Myco Jaca 2026: International Tuberculosis Scientific Congress to Gather Researchers in Spain

More than 80 researchers are gathering in Jaca this week for Myco Jaca 2026, an international scientific congress focused on advancing the fight against tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections, Cadena SER reported.

Key Clinical Takeaways:

• Approximately 85 researchers are convening in Jaca from October 21 to October 23, 2026, to share advances in combating tuberculosis.
• World Health Organization data for 2024 recorded 10.7 million new cases and 1.2 million deaths, making tuberculosis the most lethal single-agent infectious disease globally.
• Professor Carlos Martín Montañés of the University of Zaragoza will deliver the opening address on the development history of the MTBVAC vaccine candidate.

International Researchers Convene for Myco Jaca 2026

The international meeting runs from Wednesday, October 21, to Friday, October 23, 2026, at the Palacio de Congresos in Jaca. Organized by the University of Zaragoza through the MycoNET research network, the event brings together approximately 85 participants, ranging from internationally recognized scientists to doctoral students starting their research careers. The three-day schedule features plenary lectures, oral communications, and poster sessions dedicated to the biology of mycobacteria.

The gathering marks the ninth scientific meeting organized by MycoNET, a network funded by the State Research Agency. Established in 2016 to coordinate national research activities on mycobacteria, the network held its first meeting in Madrid in 2017. Subsequent annual meetings took place in Zaragoza, Bilbao, Oporto, Miraflores, Leganés, Badalona, and Valencia, with interruptions only in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Global Burden of Tuberculosis and Treatment Challenges

Tuberculosis remains a primary global health threat despite being a curable disease with an existing vaccine. According to data published by the World Health Organization, 2024 saw more than 10.7 million new infections and over 1.2 million deaths, cementing the disease as the deadliest single-agent infectious pathology worldwide.

Clinical management faces two major obstacles: prevention limitations and drug resistance. The standard BCG vaccine provides limited protection against severe forms of the disease, prompting the search for novel immunizations. Concurrently, Mycobacterium tuberculosis demonstrates a high capacity to evade host defenses and develop resistance to standard pharmaceutical treatments.

Carlos Martín Montañés Details MTBVAC Vaccine Development

The opening conference on Wednesday, October 21, will be led by Carlos Martín Montañés, professor of microbiology at the University of Zaragoza and co-discoverer of the MTBVAC vaccine. His presentation detailed the trajectory of MTBVAC—a live-attenuated vaccine candidate developed at the University of Zaragoza—from initial laboratory research to ongoing international clinical trials and industrial development phases.

Throughout the three-day congress, sessions address molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, bacterial evolution, host-pathogen interactions, and immune system responses. Participants also examine the integration of computational tools, mathematical modeling, and artificial intelligence into biological data analysis, fostering a multidisciplinary approach across participating research nodes.