The International Symposium on ‘Streptococcus agalactiae’ Disease (ISSAD) is a biennial International Conference dedicated to advancing knowledge and collaboration on Group B Streptococcus (GBS).

GBS is a type of bacteria that can reside in the female reproductive tract without causing symptoms. Up to 30% of healthy women can carry GBS asymptomatically. While it typically poses no harm, in some cases it can lead to serious maternal infections, including bloodstream infections, placental infections and urinary tract infections, and also cause babies to be stillborn or born preterm. GBS can have severe consequences for newborns, potentially causing life-threatening conditions such as meningitis, pneumonia, and sepsis. It is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in young infants in the UK and USA, and remains one of the most common causes of sepsis in neonates and young infants worldwide.

ISSAD is a global conference, hosted in diverse geographic locations to promote international participation and collaboration. Each event is led by a dedicated International Scientific Committee and Communications Working Group, selected by the respective co-leads of that year’s symposium.

• The inaugural ISSAD conference occurred on 21-23 February 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. This symposium was the first of its kind, bringing together key stakeholders, experts, and students in various fields of GBS. Organised by Prof. Ajoke Sobanjo-ter Meulen (formerly Gates Foundation) and Prof. Shabir A. Madhi (Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Professor of Vaccinology at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg).

• The second ISSAD conference was held on 3–5 November 2021, hosted from London, UK, as a fully virtual event. Organised by Prof. Joy Lawn (Director of the MARCH Centre, LSHTM) and Prof. Beate Kampmann (Director of The Vaccine Centre, LSHTM), this free, interactive, and comprehensive online platform covered a wide range of topics, from disease burden and epidemiology to immunology, GBS vaccine development, and beyond.

• The third ISSAD conference took place on 16-18 October 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Hosted by Prof. Tatiana Pinto (Associate Professor of microbiology) and Prof. Lucia Teixeira (Full Professor of microbiology) from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the event continued to build momentum toward the goal of developing and implementing effective GBS vaccines to prevent disease in mothers and infants globally.

• The fourth ISSAD conference was held on 23–25 February 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. Chaired by Dr. Hellen Barsosio from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), the conference brought together global leaders in GBS research, vaccine development, public health, and community advocacy. The symposium highlighted advances across the GBS field and strengthened collaboration to accelerate prevention efforts worldwide.

Further details on the conferences can be found here.

For more information about Group B Strep and Group B Strep family support, please visit our partners Group B Strep Support and Group B Strep International.