We are delighted to have the following world-renowned experts speaking at our virtual two-day conference, taking place on 12 – 13 July 2022:

Ms Emelie Alsheim
PhD student, University of Bath
Emily is currently a PhD student at the University of Bath, with funding from the Europen Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant (no. 955664). Previous degrees in BSc Microbiology from Glasgow Caledonian University and MMedSc in Infection Biology from Uppsala University.
Session: GBS in Practice (micro and testing)
Talk Title: Phospholipid vesicles for detection of maternal GBS carriage intrapartum. Wednesday 13 July, 10:42 – 10:49 BST
Transient carriage of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) limits accurate testing of maternal GBS carriage intrapartum. Novel phospholipid vesicles designed to sense GBS presence would allow for an affordable, easy-to-use swab test for testing maternal carriage of GBS intrapartum, and neonatal carriage postpartum.

Dr Carol J Baker
Professor of pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas. 2019 Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal recipient. Also known as “the Godmother of Group B Strep prevention.”
Day One Keynote Speaker
Talk Title: Overview and History. Tuesday 12 July, 09:05 – 09:35 BST
Carol is professor of pediatrics at McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas. Her work has focused on all aspects of perinatal group B streptococcal (GBS) infections with a focus on prevention through pregnancy screening and prophylaxis and maternal immunisation. Her discovery of the link between infant GBS disease and maternal immunity paved the way for routine GBS screening among pregnant women, reducing the rates of EOGBS disease in many countries by up to 80%. She continues to dedicate herself to preventing more GBS disease through maternal immunisation, with vaccine candidates currently in clinical trials.
Carol previously was professor of pediatrics and of molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, until 2018. She was Head of the Section of infectious diseases in the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine for 25 years. She is past chair of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (2009-2012). She is a past president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and was a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases from 1997-2012.
In 1997, she was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award and in 2007 of the Distinguished Physician Award, each from the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. She has been the recipient of several awards from the IDSA, the Mentor, the Society Citation for outstanding achievements in the field of Infectious Disease and in 2016 the Alexander Fleming Lifetime Achievement. In 2019. She received the Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal in recognition of her phenomenal research into group B Strep and is a member of the National Academy of Science
A widely published researcher in pediatrics and infectious diseases, she has authored or co-authored more than 500 articles, reviews, and book chapters.

Dr Luca Bedetti
Neonatologist and PhD student, University Hospital of Modena
Luca is a neonatologist and PhD student at Modena NICU (Italy). Interested in neonatal infectious diseases, neuro developmental follow-up, respiratory problems.
Session: GBS in Practice (clinical care)
Talk Title: Rates of lumbar puncture after antibiotics in infants with sepsis: an Italian multicenter study. Wednesday 13 July, 16:45 – 16:52 BST
Lumbar puncture (LP) is essential for diagnosing meningitis in infants. Our data comes from an Italian surveillance network (31 centres) on culture-proven bacterial infections (group B streptococcus, E. coli) diagnosed within 90 days of life. We found a low rate of LP performance and frequently antibiotics were given before an LP. Therefore, meningitis would be underdiagnosed, and antibiotic therapies could be less appropriate.

Dr Alberto Berardi
Head of Neonatal Intensive Care, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinico
Alberto is the head of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University Hospital of Modena (Italy) He leads a research network for the surveillance of GBS in Italy.
Session: GBS Epidemiology
Talk Title: Mode of GBS transmission and late-onset disease, Tuesday 12 July, 10:05 – 10:20 BST
Mode of transmission and risk factors for group B streptococcus (GBS) late-onset disease (LOD) are unclear, which interfere with effective prevention efforts. Mother-to-infant transmission of GBS may occur at delivery or during the postpartum period, and maternal colonization is a major risk factor for LOD. Nosocomial or community transmission of GBS may also occur. Maternal GBS colonization, prematurity, young maternal age, HIV exposure, and Black ethnicity are identified as risk factors for GBS-LOD.

Dr Colin Brown
Infectious Disease & Medical Microbiology consultant, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
Session Co-Chair: GBS Epidemiology
Colin is an Infectious Disease & Medical Microbiology consultant working at the UK Health Security Agency on a portfolio of clinical and emerging infection of which he is the Director, antimicrobial resistance and global health. His time is currently split between treating patients with clinical infections (including high consequence infectious diseases) at the Royal Free Hospital in London, working on domestic infection policy on healthcare-associated infection and antimicrobial resistance activities as Deputy Director of the HCAI/AMR Division, and on global health security supporting several African countries improve their infectious disease diagnostic capabilities as Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference & Research on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections. Within these roles, he has responsibility for managing the teams that lead on reference laboratory typing and surveillance for Group B Streptococcal infections.

Miss Rebecca Charlesworth
Rebecca is a mum to her son Henry. Rebecca became involved with Group B Strep Support following an emergency c section as a result of developing sepsis. Rebecca wishes to raise awareness of this deadly bacteria and to educate others on prevention.
Parent Voice, Tuesday 12 July, 11:10 – 11:20 BST

Dr Simon Collin
Principal Scientist (Epidemiology), UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
Simon Collin is an epidemiologist in the healthcare-associated infection, antimicrobial resistance and sepsis division at UKHSA.
Session: GBS Epidemiology
Talk Title: Maternal invasive GBS infection in England 2016-2021. Tuesday 12 July, 11:20 – 11:50 BST
Simon’s presentation covers the linkage of national microbiology surveillance data in England to NHS hospital admission records can provide information about maternal characteristics and delivery outcomes in pregnancies affected by invasive group B streptococcal infection. He will use linked data for England from 2016 to 2021 to describe the demographic characteristics and outcomes of maternal invasive GBS infection and whether these infections occur disproportionately in particular ethnic groups.

Miss Georgina Constantinou
Research Assistant, University of London.
Georgina is a qualitative researcher in the Centre for Maternal and Child Health at City, University of London. Her current role is within the GBS3 team conducting a qualitative sub-study to understand women and healthcare professionals’ views on the acceptability of implementing routine GBS testing.
Session: GBS in Practice (clinical care)
Talk Title: Knowledge, attitudes, and acceptability of GBS testing in pregnancy. Wednesday 13 July, 14:10 – 14:40 BST
Georgina’s presentation will outline the findings from a qualitative study exploring women’s knowledge and awareness of GBS testing in pregnancy, their attitudes towards testing and the acceptability of different testing GBS testing methods.

Mrs Philippa Cox
Consultant Midwife, Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London and Co-Clinical Director, London Maternity Clinical Network. Member of the Group B Strep Support Medical Advisory Panel.
Session Co-Chair: GBS in practice (clinical care)
Philippa has been a midwife in London for over 30 years in a variety of roles which have included Community Midwife, Debrief Midwife, Clinical Risk Manager and a Lecturer Practitioner at London South Bank University.
As a Consultant Midwife at Homerton University NHS Foundation Trust, Philippa has supported midwifery-led care by setting up a homebirth case loading team and an alongside birth centre. From 2017-2022 she has undertaken the role as Co Clinical Director for the London maternity clinical network and in June 2022 will undertake a secondment as Assistant Director of Maternity programmes in the East London Local maternity and neonatal system. She is a Midwifery Assessor for MBRRACE – UK whose work includes the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths (CEMD) and is a specialist advisor for the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Dr Roberta Creti
Molecular Microbiologist, Dept. of Infectious Diseases – Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome
Roberta is a molecular microbiologist working on the epidemiology, virulence and antibiotic resistance of severe and invasive human infections by beta-haemolytic streptococci (group A, B, C and G streptococci).
Session: GBS Epidemiology
Talk Title: Microbiological aspects of GBS – Late-onset disease. Tuesday 12 July, 10:20 – 10:35 BST
The face of the neonatal invasive GBS disease is changing: late-onset (LOD) disease exceeds early-onset disease in developed countries and it is predominantly caused by the hypervirulent serotype III-ST17 lineage, distributed worldwide. An emerging multidrug-resistant (MDR) ST17 sub-clone is increasingly reported, often affecting premature babies in neonatal intensive care units.
The reason for the monoclonal nature of the GBS-LOD and its mode of transmission have been only partially elucidated and will be covered in this presentation.

Miss Debora da Costa Morato Nery
PhD Student, University Hospital from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)
Debora is a Clinical Microbiologist at the University´s Hospital from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ) and also a PhD student in the same institution, currently working with new approaches for group B Strep detection, identification, phenotypical and genotypical characterization, in pregnant women.
Session: GBS in Practice (micro and testing)
Talk Title: Group B Streptococcus surveillance among pregnant women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil over a period of 14 years (2008-2021). Wednesday 13 July, 10:42 – 10:49 BST
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a major cause of neonatal disease worldwide, but in Brazil this data is still largely unknown. The current work aimed to investigate GBS colonization, regarding clinical aspects and strain characteristics, among pregnant women in a public maternity in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil along a period of 14 years (2008-2021), adding more information on GBS epidemiology in Brazil.

Prof Jane Daniels
Professor of Clinical Trials, University of Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit
Jane is the Chief Investigator for the GBS3 trial, a massive UK randomised trial of testing for GBS, and also led two previous clinical studies of rapid tests for GBS. She is a Professor of Clinical Trials at the University of Nottingham and has an outstanding reputation in women’s health research.
Session: GBS in Practice (micro and testing)
Talk Title: PCR tests for GBS – evidence of accuracy. Wednesday 13 July, 11:45 – 12:00 BST
Rapid intrapartum tests for GBS are an alternative to antenatal microbiological tests. Jane will present the results of the test accuracy study embedded in the GBS2 trial, which assessed the accuracy of the GeneXpert molecular test for GBS when used as an intrapartum test by midwives. Jane will put this into context with other studies and discuss the implications for the GBS3 trial.

Dr Hannah Davies
Clinical Research Fellow, St George’s, University of London
Hannah is a PhD candidate at St George’s University of London based in Kampala, Uganda. She has worked there for the last three years on projects that aim to accelerate the development and licensure of a GBS vaccine. Her PhD is focused on improving the safety of maternal vaccines in resource-limited settings by strengthening the infrastructure for identifying, reporting and investigating adverse events after immunisation.
Session: GBS Epidemiology
Talk Title: Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Group B Streptococcus Infections. Tuesday 12 July, 09:35 – 10:05 BST
An overview of research studies that have described neurodevelopmental outcomes following GBS infections in infancy.

Ms Selina Dubison
Clinical Governance Midwife, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Selina is a clinical governance midwife at Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. I am passionate about patient safety and believe staff learn best in an open and transparent environment. Clinicians are more likely to embrace change when they understand what went wrong and how we can improve. I support staff in providing the safest possible care for our women/birthing people, babies and families.
Session: GBS in Practice (clinical care)
Talk Title: GBS awareness week – learning together. Wednesday 13 July, 16:15 – 16:45 BST
After sadly losing a baby to group B Strep infection at our trust, we really wanted to spread awareness of group B strep amongst the multidisciplinary team. We wanted to make sure all staff received the same information with the latest recommended guidance, get key facts and most importantly give staff the opportunity to ask questions and learn together in a supportive environment.

Dr Per Fischer
CEO, MinervaX
Per is a biotech entrepreneur with over 25 years experience from the biotech and pharmaceutical industry within product development and business development. He has founded and run several biotech companies, worked as a biotech consultant and been an entrepreneur in residence with Novo Holdings. Primary therapeutic areas have been immunology, vaccines, haemostasis and oncology. Per holds a D.Phil. from University of Oxford and has 6 years of laboratory experience within immunology and infectious diseases prior to starting his industrial career. Has been the CEO of MinervaX since 2010.
Session: GBS Vaccines
Talk Title: MinervaX GBS vaccine: supportive data, status, and plans. Tuesday 12 July, 14:10 – 14:35 BST
An update on the development of MinervaX’s protein-based maternal GBS vaccine will be provided.

Dr Jim Gray
Consultant Microbiologist, Birmingham Women’s & Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Session co-chair: GBS in practice (micro and testing)
Jim was appointed Consultant Microbiologist at Birmingham Children’s and Women’s Hospitals in 1995. His research interests include group B Strep (working on several major GBS trials in the UK, including GBS2 and GBS3), point of care testing and paediatric antibiotic stewardship.
He has worked on several programmes with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), including the recent Neonatal Infection Guideline.
He is an Expert Advisor for the British National Formulary for Children (BNF-C), Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Hospital Infection and has editorial responsibilities with a number of other academic journals.
Jim was honoured in 2021 by the Birmingham Women’s & Children’s NHS Foundation Trust with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work caring for children, young people, women, and their families. He has been at the forefront of the Trust’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Session: GBS in Practice (micro and testing)
Talk Title: PCR – technology that has moved from exoticism to mainstream. Wednesday 13 July, 11:30 – 11:45 BST
The COVID-19 pandemic saw the transformation of PCR from a specialist diagnostic test provided by specialist laboratories to a mainstream rapid test that was quickly widely rolled out across hospitals, including as a point of care test. The basic principles of nucleic acid amplification tests such as PCR will be described, and lessons learned from COVID-19 diagnosis that are relevant to the large-scale use of PCR for rapid GBS detection will be considered.

Dr Elita Jauneikaite
Advanced Research Fellow, Imperial College London
Elita’s research focuses on evolution, transmission and antimicrobial resistance of Group B Streptococci and healthcare-associated bacterial infections. Elita is using whole genome sequencing, bioinformatic analyses and molecular biology techniques to inform on evolution, mother-to-baby or patient-to-patient transmission and antimicrobial resistance patterns in clinically important pathogens.
Session: GBS in Practice (clinical care)
Talk Title: Distribution of GBS protein vaccine targets in disease-causing GBS in the UK. Wednesday 13 July, 12:20 – 12:27 BST
The study reports the distribution of potential GBS vaccine target proteins from genomic analysis of a longitudinal sporadic collection of GBS from infant and adult infection cases in the UK between 2010 and 2020.

Dr Miguel Gueimonde
Research Scientist, IPLA-CSIC,
Dairy Research Institute of Asturias, Spanish Research Council
Miguel is a Research Scientist at IPLA-CSIC with his research activity focused on the study of intestinal microbiota and the factors determining its composition, with special focus on the early life and the senescence periods. He is an author, or co-author, of over 200 peer-reviewed publications and supervised 5 PhD Theses and several MSc Theses.
Session: GBS in Practice (micro and testing)
Talk Title: The impact of intrapartum prophylaxis against group B Strep on the microbiota of mother and baby. Wednesday 13 July, 12:15 – 12:30 BST
The microbial colonization of the newborn poses important implications for the infant’s health. This microbiota establishment is affected by several factors, among them exposure to antibiotics play an important role. Intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis (IAP) constitutes the most common form of antibiotic exposure in the perinatal period. This strategy, very successful for controlling group-B streptococcal infection, has been found to also affect the normal microbiota development at both general level and at the level of specific microbial groups such as Bifidobacterium. The available data suggest the interest for developing strategies minimizing the impact of IAP upon the neonatal microbiome.

Dr Kathryn Gutteridge
Consultant Midwife, Psychotherapist, Past President of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) & Trustee of Group B Strep Support
Day 2 Chair
Kathryn is recognised for her work as one of the first consultant midwives in the UK. She was elected as President of the Royal College of Midwives 2017-21. Kathryn is widely published in both peer-review journals, and books and has presented internationally.
She has a long history of clinical care and advocacy for women in the NHS and a passion for women’s issues and the importance of psychological, emotional, and mental wellbeing during childbirth.
She has worked in diverse settings including neonatal services and community midwifery and has been an expert advisor to both the RCM and the RCOG. In 2017 she was named ‘Midwife of the Year’ by the British Journal of Midwifery, and in 2021 was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the RCM.
Session: GBS in Practice (micro and testing)
Talk Title: A midwife’s role in GBS testing – practical advice from the swab to the birth plan. Wednesday 13 July, 09:55 – 10:15 BST
Midwives are at the front face of maternity services and as such will have conversations with women and their families about the implications of group B Strep tests and how that influences their birthing plans. More frequently women are using private testing products this too can pose questions. Ensuring that midwives are knowledgeable about testing and how to discuss this in respect of birthing choices will be discussed in this presentation.

Prof Paul Heath
Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, St George’s University of London & St George’s University Hospitals NHS Trust, London
Session co-chair: GBS Vaccines
Paul Heath is a Professor and Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Infectious Diseases at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and St George’s, University of London, where he is the Director of the Vaccine Institute.
His training in paediatrics and infectious diseases was at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford; and St George’s Hospital, London. His research interests are in the epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases, in clinical vaccine trials, particularly in at-risk groups and in perinatal infections, and he has over 320 publications in these areas. He coordinates a European neonatal infection surveillance network (neonIN: https://www.neonin.org.uk) and the UK Paediatric Vaccine Group (UKPVG), and other recent work includes national UK surveillance on neonatal meningitis and other infections (GBS and Listeria), maternal immunisation trials, studies of different vaccine schedules in preterm infants and COVID-19 vaccine trials (including in pregnant women). He sits on national UK committees concerned with meningitis, Group B streptococcus prevention, immunisation policies in children and COVID-19 vaccine trial delivery. He is Chair of the Research Committee of the European Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Section Editor of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Journal (maternal & neonatal), NIHR Speciality Lead for Children’s research for South London CRN and a member of the WHO GBS Surveillance Technical Working Group.

Ms Mandip Hira
Microbiology Manager, University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire
Mandip is a registered biomedical scientist with more than 10 years’ experience in NHS microbiology laboratories.
Session: GBS in Practice (micro and testing)
Talk Title: The challenges of setting up ECM testing in the NHS. Wednesday 13 July, 12:00 – 12:15 BST
Mandip will be discussing the challenges of introducing routine Group B Streptococcus screening in NHS laboratories.

Ms Heidi Hollands
Senior Research Midwife, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Heidi has been a qualified midwife since 2003 and Senior Research Midwife for 13 years. In 2022 she became a Regional GBS3 Research Midwife so she is now experiencing research from both sides.
Session: GBS in Practice (clinical care)
Talk Title: Experience of routine testing for GBS as part of the GBS3 trial – Enriched Culture Medium (ECM). Wednesday 13 July, 14:40 – 14:55 BST
Heidi’s talk will cover University Hospitals Plymouth’s experience of setting up GBS3 and embedding routine antenatal screening for GBS using Enriched Culture Medium into clinical practice. The realities and practicalities, barriers and facilitators; not to mention the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Dr Konstantinos Karampatsas
Clinical Research Fellow, St George’s, University of London
Konstantinos is a paediatric trainee in London and a PhD student in the area of Group B streptococcus (GBS) vaccinology at St George’s, University of London. The overarching objective of his PhD project is to contribute to defining a serocorrelate of protection against invasive GBS disease.
Session: GBS Vaccines
Talk Title: Naturally acquired serotype-specific anti-GBS CPS IgG concentrations- A pilot UK prospective cohort study. Tuesday 12 July, 16:35 – 16:42 BST
In a prospective UK cohort study of pregnant women and their infants, antibody levels against STIII CPS measured with the newly developed GASTON assay were significantly higher in the cord blood of healthy infants born to GBS colonised women than in the blood of neonates with iGBS disease.

Prof Kirsty Le Doare
Professor of Vaccinology and Immunology, St. George’s, University of London
Prof Le Doare is a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and Professor of Vaccinology and Immunology at the Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection Research at St. George’s, University of London, based at MRC/UVRI at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in Uganda. Her research interests are age-related immune responses to infectious diseases, in particular to Group B-streptococcus (GBS). She is interested in improving our knowledge of how maternal antibody in vaginal fluid, blood and breast milk is passed to babies and how this protects them from colonisation and disease. Her focus is on harnessing these tools of nature (basic pathophysiology and immunity) to improve vaccines and prevention strategies, coupled with clinical vaccine studies at her maternal vaccination platform site in Kampala, Uganda.
Session: GBS Vaccines
Talk Title: Progress towards a correlate of protection: GASTON project. Tuesday 12 July, 15:30 – 15:50 BST
Kirsty’s talk will provide an update on the international efforts to develop tests to measure antibodies against GBS so that we can work out how much antibody we would need from a vaccine to protect babies from GBS disease.

Mrs Malene Risager Lykke
Ph.D. student, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus, Denmark
Malene is a PhD student at The Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus, Denmark, and works with group B Strep in the neonatal period and long-term neurological outcomes.
Session: GBS Epidemiology
Talk Title: Invasive Group-B streptococcus disease in the neonatal period and risk of epilepsy – a population-based cohort study. Tuesday 12 July, 10:35 – 10:42 BST
Invasive Group-B Streptococcus disease, especially meningitis, was associated with an increased risk of epilepsy in later childhood. An adjusted hazard ratio was 2·04 (95% CI 1·46-2·85) when comparing iGBS children with the comparison group. The incidence rate (IR) for iGBS meningitis was 13.62 (95% CI 7.79 – 19.44). For the iGBS children, the IR was higher in the low-income group (IR 3·56 (95% CI 1·82–5·31)) compared to the low-income group of the comparison cohort (IR 1·35 (1·00–1·70)) and the group of high-income, suggesting an effect of socioeconomic factors.

Prof Shabir Madhi
Professor of Vaccinology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Session co-chair: GBS vaccines
Shabir is the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Professor of Vaccinology at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He also holds the position of Director of the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (VIDA) and is co-Director of the African Leadership Initiative for Vaccinology Expertise (ALIVE). Prof Madhi completed his MBBCH degree at Wits in 1990, specialised in Paediatric, and graduated in 1996, and subsequently completed his PhD at Wits in 2003. Shabir has been involved in a number of GBS epidemiology and vaccine studies over the past twenty years.
Session: GBS Vaccines
Talk Title: Potential efficacy of a maternal GBS vaccine: Bridging from immunogenicity to potential efficacy
Tuesday 12 July, 16:10 – 16:35 BST
Using the serological threshold of risk reduction of invasive GBS disease in infants and evaluating the immunogenicity of a hexavalent GBS conjugate vaccine, the GBS vaccine is modelled to confer 83% efficacy against invasive GBS disease.

Dr Emma McGuire
Infectious Diseases & Microbiology Registrar, UK Health Security Agency
Emma is an Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology doctor (registrar) in London, and a clinical fellow at UK Health Security Agency. She is doing a Masters degree in Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Session: GBS Epidemiology
Talk Title: Antibiotic resistance in Group B Streptococcus. Tuesday 12 July, 11:50 – 12:20 BST
Emma will be talking about antibiotic resistance in Group B Streptococcus, including changes we’ve seen over time in the rates of antibiotic resistance and how this is affecting patients.

Dr Albert Mifsud
Consultant Microbiologist, Barts Health NHS Trust
Albert is a consultant microbiologist with UKHSA and Barts Health. He chairs the UK SMIs Steering Committee and the UKAS Medical Laboratory Services Technical Advisory Committee. He was Past President of the British Infection Association and served two terms on the RCPath Medical Microbiology SAC. He is the Honorary Treasurer of the Medical Microbiology Section of the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes and Honorary Secretary to its Council for European Specialists Medical Assessments.
Session: GBS in Practice (micro and testing)
Talk Title: The role of the laboratory in the prevention of Early Onset Group B Streptococcus infection. Wednesday 13 July, 09:35 – 09:55 BST
According to the WHO, despite the introduction of various strategies, GBS continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates, with a worldwide toll of an estimated 137,000 newborn deaths and stillbirths and 40,000 infants living with the neurological consequences of GBS infection. Antibiotic prophylaxis during labour has been shown to be highly effective at reducing the burden of GBS but requires the identification of women who would benefit from this intervention. Strategies based on the laboratory detection of maternal colonisation have been shown to be more effective than risk-based strategies, and have been implemented in many countries. In order to support this important preventive measure, the UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations have published an evidence-based guideline on the optimal methodology for the demonstration of maternal carriage of GBS.

Dr Edward Morris
Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. President, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London. Chair of Trustees, Group B Strep Support
Day 1 Chair
Eddie is a consultant in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Medical School, University of East Anglia.
He is currently President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and was previously VP for Clinical Quality (2016-2019) and Fellows’ representative for the East of England on RCOG Council (2011-2016).
His main clinical interests include menopause, minimally invasive gynaecological surgery, and the advanced management of endometriosis. Former Chair of the British Menopause Society, he leads specialist menopause and tertiary endometriosis services in Norwich. Eddie is the co-editor of the Journal ‘Post Reproductive Health’ and has authored over 70 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and national documents.

Dr Bonilla Nayar
Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
Bonilla is a consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Northwick Park Hospital. She is the lead obstetrician for Perinatal Mental Health and Deputy College Tutor. She is the co-lead investigator for the GBS3 Trial at her trust.
Her areas of interest are Intrapartum care, Perinatal Mental Health, and Early Pregnancy Scanning.
Session: GBS in Practice (clinical care)
Talk Title: Incidence of maternal Group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteraemia and clinical impact on mother and baby in a maternity unit in North West London.
Wednesday 13 July, 15:10 – 15:17 BST
We did a retrospective observational study, over three year period, of the maternal and neonatal outcomes in women, who delivered at Northwick Park Hospital with intrapartum pyrexia / sepsis and culture-proven GBS bacteraemia. Out of 13,400 births, 20 women had GBS bacteraemia, giving the incidence of 1.48 per 1000 births. 70% of these women had operative deliveries with caesarean section rate of 45% in this cohort of women. Abnormal Fetal monitoring was seen in 10 cases. Neonatal pyrexia was seen in 50% of cases. Both mothers and babies had antibiotics as per local protocol and were discharged home in good condition. The average in-patient stay was 6 days.

Dr Pauline Paterson
Assistant Professor, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
Pauline is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), UK. Dr. Paterson has been researching issues of public confidence in immunisations since 2010.
Session: GBS Vaccines
Talk Title: Acceptance, attitudes, and lessons learned from other maternal vaccines. Tuesday 12 July, 15:50 – 16:10 BST
Whilst most people vaccinate, some groups or individuals delay or refuse vaccines. Episodes of public concerns about vaccines have occurred around the world, spreading quickly and sometimes seriously eroding public confidence in immunisation and ultimately leading to vaccine refusals and disease outbreaks. Dr Paterson will explore experiences and views towards vaccinating in pregnancy.

Dr Gopal Rao
Consultant Microbiologist, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
Session Co-chair: GBS in practice (testing and micro)
Gopal is a Consultant Microbiologist & Lead Clinician for Infection Control at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust.
He has been interested in the prevention of group B Strep infections in babies for over 20 years.
He led the pilot of a trial of routine antenatal screening for GBS carriage at Northwick Park hospital, providing the first UK data on the issue.
Gopal has served on a number of international and national professional groups including the Department of Health and Social Care’s MRSA Screening Committee and was an international advisor for The Royal College of Pathologists. He was delighted to receive an OBE in 2009 for his work with North West London Hospitals NHS Trust for his dedication and commitment to helping reduce infection rates. He is a member of Group B Strep Support’s expert Medical Advisory Panel.
Session: GBS in Practice (micro and testing)
Talk Title: A GBS swab’s journey in the laboratory. Wednesday 13 July, 10:15 – 10:35 BST
This presentation will provide an insight into how a GBS swab is processed in a diagnostic laboratory from the time of receipt to the issuance of the laboratory report

Dr Julia Rhodes
Epidemiologist, US CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Julia is a senior epidemiologist with the US CDC’s Active Bacterial Core Surveillance Program and leads the CDC’s natural history case-control study to characterize the relationship between GBS capsular polysaccharide antibody levels and risk of infant GBS disease. She earned a Master of Science in Epidemiology in 1995 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology in 2000 at the University of Maryland Baltimore. In 2000, she joined CDC and in 2004 she moved to Thailand and began working for the CDC’s collaboration with the Thailand Ministry of Health. There she developed subject matter expertise in emerging infectious diseases, including childhood pneumonia, invasive bacterial disease, and antimicrobial resistance. In 2017 Dr. Rhodes moved to Atlanta, GA, and began work in CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases where she continues to expand her Group B Streptococcal expertise.
Session: GBS Vaccines
Talk Title: The US CDC-led study to establish immunologic endpoints associated with protection against infant invasive group B streptococcal disease: methodology and updates. Tuesday 12 July, 15:00 – 15:10 BST
The US CDC is conducting a natural history case-control study built on a national surveillance system to characterize the relationship between GBS capsular polysaccharide antibody levels and the risk of infant GBS disease.

Mrs Jo Spear
Jo is a mother of three, her son (now six) was born in 2015 with an undiagnosed group B Strep infection. As a result, Archie had brain damage and secondary complex needs which have ultimately shaped his life.
Jo found charity Group B Strep Support (GBSS) shortly after Archie was diagnosed and is now hugely passionate about advocating for GBS and GBSS wherever possible. She is particularly passionate about the importance of awareness and education surrounding GBS and effective early warning signs within the NHS and wider community.
Parent Voice, Wednesday 13 July, 14:00 – 14:10 BST

Prof 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.
Day Two Keynote Speaker and Conference Scientific Committee Chair
Talk Title: Group B Strep and Maternity Care. Wednesday 13 July, 09:05 – 09:35 BST
Phil was until 2014 a consultant obstetrician at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London. He is editor emeritus of BJOG – an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
He was a member of the RCOG Group B Streptococcal Prevention Guidelines Committee that produced the RCOG’s 2017 group B Strep guidelines.

Ms Louise Swaminathan
Senior Research Midwife, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Louise is a Senior Research Midwife at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. She is also the lead midwife and PI for the GBS3 study at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.
Session: GBS in Practice (clinical care)
Talk Title: Introducing routine intrapartum rapid testing for group B Strep at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust: our experience (so far!). Wednesday 13 July, 14:55 – 15:10 BST
Louise’s talk will provide an insight into the experience of implementing the GBS3 study and introducing routine intrapartum rapid testing for group B Strep in a Trust with one obstetric unit and two stand-alone birth centres.

Dr Caroline Trotter
Honorary Epidemiologist at UK Health Security Agency
Session Chair: GBS Epidemiology
Caroline is an infectious disease epidemiologist with a particular interest in vaccine-preventable diseases, including group B Strep.
Principal Research Associate, Department of Veterinary Medicine & Academic Director Cambridge-Africa, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge
She is based at the University of Cambridge and has an honorary position with UKHSA Most of her research is focused on bacterial meningitis and in particular meningococcal disease.
Caroline is the Director of the Cambridge-Africa Programme, a University-wide initiative to connect researchers in Cambridge and Africa
Caroline’s research examines the potential and actual impact of immunisation using a range of methods from classic epidemiology to mathematical modelling and health economics. Her work has been used to inform national and, as a consultant to the World Health Organisation, international vaccine policy. She has ongoing projects investigating the potential impact of vaccination against group B Streptococcus.
Session: GBS Vaccines
Talk Title: WHO: full value GBS vaccine assessment. Tuesday 12 July, 14:35 – 15:00 BST
The World Health Organization (WHO) identified the development of GBS vaccines suitable for maternal immunization in pregnancy and use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as a priority in 2015.
The WHO Full Value of Vaccines Assessment for GBS vaccines was published in November 2021. The report describes the global public health rationale for developing GBS vaccines to inform decision-making across the continuum of vaccine development and uptake with a line of sight to sustainable public health impact.

Dr Kate Walker
Clinical Associate Professor, Obstetrics, University of Nottingham. Co-Chief Investigator, GBS3 Trial
Session co-chair: GBS in practice (clinical care)
Kate is a Clinical Associate Professor in Obstetrics at the University of Nottingham. She divides her time equally between research (at Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit) and clinical work (at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust).
Her clinical work is based at Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals Trust. She has an interest in high-risk pregnancy, labour ward management, and obstetric ultrasound scanning.
Kate’s research work is focused on randomised controlled trials in obstetrics, gynaecology, and neonatology. She is the Clinical Chief Investigator for the NIHR HTA-funded cluster randomised trial to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of testing for group B Streptococcus in late pregnancy (GBS3). This is the first RCT comparing risk-based screening with two types of routine GBS screening in pregnancy in the world.
She is also the Chief Investigator of an NIHR HTA-funded study on managing an impacted fetal head during emergency caesarean section.
Session: GBS in Practice (clinical care)
Talk Title: Common questions from women about group B strep and how to answer them. Wednesday 13 July, 15:45 – 16:15 BST
In this talk, we will look at the most commonly asked questions by pregnant women about group B strep and provide all the information you need to answer those questions confidently.

Mrs Eilidh Wise
A mother of two, I had never heard of group B Strep until I was told that it was what was making my son so poorly. My son Peter contracted GBS meningitis and septicaemia at 28 hours old and spent 3 weeks in hospital in NICU and special care. Thankfully today it appears he has no lasting side effects and is a happy healthy little boy, but as his mother, it has left deep emotional scars and I have vowed to help prevent GBS from hurting more families and raise as much awareness as possible in the hope one day things will change, and babies will no longer be vulnerable to this infection.
Parent Voice, Wednesday 13 July, 11:20 – 11:30 BST

Yoyo
Yoyo is raising a child with complex medical and physical needs after he survived late-onset group B Strep infection.
Parent Voice, Tuesday 12 July, 14:00 – 14:10 BST
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