Welcome to NDPIA!
The National Doctoral Programme in Infection and Antimicrobials (NDPIA) is a research school funded by the Swedish Research Council (VR) and is affiliated with UCMR (Umeå Centre for Microbial Research) at Umeå University.
NDPIA research school aims to play an important role in training the next generation of scientists that will confront the global public threat of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. NDPIA excels in training young researchers in this area by enhancing their skills and knowledge, fostering collaboration and interdisciplinary learning, offering career development courses to help retain these researchers, and serving as a global network for infection biology researchers. The suggested NDPIA programme presents in-depth training courses and activities that equip individuals with the necessary comprehension to tackle these pressing health-care challenges using a One-Health strategy. These courses also increase understanding of healthcare policies and the societal and economical effects of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance.
NDPIA supports participation in these activities by co-funding the course and accommodation costs for its members. PhD students and postdoctoral fellows enrolled at a Swedish university/institute or and studying infection biology and/or antibimicrobials are welcome to apply for membership.
Recent news:
From 12–16 May 2025, NDPIA hosted the second edition of the Fundamentals of Basic and Applied Phage Biology course at Lund University. The event brought together early-career researchers from across Sweden and abroad to explore the fascinating world of bacteriophages and their growing importance in science and medicine.
Group photo of the participants and organizers of Fundamentals of basic and applied phage biology in 2025. Photo by Vasili Hauryliuk.
“I felt the lecturers were all extremely high quality, engaged, and given by top professionals in their field.” -Anonymous participant
Led by Vasili Hauryliuk and Marcus Johansson at Lund University, the course featured lectures and discussions with both national and international experts in phage biology. Topics ranged from the ecological roles of phages in natural environments to their application in combating bacterial infections.
Lecture on "Exploiting phage for SynBio applications in non-model bacteria", given by Rob Lavigne, University of Leuven, Belgium. Photo by Vasili Hauryliuk.
Lecture on "Bacteriophages - from the fundamentals of molecular biology to the BASEL collection", given by Alexander Harms, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland, Photo by Vasili Hauryliuk.
The theoretical sessions were complemented by hands-on training, equipping participants with practical skills to integrate phage techniques into their own research. The lab component included phage isolation from environmental samples, phage titre determination, infectivity and immunity assays, and the selection of spontaneous mutant phages.
One of the locations in Lund where environmental samples were collected for isolation of phages. Photo by Vasili Hauryliuk.
In addition to the scientific program, participants presented their own research through elevator pitches, encouraging peer-to-peer learning and constructive feedback.
“The strength of this course was the wide range of topics covered—from experimental training and basic knowledge to bioinformatics, diverse research fields, and even industry perspectives.” -Anonymous participant
A big thank you to Vasili and Marcus for their incredible work in organizing the course and making it such a success! Their passion for phage biology and commitment to teaching were key to the course’s outstanding quality. Photo by Olena Shyrokova.
To view the full course program, please visit: Fundamentals of Basic and Applied Phage Biology 2025 | NDPIA
Special thanks to the organizing committee: Vasili Hauryliuk, Lund University, Sweden Marcus Johansson, Lund University, Sweden Annasara Lenman, NDPIA National Director, Umeå University, Sweden Louise Lindbäck, NDPIA Project Coordinator, Umeå University, Sweden
Illustrator: Instagram @Ina.Schuppe.Koistinen
Welcome to the 11th National Infection Biology Meeting!
NIB 2025 is taking place at Aronsborg Konferenshotell in Bålsta, Sweden, on October 20-21, 2025.
The biannual NIB Meeting aims to bring together the community of infection biology researchers in Sweden, with a focus on networking and young researchers. Don't miss the opportunity to present yourself and your research at this meeting!
Read more and register here: NIB 2025
Join us for a course in Vaccine Development
The Vaccine Development course is being held at Aronsborg Konferenshotell on October 22-24, right after the NIB Meeting.
As a joint course between NDP-VIP and its sister school NDPIA, this course explores the critical field of vaccine development, from basic research to clinical trials and regulatory approval.
Read more and register here: Vaccine Development 2025
Karolinska Institutet, in collaboration with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), invites PhD students and researchers to participate in the International Vaccinology Course, taking place 8–12 September 2025 at ANA Futura, Campus Huddinge.
This globally connected course—broadcast simultaneously from Seoul, Kigali, and Stockholm—offers a unique opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of vaccine development. Through lectures by renowned international experts, interactive quizzes, and case studies, participants will explore how vaccines are developed, tested, regulated, and approved.
Who can apply? PhD students and researchers with a PhD. Application deadline: June 30, 2025. Apply here: Vaccine to Vaccination: from Science to Society
For more information, visit the official course website or contact Laura Palma Medina at Karolinska Institutet.