Travel Medicine in Focus: Porto’s Multi-event Gathering
From September 17 to 19, 2025, Porto hosted a trio of events dedicated to travel medicine: the IX Scientific Meeting of the Portuguese Society of Travel Medicine (SPMV), the VII Workshop on Vaccines in Travelers, and the I Atlantic-Mediterranean Forum of travel medicine societies. The gatherings brought together researchers, clinicians, and public health professionals to share advances, debates, and practical guidance for safeguarding travelers and their communities. In this mix, researchers from IHMT NOVA and ADMT presented work that exemplifies how travel medicine is evolving from a niche specialty to a cornerstone of global health.
IHMT NOVA’s Contributions to Travel Medicine
Researchers from IHMT NOVA showcased studies addressing core travel medicine questions: how to optimize pre-travel risk assessment, how to tailor vaccination recommendations to individual traveler profiles, and how digital tools can enhance clinic workflows. One project examined structured pre-travel consultations and found that personalized risk counseling can reduce post-travel illness and improve adherence to vaccination schedules. Another line of work explored rapid diagnostics and point-of-care testing for febrile travelers, aiming to shorten diagnostic timelines and improve initial treatment decisions in clinics serving international travelers.
Vaccines in Travelers: Practical Insights
IHMT NOVA researchers highlighted the dynamic landscape of vaccines for travelers, including new vaccines entering routine practice and older vaccines needing updated guidance for specific destinations. The discussions emphasized the importance of integrating vaccines with broader travel advice, taking into account destination risks, seasonality, and traveler health status. The group stressed ongoing surveillance and post-travel follow up to track outcomes and refine recommendations as pathogens evolve.
ADMT: Advancing Vaccines in Travelers and Public Health Impact
The ADMT presentations focused on expanding vaccine coverage among travelers and strengthening the capacity of travel clinics. Studies described strategies to increase uptake of both routine and travel-related vaccines through clinician education, patient outreach, and streamlined clinic protocols. Researchers reported on programs that monitor adverse events following immunization in travelers and on surveillance frameworks designed to detect emerging risks across routes and destinations. The work underscored how coordinated efforts can safeguard travelers while contributing to broader public health goals.
Public Health Collaborations
ADMT highlighted collaborations with primary care networks and international partners to harmonize recommendations for travelers. By sharing data, protocols, and training resources, these efforts support safer travel, improve early detection of outbreaks, and foster a more unified approach to vaccination policy across borders in the Atlantic-Mediterraenean region.
The IX Scientific Meeting and the Atlantic-Mediterranean Forum: Shaping the Field
With attendees spanning academia, clinical practice, and public health, the sessions fostered dialogue on clinical guidelines, travel clinic organization, and patient education. The convergence of research on vaccines in travelers and cross-border collaboration signals a vibrant future for travel medicine in the Atlantic-Mediterranean area, where researchers like those from IHMT NOVA and ADMT help translate evidence into practice.
Why Travel Medicine Research Matters
Travel medicine sits at the intersection of individual health and global health security. As international travel resumes and diversifies, so do the risks of vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and new outbreaks. The Porto meetings reinforced the value of evidence-based practice, informed policy making, and the tools clinicians need to protect travelers and the communities they visit and return to.
Looking Ahead
Organizers signaled ongoing collaborations and upcoming sessions to expand training, share best practices, and translate research into everyday clinical care. The work presented by IHMT NOVA and ADMT demonstrates how sustained research activity, combined with strong networks across regions, can elevate travel medicine to a central pillar of modern public health.
