Infectious Diseases in
Conflict Settings 2026
Infectious Diseases in Conflict Settings
The International Conference on Infectious Diseases in Conflict Settings will gather researchers, policymakers, humanitarian practitioners, and public health professionals to examine infectious disease risks in conflict-affected and humanitarian environments.
The focused audience of 150–300 attendees — international experts, policymakers, humanitarian leaders, and academics — ensures high-level networking and meaningful collaboration.
Learn More About ICID →Conference Highlights
- Six scientific thematic tracks with 36 focus areas
- Four cross-cutting interdisciplinary themes
- 3-day Winter One Health School (28–31 Oct, 7 courses)
- AI in Health AMR Challenge — $8,000 prize
- Advanced Medical Technology Hub (Holography, VR, 3D Printing, AI)
- Full simultaneous translation (Arabic–English)
- 150–300 key international stakeholders
6 Thematic Tracks
Global Health Security, Surveillance & Early Warning
Disease surveillance, epidemic intelligence, digital health tools
Outbreak Preparedness, Emergency Response & IPC
Emergency preparedness, field epidemiology, IPC in conflict
Vaccination, Immunization & AMR Control
Immunization strategies, vaccine equity, antimicrobial stewardship
Zoonotic & Emerging Diseases (One Health)
One Health frameworks, environmental drivers, climate risks
Vulnerable Populations: Refugees, IDPs & Children
Refugees, IDPs, children — maternal health, mental health, nutrition
Community Resilience & Health Justice
Social resilience, health governance, hygiene & sanitation
Join the Global Conversation
Be part of shaping the future of infectious disease response in conflict-affected communities.
Interconnected Risks and Responses
Protecting health in conflict settings demands resilient systems, collaboration, and science-driven action
The International Conference on Infectious Diseases in Conflict Settings, hosted by Birzeit University, will gather researchers, policymakers, humanitarian practitioners, and public health professionals to examine infectious disease risks in conflict-affected and humanitarian environments.
The conference will feature scientific sessions addressing disease surveillance and early warning, outbreak preparedness and infection prevention, vaccination strategies, antimicrobial resistance, environmental and zoonotic disease drivers, and health risks affecting displaced and vulnerable populations.
This conference serves a dual purpose:
1. To advance global dialogue and scientific collaboration on infectious diseases and One Health in humanitarian and conflict settings.
2. To catalyze transdisciplinary partnerships that translate research into policy, preparedness, and action in fragile contexts.
Conference Vision & Mission
- Conference Vision: To position Birzeit University as a regional and global platform advancing equitable and resilient responses to infectious diseases in conflict and displacement settings.
- Global Dialogue: Bringing together experts, policymakers, humanitarian actors, researchers, and innovators to exchange knowledge and strengthen coordinated responses.
- Knowledge to Action: Translating lessons from humanitarian crises into practical and scalable strategies that improve preparedness and health system resilience.
- Strengthening Systems: Promoting surveillance, preparedness, vaccination, AMR control, and community resilience.
- Exclusive event for 150–300 key stakeholders
- 26–27 October 2026 · hybrid event (onsite and online)
- Nasseb Azeez Shaheen Auditorium, Birzeit University
- Full simultaneous translation (Arabic–English)
Thematic Tracks
Six research tracks addressing the most pressing challenges at the intersection of infectious disease and conflict
Track 1: Global Health Security & Surveillance
Real-time surveillance systems, cross-border early warning networks, and rapid response coordination for disease outbreaks in conflict-affected regions.
Track 2: Outbreak Preparedness, Emergency Response & IPC in Conflict
Infection prevention and control strategies, emergency preparedness protocols, field laboratory deployment, and rapid diagnostic technologies.
Track 3: Vaccination, Immunization & AMR
Cold chain innovation, vaccine equity in crisis zones, antimicrobial resistance surveillance, and antibiotic stewardship programs.
Track 4: Zoonotic & Emerging Diseases (One Health)
Animal-human-environment disease interface, spillover risk assessment, vector-borne diseases, and integrated One Health approaches.
Track 5: Health of Displaced & Crisis-Affected Populations
Maternal, neonatal & child health · Nutrition & food insecurity · Mental health & psychosocial support · Gender-based vulnerabilities · Chronic diseases in refugee settings · Health equity & social determinants
Track 6: Community Resilience & Health Justice
Social resilience, health in peace-building, primary health care workforce, political determinants, hygiene, and food systems.
Advanced Medical Technology Hub
The lobby will be transformed into a dynamic technology showcase demonstrating the university's commitment to innovation
Holography
Keynote via live 3D holographic projection
Virtual Reality
Immersive surgical training & field hospital tours
3D Printing
Live lab creating anatomical models
AI in Diagnostics
ML algorithms for medical imaging & outbreak prediction
AI in Health AMR Challenge
The conference will host a competition focused on developing intervention models to mitigate Antimicrobial Resistance, including chemical, biological, mechanical, digital, and AI-based approaches.
Prize awarded to the winning team
Highlighting the new department's focus on cutting-edge, applied research
Questions about the AMR Challenge? Write to
Keynotes & Guests
Keynote and framing speakers, plus the officials opening the conference. Each session’s chairs and presenters are listed in the agenda.
Open the agenda
Organizing Committee
The distinguished professionals leading ICID 2026
Connect knowledge. Build practical skills.
28–31 October 2026 · Teaching 28, 29 & 31 Oct · 7 Expert-Led Courses
An intensive, onsite programme for students, researchers, early-career scientists, and health practitioners, held right after ICID 2026. Choose up to 2 courses across four parallel rooms.
Where
Onsite at the Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, Palestine
When
28–31 October 2026, right after ICID 2026 (26–27 October)
Daily programme
08:00–16:00, teaching on Wednesday 28, Thursday 29 and Saturday 31 October
Friday 30 October
No teaching
Four parallel rooms
Rooms A–D, each with a capacity of 30–35 participants
Choose up to 2
Each room runs one course at a time; pick up to 2 courses for the whole school
7 Expert-Led Courses
Choose up to 2 courses across four parallel rooms — all delivered onsite at Birzeit University
One Health in Action: From Concepts to Solutions
An introductory course connecting human, animal, and environmental health. It moves beyond definitions to examine how interconnected health threats are jointly understood and addressed, with examples from AMR, emerging infections, and environmental hazards — and particular attention to fragile and conflict-affected settings.
- Dr. Said Abukhattab Al-Barghouthi — Epidemiologist specializing in AMR, infectious disease, and public health in conflict-affected settings; PhD, Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel
Antimicrobial & Diagnostic Stewardship in Conflict Settings
A practical course on antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship for hospitals operating with disrupted systems, limited diagnostics, and antimicrobial shortages — covering empirical therapy optimization, antibiogram interpretation, and stewardship performance indicators.
- Dr. Rabee Adwan — Infectious Disease & Infection Control Consultant; Head of Department, Al-Makassed Hospital & Istishari Arab Hospital
- Dr. Sireen Shatat, PharmD — Infectious Disease Clinical Pharmacist, Istishari Arab Hospital
- Duaa Bakir, PharmD — Infectious Disease Clinical Pharmacist, Medication Management Unit Coordinator, Al-Makassed Hospital
Understanding AI in Healthcare
A non-technical introduction to AI and machine learning in medicine for clinicians and public health professionals with no coding background, using real clinical case studies — including a critical look at bias in AI models for conflict-affected populations.
- Dr. Suha Naser-Khdour — PhD in Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Australian National University; teaching experience at University of Basel and Uppsala University
AI Signatures Path in Health Sciences
A practical course on discovering AI-driven “signatures” or patterns within complex health and epidemiological data, moving from question formulation through discovery, validation, and real-world application, using Google Colab.
- Dr. Kamal Jarrar — Université de Pau (France); Charles University Faculty of Medicine (Czech Republic); Université de Montréal Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Canada)
Modeling for Prediction in One Health
An introduction to statistical and mathematical approaches to epidemiologic prediction, moving from machine-learning extensions of statistical models to a hands-on Ross-Macdonald model built and parameterized in Excel.
- Dr. Julianne Meisner — Assistant Professor, Global Health & Epidemiology, University of Washington; Director, Center for One Health Research
Statistical Meta-Analysis
A practical introduction to combining quantitative results from multiple studies into a single pooled estimate — covering fixed vs. random-effects models, heterogeneity, publication bias, and interpretation of forest and funnel plots in R.
- Dr. Abdulhakeem Eideh — Professor of Statistics, Data Science, and Survey Methodology, Al-Quds University, Abu Dis Campus, Palestine
Implementation Science for One Health
A practical course on embedding evidence-based health programmes into routine practice — framing implementation questions, applying the CFIR framework and ERIC strategies, and developing a concept note for a One Health / AMR challenge.
- Dr. Katya S. Wilson, PhD, MPH — Epidemiologist and program evaluator with 20+ years leading health-system interventions; experienced co-designing programs with NGOs, governments, and communities using implementation science, quality improvement, and digital health
Daily Schedule
Four parallel rooms (A–D) · 08:00–16:00 · Onsite at the Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University
Wednesday, 28 October
| Room | Course | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Room A | Implementation Science for One Health | 08:00–12:20 |
| Room B | Modeling for Prediction in One Health — Day 1 | 08:00–12:20 |
| Room C | AI Signatures Path in Health Sciences | 12:30–16:30 |
Thursday, 29 October
| Room | Course | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Room A | One Health in Action: From Concepts to Solutions | 08:00–12:00 |
| Room B | Modeling for Prediction in One Health — Day 2 | 12:00–16:00 |
| Room C | Understanding AI in Healthcare | 12:00–16:00 |
| Room D | Antimicrobial & Diagnostic Stewardship in Conflict Settings — Day 1 | 08:00–12:00 |
Friday, 30 October
No teaching
Saturday, 31 October
| Room | Course | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Room A | One Health in Action: From Concepts to Solutions | 08:00–12:00 |
| Room B | Understanding AI in Healthcare | 12:00–16:00 |
| Room C | Statistical Meta-Analysis | 12:00–16:00 |
| Room D | Antimicrobial & Diagnostic Stewardship in Conflict Settings — Day 2 | 08:00–12:00 |
- Participants are expected to attend their selected courses in person.
- Break times are at the instructor’s discretion and are typically scheduled after 1–1.5 hours of teaching.
Ready to advance your skills?
Limited seats available. Apply now to secure your place in the ICID 2026 Winter One Health School.
Key Dates
From the call for abstracts to the Winter One Health School
Call for Abstracts
The call for research abstracts across the six thematic tracks opened.
Abstract Submission Deadline
Submissions closed; double-blind peer review followed.
Notification of Acceptance
Authors were notified of acceptance decisions.
Full Paper / Extended Abstract Deadline
Final papers and extended abstracts due.
ICID 2026 Conference
Two days at Birzeit University: four Davos-style sessions, flash talks and posters.
Winter One Health School
Seven courses, taught on 28, 29 and 31 October (no teaching on Friday 30).
Venue & Travel
Birzeit University, Palestine · a hybrid event with onsite and online participation
Birzeit University
Located on the archaeological site of Khirbet Birzeit, the 750-dunam hilltop campus sits 850m above sea level with Mediterranean views. Founded 1924, ranked #1 nationally.
Organizers & Partners
ICID 2026 is hosted by Birzeit University and organized with its Institute of Community and Public Health and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute.
Birzeit University
Host institution. Birzeit, Palestine.
Institute of Community and Public Health
Birzeit University. Organizing institute.
Swiss TPH
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. Organizing partner.
Interested in supporting or partnering with ICID 2026?
Get in touchPrivacy & Cookies
What this website records, why, and for how long.
What we record
To understand how the website is used, each visit stores: the page viewed, the page you came from, your browser type and the buttons you click. Your IP address is shortened before it is stored (the last part is removed), so it cannot identify you.
What we do not do
- No advertising or social-media tracking scripts.
- No third-party analytics and no location lookup.
- No cookies are set for visitors. A session cookie is used only on the administrator login page.
How long we keep it
Visit statistics are deleted automatically after 90 days and are used only in aggregate by the organizing team.
Features that stay on your device
“My agenda” (the talks you star) is saved only in your own browser and is never sent to us.
Contact
Questions about this notice: