Programme

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Programme at a glance :

 

Monday June 29, 2026

 Pre-symposium course of "Avian Anatomy, Histology and Pathology"

 
08:30 - 09:00  
Pre-symposium registration - Welcome coffee
09:00 - 09:30  
Introduction to the courses
09:45 - 12:00  
Practicals in parallel sessions 
12:00 - 13:00  
Lunch
13:00 - 15:00  
Practicals in parallel sessions
 

International Symposium on Marek's Disease and Avian Herpesviruses

 
14:00 - 20:00
 
Symposium registration
15:00 - 17:00
 
Guided tour of Namur (groups of 25 people max)
   

Opening ceremony

18:00 - 18:15
 
Welcome speech by Benoît Muylkens, University of Namur, Belgium
 
 18:15 - 19:15  
KEYNOTE LECTURE: "Marek’s Disease Virus history: key discoveries over five decades of research" - Karel (Ton) Schat, Cornell University, USA
 
19:00 - 21:00
 
Welcome dinner with Belgian delights

Tuesday June 30, 2026

09:00 - 09:45  
KEYNOTE LECTURE - Benjamin Dewals, University of Liège, Belgium
   

Session 1: Virus/host-omics

09:45 - 10:30   Oral communications
10:30 - 11:00   Coffee break
11:00 - 12:30   Oral communications
12:30 - 13:30   Lunch
   

Session 2: Virology

13:30 - 15:00   Oral communications
15:00 - 15:30   Coffee break
15:30 - 16:30   Panel Discussion: "Field perspectives on Marek’s disease challenges"
16:30 - 17:30   Poster session - Odd numbers
17:30 - 18:30   Free time
18:30 - 22:00   Boat cruise on the Meuse & Dinner

Wednesday July 1, 2026

09:00 - 09:45  
KEYNOTE LECTURE: "A perspective on the role of RNA regulation during virus infections" - Sébastien Pfeffer, University of Strasbourg, France
   

Session 3: Clinical presentations and diagnosis

09:45 - 10:30   Oral communications
10:30 - 11:00   Coffee break
   

Session 4: Pathogenesis

11:00 - 12:30   Oral communications
12:30 - 13:30   Lunch
   

Session 5: Immunology, vaccines and prevention

13:30 - 14:30   Oral communications
14:30 - 15:00   Coffee break
15:00 - 16:00   Panel Discussion: "Bridging scientific research and field realities in Marek’s disease"
16:00 - 17:00   Poster session - Even numbers
17:00 - 18:00   Free time
18:00 - 18:30   Cable car to the Citadel of Namur
18:30 - 22:30   Gala dinner at the Castle of Namur
22:30   Return by bus to the hotel

Thursday July 2, 2026

09:00 - 10:30   Oral communications
10:30 - 11:00   Coffee break
11:00 - 11:45   Oral communications
   

Closing ceremony

11:45 - 12:30  
Boehringer Ingelheim Karel Schat Awards
Meeting wrap-up by Marc Parcells, Newark, Delaware, USA 
12:30   Lunch box distribution