05.06.2026
TBnet Academy 2026 in Vilnius
In the year marking the 20th anniversary of the Tuberculosis Network European Trials Group, TBnet successfully held its 12th TBnet Academy from 31 May to 3 June 2026 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The Academy once again brought together 20 outstanding young scholars from across Europe working in translational science, microbiology and clinical medicine in the fields of tuberculosis and diseases caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria.
Participants were selected through a competitive application process for this intensive three-day training and networking event, which supports early-career development, scientific exchange and long-term collaboration across the European tuberculosis research community. This year’s Academy received support from the Monteillet-Musiolik Fellowship and the Hospital Partnership Programme BREATH, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation. This support enabled the participation of five Ukrainian scholars and Ukrainian faculty members.
Hosted at the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University, the Academy offered a comprehensive programme covering the latest scientific developments in tuberculosis epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis and treatment, as well as childhood tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial diseases. Keynote lectures addressed major current challenges, including tuberculosis in Lithuania in 2026, ending tuberculosis in our lifetime, the impact of war on tuberculosis in Europe, asymptomatic tuberculosis, post-tuberculosis lung disease and antibiotic stewardship.
A central feature of the TBnet Academy is its interactive format. Participants presented state-of-the-art reviews and discussed their work with an international faculty of leading experts from Lithuania, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Moldova, Italy, Latvia, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States. Sessions on research planning, grant funding, manuscript writing, scientific presentation, networking and communication provided practical tools for career development.
Anne Oleischeck
Klinische Infektiologie
Forschungszentrum Borstel, Leibniz Lungenzentrum
Parkallee 35, 23845 Borstel
T +49 4537 / 188-7080
admin@tbnet.eu
The programme also included visits to Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, where participants joined a teaching ward round and visited the mycobacteria laboratory. These clinical and laboratory experiences created a valuable bridge between research, diagnostics and patient care.
The Academy concluded with an innovative tuberculosis escape room, where participants worked together to apply newly acquired knowledge to solve complex problems. The exercise highlighted the Academy’s spirit of collaboration, creativity and shared commitment to improving tuberculosis care and research.
With its 12th Academy in Vilnius, TBnet reaffirmed its mission to connect and empower the next generation of tuberculosis experts across Europe.
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