KINGSTON, JAMAICA – May 8, 2025 – In a pivotal gathering marking the forefront of viral research and public health strategy, the Global Virus Network (GVN), in collaboration with The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus and the State University of New York (SUNY) at the University of Buffalo, successfully conducted the 2025 GVN Regional Meeting: Caribbean and Latin America. This comprehensive summit, held over two days in Kingston, Jamaica from May 1-2, convened leading virologists, epidemiologists, and public health experts to engage in critical discourse on advancing viral surveillance, diagnostic innovations, vaccine research, and pandemic preparedness. The focus was sharply attuned to the escalating challenges posed by climate change and global interconnectedness, which exacerbate the potential for viral emergences and transmission dynamics throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
Dr. Sten Vermund, GVN’s Chief Medical Officer and Dean of the University of South Florida College of Public Health, eloquently emphasized the urgency of a united scientific front. “Intellectual prowess throughout the Caribbean and Latin America is remarkable; however, intellectual strength alone will not shield us from impending pandemics,” he asserted. Dr. Vermund underscored the necessity of forging bridging collaborations transcending linguistic, geopolitical, and disciplinary divides. Ahead of an era marked by escalating global temperatures and vector proliferation, the meeting stressed that viruses do not respect borders—whether in Tampa or Kingston, common vectors such as mosquitoes facilitate similar threats, mandating a cohesive and synchronized response rooted in interdisciplinary cooperation.
Representatives from regional research institutions expressed the indispensable role of local expertise in combating viral threats with global ramifications. Among them, Dr. John Lindo, a professor at UWI Mona, highlighted the persistent endemic pressures of arboviruses including dengue and chikungunya, alongside retroviruses such as Human T-cell Leukemia Virus (HTLV) and HIV. Reflecting on UWI’s commitment spanning decades, Dr. Lindo advocated for intensified partnerships, declaring that institutional capacities must be leveraged collectively, a sentiment echoed across this gathering. The university’s network across 18 Caribbean territories symbolizes a critical intellectual and infrastructural backbone that must interface with international partners to effectively confront these viral challenges dynamically.
Amid discussions on infrastructural evolution, Dr. Calum MacPherson from St. George’s University in Grenada presented insights into transformative progress instigated post-COVID-19. The university’s rise to national prominence as Grenada’s principal reference laboratory underpins an emergent paradigm where investment in research capabilities yields robust platforms for febrile illness analysis. Dr. MacPherson revealed that while dengue accounts for about 20% of febrile cases studied locally, a substantial proportion—approximately 80%—remains diagnostically elusive, signifying significant gaps in viral identification and necessitating broader research pipelines.
Further emphasizing viral oncology intersections, Dr. Eduardo Gotuzzo of Peru’s Institute of Tropical Medicine brought to light the intimate connections between viral infections and cancer incidence, particularly with HTLV-1 in marginalized demographics. Stressing equitable partnership models, he advocated for an ethical science framework where resource sharing transcends mere sample exchange and encompasses comprehensive knowledge co-creation. His call spotlights a critical paradigm shift necessary for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to be genuine collaborators in the global scientific enterprise, bolstering surveillance capacities for respiratory viruses and complex co-infections otherwise underrepresented in global datasets.
Technological advances took center stage during a dynamic panel session highlighting the fusion of artificial intelligence, microbiome studies, wastewater epidemiology, and climate data as synergistic tools to fortify pandemic readiness. Cutting-edge methods employing predictive modeling of influenza outbreaks demonstrated how integrating environmental parameters with real-time genomic sequences obtained from wastewater can enable anticipatory public health interventions. Discussions underscored climate change as a catalytic driver enhancing arboviral transmission in diverse ecological niches, from Brazil’s tropical regions to mountainous Andean ecosystems, thereby emphasizing the necessity for regionally coordinated, multi-disciplinary approaches combating these entangled biosphere-human health challenges.
Contributing industry-led perspectives, Dr. Lester Perez of Abbott Laboratories shared progress within the Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition (APDC), a GVN Center of Excellence. APDC’s identification of 24 novel viruses and comprehensive training of over 120 field researchers showcase remarkable strides in viral discovery and field epidemiology. Of particular concern is the discovery of a novel yellow fever strain in Colombia genetically linked to a 1999 Bolivian lineage, bearing potential implications for vaccine efficacy due to possible immune escape traits. Dr. Perez cautioned on the imperative for proactive genomic surveillance infrastructure, asserting that without such vigilance, public health systems risk perpetual lagging behind emergent viral threats.
In an exemplary demonstration of integrated viral genomics, Dr. Christine Carrington from UWI St. Augustine delineated her team’s use of high-throughput sequencing to map viral evolution across interconnected human, animal, and vector populations. This holistic “One Health” approach builds robust frameworks for real-time outbreak detection and response, with viral phylogenomics tracing transmission pathways and enabling targeted containment strategies. Dr. Carrington’s leadership in this domain earned her the inaugural GVN Regional Excellence in Leadership Award, signifying a regional hallmark in scientific innovation and collaborative leadership.
Latin America’s burgeoning vaccine research and development landscape was spotlighted by Dr. Arlene Calvo of the University of South Florida College of Public Health. Her presentation underscored Panama’s ascendancy as a vaccine innovation hub, attributed to its comprehensive public health infrastructure, entrenched community trust, and pioneering initiatives such as the National Vaccine Research Center. Collaborations with institutions like INDICASAT-AIP and the Gorgas Memorial Institute further position Panama as a powerhouse of vaccine pipeline generation within the region, with Dr. Calvo emphasizing the integral role of multidisciplinary research ecosystems in catalyzing translational breakthroughs.
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) emerged as a compelling surveillance modality with significant predictive potential. Dr. Helena Solo-Gabriele of the University of Miami highlighted how expanded applications of WBE extend beyond COVID-19 to encompass respiratory pathogens, multidrug-resistant fungi such as Candida auris, Mpox, poliovirus, and notably dengue virus. These efforts leverage synergistic collaborations with Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, epitomizing a model where engineering, microbiology, and public health intersect to monitor pathogen circulation at granular community levels, thereby informing timely intervention measures prior to clinical outbreak confirmations.
Addressing arboviruses’ climatic interconnections, Dr. Scott Weaver of the University of Texas Medical Branch articulated concerns over alarming trends among dengue, chikungunya, and Western equine encephalitis viruses in the Americas. He underscored the stealthy spread of emerging agents like the Oropouche virus in rural settings where surveillance is markedly inadequate. Genomic studies reveal virulent new variants, yet limited data and funding undermine comprehensive understanding and public health response. Dr. Weaver stressed the critical necessity of augmenting surveillance intensity to detect and characterize these under-recognized but potentially impactful viral threats.
At the crossroads of research sustainability and regional capacity building, SUNY Distinguished Professor Dr. Gene Morse of the University of Buffalo outlined a multidisciplinary training framework essential for advancing virology in LMICs. His model integrates genomics, immunology, pathogen-vector-host dynamics, and clinical outcomes into a cohesive system requiring sustained investment and mentorship. Dr. Morse praised initiatives like the NIH Fogarty International Center’s Global Infectious Disease Research Training program while underscoring the importance of inclusive participation from industry and philanthropic sectors to nurture the next generation of virologists capable of bridging scientific discovery with practical health solutions.
Reflecting on vaccinology’s duality of historic successes and unmet challenges, Dr. Sten Vermund revisited the transformative impact of vaccines on diseases like polio and smallpox while signaling persistent gaps, especially with pathogens such as herpes simplex virus-2, HTLV-1, and emerging arboviruses. He challenged public health authorities to reframe vaccines not solely as infection blockers but as critical tools mitigating disease severity, curtailing transmission, and preserving population health. Dr. Vermund’s appeal highlighted equity in vaccine delivery as paramount, asserting that scientific advances bear limited impact unless matched by accessible and equitable immunization strategies—underscoring delivery as the linchpin of vaccine efficacy.
The regional meeting culminated by honoring Dr. Christine Carrington with the GVN Regional Excellence in Leadership Award, celebrating her groundbreaking contributions to viral genomics and her pivotal role in enhancing the Caribbean’s preparedness for viral pandemics. Dr. Vermund lauded Dr. Carrington as a beacon guiding collaborative science efforts confronting formidable viral challenges, reflecting the broader ethos of the meeting which championed integrated, cross-sectoral approaches to global health security.
Looking forward, the Global Virus Network announced forthcoming engagements to sustain momentum, including the GVN Short Course in Translational Virology scheduled for December 3-12, 2025, and the GVN Annual Scientific Meeting set for March 4-6, 2026, both hosted in Tampa, Florida. These events aim to further expand interdisciplinary collaboration, capacity building, and innovation in viral research, continuing the mission to protect global health amidst evolving infectious disease landscapes.
The 2025 GVN Regional Meeting: Caribbean and Latin America was graciously supported by the CDC Foundation, USF Health, and the University of South Florida College of Public Health. For comprehensive details on the meeting’s program and scientific contributions, readers are encouraged to visit the official GVN webpage dedicated to the event.
Subject of Research: Viral surveillance, diagnostics, vaccine research, pandemic preparedness, and the impact of climate change on viral transmission in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Article Title: The 2025 Global Virus Network Regional Meeting: Strengthening Viral Research and Pandemic Resilience in the Caribbean and Latin America
News Publication Date: May 8, 2025
Web References:
- https://gvn.org/
- https://gvn.org/gvn-2025-jamaica/
- https://gvn.org/activities/nurture/
- https://gvn.org/activities/meetings-and-events/
- https://www.mona.uwi.edu/
- https://sta.uwi.edu/
- https://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/home
- https://fiveislands.uwi.edu/
- https://global.uwi.edu/
- http://www.uwi.edu
Keywords: Virus surveillance, arboviruses, pandemic preparedness, viral genomics, vaccine research, wastewater epidemiology, climate change and viral transmission, Caribbean virology, Latin American infectious diseases, global health, viral diagnostics, virus evolution.
