From May 18 to 21, 2026, the second edition of the Next Generation in Parasitology workshop, funded by LabEx ParaFrap, took place in the Montpellier region. The event brought together sixteen early-career group leaders from across Europe to foster scientific exchange and strengthen collaborations within the parasitology community.
Hosted at the historic Faculty of Medicine of Montpellier, the scientific symposium gathered nearly 90 participants and showcased research on a wide range of medically important parasites, including Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, Leishmania, Trypanosoma, and Cryptosporidium. The presentations highlighted the diversity of approaches currently driving parasitology research, spanning cell and structural biology, functional genomics, metabolism, and host-parasite interactions.
Despite the diversity of parasite models and methodologies, several common themes emerged, including how parasites replicate, differentiate, adapt to changing environments, and interact with their hosts. The keynote lecture delivered by Maryse Lebrun (CNRS, University of Montpellier) further highlighted recent advances in our understanding of host-cell invasion mechanisms in Apicomplexan parasites.
A distinctive feature of the workshop was its combination of a scientific symposium with a retreat dedicated to the challenges faced by early-career investigators. Held in Saint-Martin-de-Londres, this second part of the meeting provided a unique opportunity to discuss topics that are often overlooked during traditional scientific conferences, including laboratory management, recruitment, mentorship, collaboration, funding strategies, and balancing research, teaching, and administrative responsibilities.
Academic and institutional experts shared their experiences and practical advice on building a research group, securing funding opportunities (including partnerships with industry) and developing competitive grant applications. These sessions generated particularly engaging and interactive discussions among participants.
By bringing together young researchers working on diverse parasite systems, the workshop fostered new scientific interactions and helped strengthen a growing European network of the next generation of parasitologists. This initiative perfectly reflects the mission of LabEx ParaFrap: supporting scientific excellence and promoting the collaborations that will shape the future of parasitology research.
