Improving Global Health through Cutting Edge Technologies in Drug Discovery and Development

Biotherapeutics and vaccines, including protein and nucleic acid-based therapeutics, vaccines, and gene therapies, are increasingly vital for maintaining and improving global public health. These innovations have been developed and commercialized to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including infectious, autoimmune, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and neurological disorders. Their development — from selection and candidate engineering to characterization, formulation, and delivery and finally treatment of patients worldwide — is a highly interdisciplinary scientific field.The 2026 Gordon Research Conference on Biotherapeutics and Vaccines Development will bring together scientists from academia, industry, government, and non-profit organizations to explore the latest advancements in the rapidly evolving fields of drug discovery and development. This GRC aims to gather researchers from various disciplines to discuss and debate the fundamental scientific and technological advancements in the development and manufacturing of biotherapeutics and vaccines. The goal of the conference is to accelerate development, reduce costs, and expand access to these critical treatments. The program will reflect the broad cross-disciplinary scientific and engineering issues involved in the development of biotherapeutics and vaccines, with a focus on new innovation and application of artificial intelligence and machine learning across discovery and development. Tentative sessions include therapeutic target discovery, engineering and candidate selection, process development and product characterization, formulation and drug delivery, technology impacts on public health, innovations in clinical trials and regulatory designs, and approaches to advancing new technologies to patients. Keynote sessions on emerging concepts and trends by thought leaders in the field will be featured.To encourage participation by junior scientists, a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) will be held immediately prior to the GRC. The GRS will provide junior scientists with an opportunity to present posters on their latest research and engage with colleagues in a supportive, interactive environment.