Martín opened the Myco_Jaca 2026 scientific meeting, which is bringing together more than 80 Spanish and European researchers specializing in mycobacteria in the city of Jaca, in the province of Huesca. His lecture, entitled “MTBVAC: A journey from genetics to a global tuberculosis vaccine,” reviewed the development of research that began in Aragon and has, over the years, brought together international scientific and industrial collaborations.
MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF RESEARCH FROM ARAGON
MTBVAC is a tuberculosis vaccine candidate developed through years of research into Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for the disease. The project has come a long way since the first discoveries made by Carlos Martín’s team, reaching the advanced stages of clinical evaluation.
During his presentation in Jaca, the researcher was particularly enthusiastic about the prospects of a vaccine that could strengthen the global fight against tuberculosis in the future. Beyond the scientific results, Martín emphasized the need for any eventual authorization to also ensure that the vaccine reaches the countries most affected.
“A vaccine only changes global health when it reaches the people who need it most,” he said during the conference. With this in mind, he argued that, if MTBVAC ultimately reaches the market, it should be available at an affordable price to facilitate access in lower-income countries, where the incidence of tuberculosis remains particularly high.
JACA BRINGS TOGETHER MYCOBACTERIA EXPERTS FROM ACROSS EUROPE
The event, held at the University of Zaragoza Residence in Jaca, is bringing together more than 80 specialists from research centers in Spain, Portugal and other European countries. Throughout the week, participants are addressing issues including mycobacterial biology, molecular epidemiology, antibiotic resistance, new therapies, nontuberculous mycobacterial infections and the development of new vaccines.
The program includes nine keynote lectures, 27 short oral presentations and 35 poster presentations. Scheduled speakers also include Esther Pérez, from the Aragonese biotechnology company Certest Biotech.
