ESCMID GLOBAL 2026
Scientific Symposia Program
Featuring expert‑led sessions from Danaher, Cepheid and Beckman Coulter
Advance diagnostic stewardship with sessions that connect testing strategy to clinical action. Hear expert perspectives on choosing the right modality, integrating results into workflows, and improving cost and care outcomes, including discussions spanning multiplex, NGS, and metagenomics
CEPHEID INTEGRATED SYMPOSIUM
Precision vs Power: Smarter Panels and the Path to Metagenomics
Monday, April 20th, 2026, 8:30 - 10:00 am
A1-2 Hall
08:30 AM
Welcome and Introduction
Organiser-appointed Chair: Pr. Christophe Rodriguez, PharmD, Ph.D. Head of the GenoBioMics Platform, Metagenomic Reference Laboratory, Henri Mondor Hospital, Créteil, France
ESCMID-appointed Chair: Pr. Maurizio Sanguinetti, Professor of Microbiology and Laboratory Director, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. gemelli, Roma, Italy
08:35 AM
Talk 1: Pathways to Better Care: Diagnostic Stewardship and Future Innovation
Dr. Connie Savor, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer, Cepheid, Sunnyvale, USA
08:50 AM
Talk 2 : Taking Action from Respiratory Pathogen Testing: Real World Lessons
Dr. Cristina Russo, Head of Virology and Mycobacteria Unit, Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
09:10 AM
Talk 3: Multiplex Molecular Testing for Diagnosis of GI infections: an American Commercial Reference Laboratory Experience
Dr. Gerald A. Capraro, Ph.D. D(ABMM), Technical Director, Routine and Esoteric Microbiology, Labcorp, Burlington, USA
09:30 AM
Talk 4: Pathogen Genomics: Redefining Infection Management for Modern Healthcare
Dr. James Price, Associate Professor in Infection, Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, UK, Brighton, UK
09:50 AM
Panel Discussion & QA
DANAHER INTEGRATED SYMPOSIUM
From Emerging Threats to Diagnostic Breakthroughs: A Strategic Look Ahead in AMR
Sunday, April 19th, 2026, 08:30 - 10:00 am
A1-5 Hall
08:30 AM
Welcome and Introduction
Organiser-Appointed Chair: Ephraim Tsalik, MD, MHS, Ph.D. Vice President and Chief Science Officer - Infectious Disease & Acute Care, Danaher Diagnostics Group, Adjunct Associate Professor, Duke University School of Medicine, Staff Physician, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, USA
ESCMID-appointed Chair: Assoc. Pr. Dr. Onur Karatuna, Lead Scientist, EUCAST Development Laboratory, Clinical Microbiology Växjö hospital, Växjö, Swedenat EUCAST Development Laboratory Clinical Microbiology, Medical Microbiologist Växjö hospital, Växjö, Sweden
08:40 AM
Talk 1: From MRSA to C. auris: Lessons Learned Across Two Decades of MDRO Screening
Dr. David R. Jenkins, BSc MBBS MSc FRCPath, Consultant Medical Microbiologist at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, UK
08:55 AM
Talk 2: Recent Advances in Molecular Diagnostics for the Rapid Detection of Antibiotic Resistances in Gram Negatives
Pr. Patrice Nordmann, MD, Ph.D. Head, Medical and Molecular Microbiology Unit, Emerging Antibiotic Resistance at Swiss National Reference Center for Emerging Antibiotic Resistance, Switzerland
09:10 AM
Talk 3: Beyond Diagnostic Accuracy: Understanding Clinician Behaviour to Improve Biomarker- Guided Antibiotic Decisions
Pr. Enitan Carrol, Professor of Paediatric Infection at University of Liverpool, UK
09:25 AM
Talk 4: Rapid MIC Testing: Fact or Fiction
Dr. Romney Humphries, Ph.D, D(ABMM), M(ASCP), Executive Medical Director, Pathology & Lab Medicine and Vice Chair, Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville Tennessee, USA
09:40 AM
Panel Discussion & QA
ESCMID GLOBAL 2026
Scientific Symposia Program
Featuring expert‑led sessions from Danaher, Cepheid and Beckman Coulter
Advance diagnostic stewardship with sessions that connect testing strategy to clinical action. Hear expert perspectives on choosing the right modality, integrating results into workflows, and improving cost and care outcomes, including discussions spanning multiplex, NGS, and metagenomics
Saturday 18 April 2026
10:30 – 11:00
Case Study: Optimizing Urine Section Workflow with Beckman Coulter Autoplak
Alan Spratt, Head of Department, Infectious Sciences, Health Services Laboratories (HSL), London, UK
[In collaboration with Beckman Coulter]
15:45 - 16:15
The Role of Rapid Molecular Diagnostics in Infection Prevention and Control for Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance in European Hospitals
Dr. Rafael Cantón, Head of the Clinical Microbiology Department at Ramón y Cajal University Hospital and Associate Professor of Clinical Microbiology at Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
Vanessa Carter, Patient with Lived Experience of AMR and Advocate, Executive Director of The AMR Narrative, UK
[In collaboration with Cepheid]
Sunday 19 April 2026
10:30 - 11:00
Difficulties cum Clostridioides Difficile Infections
Dr. Michael Perry, Deputy Lead Scientist, UK Anaerobe Reference Unit Public Health Wales Microbiology, Cardiff, UK
[In collaboration with Cepheid]
15:45 - 16:15
The Future of Diagnostics Innovation at Danaher
Dr. Ephraim Tsalik, MD, MHS, Ph.D. Vice President and Chief Science Officer - Infectious Disease & Acute Care, Danaher, Adjunct Associate Professor, Duke University School of Medicine, Staff Physician, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, USA
[In collaboration with Danaher]
Monday 20 April 2026
10:30 – 11:00
Precision in Action: Danaher’s Role in Improving Infection Management and Patient Outcomes
Dr. Stephanie Mitchell, Scientific Affairs, Beckman Coulter, USA
Dr. Michael Loeffelholz, Vice President Scientific Affairs, Cepheid, USA
[In collaboration with Beckman Coulter and Cepheid]
15:45 - 16:15
Improving Patient Flow in the Emergency Department Through Implementation of Rapid PCR Point-of-Care Testing for Respiratory Viruses at Tertiary Care Center, Saudi Arabia: a before-and-after Quality Project
Dr. Malak Almashali, Consultant Clinical Scientist, Head of the POCT, Division at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Central Laboratory & Blood Bank, Riyadh, and Point of Care Testing Program Project Leader at the Health Support Service Center, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
[In collaboration with Cepheid]
Download the Full Scientific Programme,
Posters and Add Sessions Directly to your Calendar so you Don’t Miss Any Key Insights.
Explore scientific posters showcasing new clinical evidence, economic evaluations, and real‑world insights across key areas of infectious disease diagnostics. This year’s poster collection covers Group B Streptococcus (GBS) screening, multiplex respiratory and gastrointestinal testing, antimicrobial resistance strategies, and the impact of rapid PCR technologies in diverse care settings. Together, these studies highlight how innovative diagnostic approaches can enhance patient outcomes, streamline workflows, and support more efficient use of healthcare resources.
If you are not attending at ESCMID 2026, you can fill the form to receive the recorded Symposia.
CE-IVD. In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device. May not be available in all countries.
About Cepheid
Cepheid is dedicated to improving healthcare by pioneering molecular diagnostics that combine speed, accuracy, and flexibility. The company's GeneXpert® systems and Xpert® tests automate highly complex and time-consuming manual procedures, providing A Better Way for institutions of any size to perform world-class PCR testing. Cepheid's broad test portfolio spans respiratory infections, blood virology, women's and sexual health, TB and emerging infectious diseases, healthcare-associated infectious diseases, oncology and human genetics. The company's solutions deliver actionable results where they are needed most from central laboratories and hospitals to near patient settings.
For more information, visit www.cepheid.com
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