4, 2026.
She discussed how chronic viral infections can drive immunometabolic dysregulation, highlighting the links between persistent inflammation, altered immune responses, and long term health outcomes. Butterfield emphasized the importance of understanding these mechanisms to better address post-acute infectious syndromes.
04/02/2026
Coming out of the 2026 Annual International Scientific Meeting, the Global Virus Network highlights advances in antiviral therapeutics, artificial intelligence, immunology, and global surveillance that are shaping how future pandemics may be detected and controlled.
Discussions emphasized rapid progress in areas such as AI-driven viral forecasting, next-generation antivirals, and integrated surveillance systems designed to identify emerging threats earlier.
At the same time, a central theme emerged: ensuring these scientific advances translate into real-world preparedness, including healthcare system readiness, coordinated global surveillance, and sustained public trust.
“The most important advances in pandemic preparedness come from basic science,” said Robert C. Gallo, MD.
Additional findings highlighted the role of viral infections in chronic disease, the importance of strengthening detection systems, and the need to invest in the next generation of the virology workforce.
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The Global Virus Network (GVN) was co-founded in 2011 by Robert Gallo, MD of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, William Hall, MD, PhD of University College Dublin and the late Reinhard Kurth, MD, PhD, of the Robert Koch Institute. The GVN is an essential and critical defense against viral disease. It is a coalition comprised of leading virologists spanning more than 20 countries worldwide, all working to advance knowledge about how viruses make us sick and to develop drugs and vaccines to prevent illness and death. No single institution in the world has expertise in all viral areas. GVN brings the best medical virologists together to leverage individual strengths and to focus global teams of scientists on key scientific problems. The power of GVN lies in its global reach, the depth of its science, and its commitment to solving viral challenges facing the human population. No other entity exists like the GVN.
Declaration of Support for a Global Virus Network
WE, EXPERTS represent Centers of Excellence for research in medical virology from across the globe. Our work is dedicated to understanding, preventing and eradicating viral disease threats to mankind.
WE AFFIRM the need for new programs to coordinate, support and promote research that bridges the gap between virus surveillance and public health implementation.
WE GATHER in Washington, D.C. to support goals and ideals of the Global Virus Network, a new approach to fostering true collaboration among all regions and all peoples of the world.
Seeking to improve the immediate responses to emerging vial threats, train future generations of medical virologists, and advise governments or non-governmental organizations on viral disease threats and their control, the Global Virus Network fills a critical need in international health for today and into the future.
