Paediatric Research for the Future of Children (PRFC)

A unique global forum by the SPR and ESPR, in collaboration with UNIGE and HUG

The European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) and the Society for Pediatric Research (SPR), together with the University of Geneva and Geneva University Hospital, are proud to collaborate on an exceptional event, 'Paediatric Research for the Future of Children: A Global Forum' designed to foster critical dialogue among leading experts in the field. Scheduled to take place at the prestigious Campus Biotech in Geneva, Switzerland on 11-13 February 2026, this event will serve as a unique platform for thought leaders, clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and patient advocates to convene in an industry-neutral setting. The event is limited to 300 participants

The scientific research themes

Precision Medicine & Novel Therapies in Paediatrics
Big Data in Paediatric Research
Child Mental Health and Development
Early Life Determinants of Health and Disease
Promoting Global Paediatric Research and Paediatric Clinician Scientists

PRFC welcomes a community of excellent researchers at the forefront of scientific discovery. Attendees will include leading paediatric researchers, clinicians, innovators, and institutional stakeholders from around the globe.

While many congresses have increasingly prioritised commercial interests, this forum remains steadfast in its commitment to a purely science-driven agenda. Our goal is to cultivate a collaborative environment free from conflicts of interest, dedicated solely to advancing pediatric research and addressing critical challenges in the field. Join us!

The chair and co-chairs of PRFC 2026

Read the Welcome Letter

Learn more

Explore the Preliminary Scientific Programme

Learn more

Get to know the Faculty

Learn more

Abstract submission timeline

  • Our Mission

    Charting the course for global leadership in paediatric research by examining future trends and fostering innovation on a global scale.

  • Organising Societies

    Society for Pediatric Research (SPR)

    SPR was founded in 1929 and has over 3,600 members.

    SPR's mission is to create a network of multi-disciplinary researchers to improve child health. In pursuit of this mission SPR is guided by three goals: Connect, Collaborate, and Catalyze Research. Specifically SPR works to:

    1. Connect: Facilitate active communications among and between researchers
    2. Collaborate: Promote research collaborations through mentoring and knowledge sharing
    3. Catalyze research: Advocate for funding and policies supportive of research

     

    For further information and to become a SPR member visit: www.societyforpediatricresearch.org
     

    European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR)

    The ESPR has been at the forefront of Paediatric medical care and innovation since 1958. As one of the oldest and most prolific Paediatric research societies in Europe, its activities are organised according to three pillars:

    1. The ten sections representing different Paediatric sub-specialties fostering the publication of research and guidelines;
    2. The European School of Neonatology (ESN) acting as the society's educational arm and implementing a wide range of educational activities. This includes a clinically-integrated Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Neonatology, an academic Master of Science (MSc) in Neonatology (NOTE) in collaboration with the University of Southampton, and dedicated ESN hands-on pre-congress courses;
    3. The European Board of Neonatal Child Health Research (EBNCHR) that periodically reviews the European Training Requirements (ETR) in Neonatology and provides leadership in the context of child health research policy and funding.

    Mission: Developing and applying research to improve newborn and child health.

    Collaborating Partners

    PRFC 2026 is organised in collaboratin with the University of GenevaGeneva University Hospital, and Campus Biotech.                     

  • Chairs of PRFC 2026

    Ann Chahroudi MD PhD
    Forum Co-Chair

    Professor and Vice Chair for Basic Research and Career Development
    Department of Pediatrics, Emory School of Medicine
    Co-Director, Pediatric Residency Investigative Scholars at Emory (PRISE) Program
    Co-Director, Emory Center for AIDS Research (CFAR)
    United States

    Petra Hüppi MD PhD
    Forum Chair
    Chief Physician for Development and Growth, University Children's Hospital Geneva
    Switzerland

    Lois K. Lee MD MPH FAAP FACEP Bio
    Forum Co-Chair
    Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine | Harvard Medical School
    Senior Associate in Pediatrics | Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital
    United States
  • Organising Committee

    Lina Chalak MD MSCS
    Professor, William Buchanan Chair in Pediatrics
    Division Chief, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
    Director, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, United States

    Willem de Boode MD PhD
    Radboud University Med. Center
    Amalia Children's Hospital Nijmegen
    Netherlands

    Olivier Baud MD PhD
    Paris Diderot University
    Paris, France

    Sven Wellmann MD MBA
    University Children's Hospital
    Regensburg, Germany

    Charles Christoph Roehr MD PhD
    Professor of Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Bristol, UK
    -
    Clinical Trials Unit, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Oxford Population Health, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, UK

    Anna A. Penn MD PhD
    Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
    United States

    Todd Florin MD MSCE
    Associate Professor of Pediatrics
    (Emergency Medicine),
    Northwestern University Feinberg
    School of Medicine,United States
     
  • Scientific Committee

    Anne O'Donnell-Luria MD PhD
    Attending Physician, Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital
    Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
    United States

    Jackie Grupp-Phelan MD MPH
    Chief and Vice Chair, Pediatric Emergency Medicine
    UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Pediatric Emergency Medicine Endowed Professor
    United States

     

    David H Rowitch MD PhD FMedSci FRS
    Professor of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge
    Associate Director, Basic and Translational Research, Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children's
    United Kingdom

    Hannah C. Glass MDCM MAS
    Professor Neurology, Pediatrics, Epidemiology & Biostatistics
    Director, Neonatal Neurocritical Care Services
    UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital
    http://profiles.ucsf.edu/hannah.glass

    Wanda Barfield MD MPH FAAP Rear Adm
    Division Director
    Division of Reproductive Health
    Centers for Disease Control
    Atlanta, Georgia, United States

    Eleanor Molloy PhD
    Trinity College Dublin
    Ireland

     

    David Edwards MA MBBS DSc FRCP FRCR FRCPCH FMedSci
    Director of the Centre for the Developing Brain, Professor of Paediatrics and Neonatal Medicine, Head of the Department of Perinatal Imaging and Health, King's College London 
    Consultant Neonatologist, Evelina Children's Hospital
    United Kingdom

     

     

    Urs Frey MD PhD
    Chair of Paediatrics and Medical Director at the University Children's Hospital in Basel (UKBB)
    Switzerland

    Cynthia F. Bearer MD PhD
    Chief of the Division of Neonatology
    University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Cleveland, OH, USA

     

    Peter Brodin MD PhD
    Professor of Pediatric Immunology, Imperial College London
    Physician/scientist at the department of pediatrics at the Karolinska University Hospital
    United Kingdom/Sweden

    Sing Sing Way MD PhD
    Pauline and Lawson Reed Chair for the Division of Infectious Diseases at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
    United States

    David McCulley MD
    Associate Professor of Pediatrics
    Division of Neonatology
    University of California, San Diego &
    Rady Children's Hospital
    SPR Ambassador to the North American Regional Societies

    Catherine Bollard, MBChB, MD
    Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine
    Children's National Medical Center and The George Washington University
    United States

     

       
  • Abstract Submission Guidelines (Please read carefully before submitting)

    General Rules for Submission

    1. Abstracts must be submitted exclusively online via the official congress website. Abstracts submitted via email will not be accepted.
    2. Please use the dedicated abstract submission template that can be downloaded here. Please fill in and submit in PDF format. 
    3. Presentation Type: Authors may submit abstracts for oral or poster presentations. The Scientific Committee will decide the final presentation format, considering the author's preference.
    4. Abstracts must be submitted before the specified deadline. Late submissions will not be reviewed.
    5. All abstracts will be reviewed by a dedicated team of experts. We cannot guarantee that all submissions will be showcased at the congress.
    6. Submission opening: 1 June 2025
    7. Submission deadline: 31 July 2025
    8. Abstract notification: by mid-September 2025


    Submission Limitations

    • Each attendee may submit up to five abstracts, irrespective of whether they are the presenting author.
    • Abstract submitters must register as congress participants within two weeks of abstract acceptance/notification.

    Important Requirements

    1. Original Work:
      - Abstracts must present original research.
      - Abstracts must represent research that has not been published yet.
      - Abstracts must reflect completed studies with data. Works in progress should not be submitted.
    2. Language: All abstracts must be submitted in English.
    3. Conflict of Interest: Submitters must disclose any conflicts of interest through the submission form.
    4. Acknowledgment of Publication: Submission of an abstract implies consent for its inclusion in official congress materials.
    5. Consent of Co-Authors: The presenting author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors approve the abstract's content and submission.


    Preparation Guidelines

    Before beginning the submission process, prepare the following details:

    1. Presenting Author Details:
      - Full name
      - Email address
      - Affiliation (department, institution/hospital, city, state, and country)
      - Phone number
    2. Author and Co-Author Details: Ensure all co-authors are included with correct information.
    3. Preferred Presentation Type: Specify oral or poster presentation.
    4. Abstract Title:
      - This is limited to 25 words.
      - Avoid symbols or special characters unless written as words.
    5. Abstract Text:
      - Maximum of 250 words, including acknowledgments.
    6. Abstract Structure: Clearly organise the abstract into the following sections:
      - Background and Aims
      - Methods
      - Results
      - Conclusions
    7. Additional Requirements:
      - Use standard abbreviations; define uncommon abbreviations upon first use.
      - Generic names must be used for drugs, avoiding any promotional or commercial content.
      - Do not include patient names, hospital IDs, or other identifiable information.
      - Acceptable format: PDF.
    8. Images and Tables (2 max.):
      - Each image must not exceed 500 KB.
      - Maximum resolution: 600(w) x 800(h) pixels.
      - Acceptable formats: JPG, PNG, or GIF.
    9. Abstract Theme: Select the appropriate theme from the provided list during submission. These are:
    • Precision Medicine & Novel Therapies in Paediatrics
    • Big Data in Paediatric Research
    • Child Mental Health and Development
    • Early Life Determinants of Health and Disease
    • Promoting Global Paediatric Research and Paediatric Clinician Scientists

    Submission Process

    • Please submit your abstract via the congress registration platform.
    • The process must be completed in one session. Drafts can not be created and submitted at a later stage.
    • If you do not receive confirmation of submission, contact the organising team at prfc2026@espr.eu.
    • Avoid submitting multiple copies of the same abstract.

    Declaration for abstract submitters

    By submitting your abstract, you confirm the following:

    1. The abstract has been previewed and is accurate. Once submitted, modifications will not be possible.
    2. All authors consent to the publication of the abstract in congress-related materials.
    3. You guarantee that the abstract does not infringe on third-party rights, including intellectual property and privacy rights.
    4. You grant the organisers a royalty-free, perpetual license to use, reproduce, publish, translate, and distribute the abstract in any format or platform.
    5. The contact details provided are those of the presenting author, who will be responsible for all correspondence and for keeping co-authors informed about the status of the abstract.
    6. The presenting author must register as a congress participant.
    7. The Scientific Committee reserves the right to reallocate the abstract to a different theme, topic, or sub-topic if necessary.
    8. You have obtained consent from all co-authors for the processing of their contact information by the congress organisers.

     

    Thank you for your contribution to PRFC 2026!

  • Registration Fees
    Categories Registration Fees
    Senior researchers 750 €
    Nurses/Allied Healthcare Professionals 300 €
    Early Career Investigators (<36 years) 300 €
    Parent/patient representatives 200 €
    Institutional representatives 750 €
  • The Venue: Campus Biotech

    Campus Biotech, located in Geneva's Sécheron district, is a renowned center of excellence in biotechnology and life sciences. Established in 2013, it occupies the former Merck Serono building and spans 40,000 square meters. The campus is dedicated to advancing research in neuroscience, neurotechnology, digital health, and global health. It hosts a diverse community of scientists and entrepreneurs, including prominent institutions such as the EPFL-UNIGE Biomedical Center, the Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering, and the Health 2030 Genome Center. As part of the Swiss Innovation Park, Campus Biotech positions the Lake Geneva region at the forefront of global research in these fields. We look forward to welcoming you there!

    Address: Campus Biotech Innovation Park, Av. de Sécheron 15, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland.

    Find out more: www.campusbiotech.ch/en

  • Networking Events

    Coming soon. 

  • Discover Geneva – The Host City of PRFC 2026

    Nestled along the shores of Lake Geneva and surrounded by the majestic Alps and Jura mountains, Geneva is one of the most captivating cities in Europe. Known as a global hub for diplomacy, science, and innovation, Geneva offers an inspiring setting for the Pediatric Research for the Future of Children Summit.

    Geneva is home to countless international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, making it a center for advancing health and well-being on a global scale. Its reputation as a leader in research and collaboration aligns perfectly with the mission of this summit: to drive innovation in pediatric care and create a better future for children.

    The city boasts a rich cultural heritage, with its historic Old Town, cobblestone streets, and iconic landmarks like St. Peter's Cathedral and the Jet d'Eau fountain. Visitors can enjoy world-class museums, such as the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire and the Patek Philippe Museum, as well as Geneva's vibrant culinary scene and renowned Swiss hospitality.

    The event will take place at Campus Biotech, a world-class research and innovation center dedicated to biotechnology, neuroscience, and global health. Located in the heart of the city, Campus Biotech reflects Geneva's dedication to cutting-edge research and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

    Join us in Geneva for a summit that combines groundbreaking science with the charm and elegance of one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Together, let's shape the future of pediatric research in a setting that inspires progress and innovation.

     

     

  • Contact us

    For any questions you may have, please reach out to our team via prfc2026@espr.eu.

Abstract submissions are now open! We look forward to receiving your work!

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