VIRCAN2026 Conference

The conference VIRCAN2026 is organised within the framework of the project Genetic characterization of high-rish human papillomaviruses in Ukraine and Latvia to inform national policy of cervical cancer prevention funded by the Latvian Science Council. The aim of the conference is to strengthen the potential of researchers of the Baltic Sea Region, with the focus on Latvia, in the field of chronic viral infections and cancer. Together, we will dwell into pathogenesis of such infections, dissect the mechanisms of virus induced malignant transformation, and explore the most recent developments of specific therapies and vaccines.

The conference will continue the line of research meetings on chronic viral infections, cancer, openings for vaccines and cure, held in Riga, Latvia since 2022.

Conference Co-Chairs
Organising Committee

Maria Issagouliantis, PhD, Assoc Prof, Lead Researcher, RSU Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Latvia
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Franco Maria Buonaguro, Prof., Doctor of Medicine; Director Emeritus at Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione Pascale", Naples, Italy
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Juris Jansons, Visiting Researcher, RSU Institute of Microbiology and Virology
Mariia Nazarenko, Visiting Research Assistant, RSU Institute of Microbiology and Virology
Dita Pole, Project Manager, RSU Development and Project Department
Jūle Mare Rozīte, Web Development Manager, RSU Communications Department
Aigars Červinskis, Senior Web Editor, RSU Communications Department

Key dates

10 October 2026	Registration opens
23 November 2026	All abstract submission closes
30 November 2026	Registration closes
1 December 2026	Abstract acceptance notifications

VIRCAN2026 will be held as a hybrid conference, virtually via Zoom and in person for those working and studying in Riga.

Location: RSU Institute of Microbiology and Virology, 5 Rātsupītes iela, Riga

We invite all researchers, from those in the early stages of their careers to established scientists, to attend and speak on a broad range of subjects including molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of chronic viral infections and cancer, mechanisms of virus-associated carcinogenesis, viral infections/cancer cure and vaccines. Special focus will be placed on high risk human papillomavirus infections, molecular epidemiology, pathogenesis, screening, diagnostics, and vaccination. Presentations will be organised in five sections, each session will open with a plenary lecture by a known expert in the field.

Participation in the conference is free of charge with prior registration.

Programme

The two-day scientific programme includes five sessions: two general sessions on day 1, and three sessions on HPV on day 2. Each session will be opened by keynote lecture of the beknown special in the field.

Chronic viral infections: pathogenesis, cure, vaccines
Cancer: pathogenesis, and drivers, cure, vaccines
HPV – pathogenesis, associated cancer
HPV - molecular epidemiology, diagnostics
HPV – screening and vaccination

The preliminary programme with the names of the invited speakers and invited lecture topics will be published in mid-October. The final programme will be published after all submitted abstracts are reviewed. Expected date - 1 December 2026.

Registration guidelines

When registering, participants will be asked to provide:

full name,
affiliation,
contact email,
abstract (if you would like to participate with a presentation).

Registration

Registered participants and speakers can receive a Certificate of Attendance. Please contact the organising committee if you wish to receive one (maria[pnkts]issagouliantisrsu[pnkts]lv).

Abstract Submission

Submitted abstracts will be assessed by an expert committee. The committee will notify authors of acceptance and the form of presentation (oral, poster) by 1 December 2026. Organisers aim to give early-career researchers an opportunity to give 10-15 min. oral presentations. Poster presentations will be allocated 5 min. slots. Sections will be defined based on the topic of the abstract.

Abstracts can be submitted at the time of registration, or by 23 November 2026 at the latest. Invited key-note speakers also need to register and submit their abstracts by 23 November 2026. Registration without abstracts will be open until 30 November 2026.

Accepted abstracts will be collected in a book with conference proceedings and shared on the conference website on the RSU server. Selected presentations will be invited to submit to a special issue of the journal Vaccines (submissions for the issue will close 31 January 2027).

Guidelines

Regular abstract submission form

Abstract format

Format: Word, or PDF document;
Font: Times New Roman, size 11;
Line-spacing: one-line with 2cm margins on all sides;
Length: 4,000 characters (incl. spaces, excl. title and author information).

Contents of regular abstracts

Title (not more than 150 characters, incl. spaces);
Authors (surname, first name), indicate the corresponding author;
Affiliations for all authors;
Background: a concise statement of the issue under investigation, or a hypothesis;
Materials & Methods: the experimental methods used (including the statistical analyses employed);
Results: specific findings;
Conclusions: a summary of findings that are supported by your results (statistical analyses used to support the conclusions);
Acknowledgements;
References to publications (max 3)

Contents of abstracts for plenary lectures

Keynote abstract submission form

Title (not more than 150 characters, incl. spaces);
Authors (surname, first name), indicate the corresponding author;
Affiliations for all authors;
Background: describe the importance of the revised field of research;
Aim(s): subject of the review;
Topics overviewed: short description of the overviewed topics; own findings of the author in this context;
Conclusions: resume of the progressed achieved so far and perspectives for the development.
Acknowledgements;
References to publications (max 5).