A one-day virtual conference for health professionals on group B Strep that brings together leading experts in the field to give talks on prevention policies, testing options, antibiotic usage, latest research and the progress towards a vaccine.

TOPICS COVERED

• Attendees will enjoy a programme of virtual talks from senior neonatologists, epidemiologists, obstetricians, and research and development specialists, including from companies that are developing maternal group B Strep vaccines, plus families whose babies developed the infection.
• Topics include the need for a maternal group B Strep vaccine, progress towards their being available and introducing a GBS vaccine in the UK; enhanced GBS detection and the clinical implications for neonates; placental GBS and the risk of neonatal morbidity.
• Delegates will hear about the risks of psychiatric disorders in mothers and birthing people after giving birth to a baby who developed group B Strep infection, and the potential impact on the microbiome of intrapartum antibiotics given to prevent early-onset group B Strep infections.
• Delegates will also hear the latest GBS3 trial updates, and a timeline for when the main results will be published.
• Researchers will present their abstracts on themes around group B Strep during short presentations during the morning and afternoon programmes.
• Attendees will also hear from parents with lived experience of group B Strep infection as they tell their incredibly moving stories.
• We are delighted Professor Carol J Baker, the ‘Godmother of group B Strep prevention’ will be giving her insight into the future, including how we approach better prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
• There will also be four live panel discussions. The morning session will be chaired by Dr Alison Bedford Russell, Neonatal Clinical co-Director, Liverpool Neonatal Partnership and Dr Kathryn Gutteridge, Consultant Midwife, Psychotherapist, Past President of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).
• The afternoon sessions will be chaired by Professor Asma Khalil, Professor of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine at St George’s Hospital, University of London, and vice-president of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, while Professor Philip Steer, Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics at Imperial College, London.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

• Our event is for all healthcare professionals interested in group B Strep, especially those working in maternity and neonatal care. This includes the following: Obstetricians, Microbiologists, Midwives, Neonatologists, Public Health Specialists, GPs and Paediatricians.
• The conference sessions will help all of these specialists enhance their understanding of group B Strep, the latest research and developments, and help them to deliver the highest levels of care for the families in their care.

SPEAKERS

We are pleased to welcome an impressive line-up of expert speakers from the field of group B Strep. Attendees will also hear about the significant impact on families, from parents whose babies developed group B Strep infection.
Our speakers and Chairs include:

• Ms Jane Plumb, co-founder and chief executive, Group B Strep Support
• Dr Alison Bedford Russell, Neonatal Clinical co-Director, Liverpool Neonatal Partnership. Member of the Group B Strep Support Medical Advisory Panel
• Dr Theresa Lamagni, Senior Epidemiologist, Healthcare-Associated Infection & Antimicrobial Resistance, UKHSA
• Professor Gordon Smith, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge
• Dr Shalini Ojha, Professor of Neonatal Medicine, University of Nottingham
• Dr Kathryn Gutteridge, Consultant Midwife, Honorary Associate Professor, Psychotherapist, and past President of the Royal College of Midwives
• Dr Kate Walker, Professor in Obstetrics, Nottingham
• Phern Adams, Research Midwife, Birmingham Women’s Hospital
• Professor Asma Khalil, Professor of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine at St George’s Hospital, University of London; Vice President for Academia and Strategy at Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists
• Professor Philip Steer, Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics at Imperial College, London. Past President of the British Association of Perinatal Medicine and the section of O&G of the Royal Society of Medicine. Chair of the Group B Strep Support Medical Advisory Panel.
• Professor Paul Heath, Professor and Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Infectious Diseases at St George’s University Hospital, London
• Professor Kirsty Le Doare, Professor of Vaccinology and Immunology at St George’s University Hospital, London
• Dr Annaliesa Anderson, Senior Vice President and Head, Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development
• Dr Jeannett Dimsits, Vice President of Clinical Development, MinervaX
• Dr Erzsébet Horváth-Puhó, Associate Professor, Aarhus University
• Dr Carol J Baker, Professor of Pediatrics at McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, USA
• Dr Kostas Karampatsas, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Consultant, St George’s University of London
• Ms Malene Risager Lykke, PhD student, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University
• Ms Emma Pugh, Clinical Specialist Research Midwife, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board