Post-Symposium FSRN Workshop at VTEC 2026
May 14 @ 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Verocytotoxigenic or Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (VTEC / STEC) continues to be a priority pathogen in countries across the world. The triannual VTEC conference series aims to bring the whole community together to share and discuss the latest findings in scientific research and application. A focused workshop will be held in partnership with the Food Safety Research Network (FSRN) as part of its cross-sector initiative Advancing STEC Diagnostics.
The FSRN’s ongoing STEC workstreams have been gathering real-world insight into current testing availability, terminology and interpretation challenges, and unmet needs for UK businesses and laboratories. This workshop presents an opportunity to reflect on those learnings to date, benchmark them internationally, and discuss a shared direction of travel. A central goal is for more specific STEC diagnostics that are scientifically robust and operationally feasible. (First workshop report: 10.5281/zenodo.16921087).
The session will convene international experts, public health agencies, diagnostic developers, UK regulators, and food businesses to explore practical, risk-informed approaches to STEC testing across food, clinical, and environmental settings.