VALIDATE Annual Meeting 2027 - Delegate Information
VALIDATE’s 9th Annual Meeting will take place from 10–14 May 2027 at One Farrer Hotel in Singapore. Taking place during VALIDATE’s 10th anniversary year, the meeting will bring our international community together to share research, develop new skills, make connections and celebrate ten years of the Network.
This Delegates’ Page brings together the information you will need to prepare for the meeting, including details of the venue and location, travel and visa guidance, frequently asked questions and a directory of fellow delegates. The full agenda will be added once it is available, so please check this page regularly for updates.
The Management Experiment: People, Performance, and Other Stuff They Never Taught You in the Lab
Two-Day ECR Workshop – 10–11 May 2027
The Annual Meeting will open with a dedicated two-day workshop for Early Career Researchers. The Management Experiment: People, Performance, and Other Stuff They Never Taught You in the Lab will be led by Peggy Klaus. Further information about the workshop’s theme and programme can be found on the ECR Workshop page.
Applications to attend the workshop should be made through the main Annual Meeting registration form on this page. The deadline to apply for the ECR Workshop is 27 November 2026.
Three-Day Annual Meeting – 12–14 May 2027
The main Annual Meeting will take place over three days and is free for VALIDATE members to attend. It will showcase research relating to VALIDATE’s core pathogens—Mycobacteria, Leishmania and Burkholderia pseudomallei—while providing opportunities for discussion, networking and collaboration.
The programme will include research talks, poster sessions, interactive discussions and social events, bringing together researchers from institutions and countries around the world. A full agenda will be published closer to the meeting.
Travel and Safety
Singapore is a welcoming, well-connected and extremely safe destination, but it also enforces its laws and entry requirements strictly. Our Annual Meeting 2027 Travel and Safety Guide contains practical information to help you prepare, including visa and immigration requirements, medication rules, local transport, food and expenses, and important laws that visitors should understand before travelling. We recommend printing the document and bringing it with you to Singapore.
Travel Checklist
Please complete each of these actions before travelling to Singapore:
- Check your passport and visa requirements now. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date you enter Singapore. Check whether you require a Singapore visa, apply in good time and contact the VALIDATE Team promptly if you need supporting documentation.
- Check your government’s travel advice for Singapore. Review the latest official guidance before travelling and check it again shortly before your departure, as entry requirements, health advice and local regulations may change.
- Check whether you need a yellow fever vaccination certificate. You will need a valid certificate if, during the six days before arriving in Singapore, you visit a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission or spend more than 12 hours transiting through an airport in one of those countries. Check the official list and requirements, including any countries through which you will travel. A certificate only becomes valid ten days after vaccination.
- Check that your medication is permitted in Singapore. Use the Health Sciences Authority guidance to check every prescription and over-the-counter medicine you plan to bring. Some medicines require prior approval, so complete this check well before travelling. Carry medication in its original packaging, together with a copy of your prescription or supporting letter where appropriate.
- Complete the free SG Arrival Card shortly before travelling. Submit it through the official ICA service or MyICA app within three days before arrival, including the day you arrive. The SG Arrival Card is compulsory for most visitors but is not a visa. Do not pay a third-party website to complete it.
- Remove all vapes and e-cigarettes from your luggage. Do not bring a vape, e-cigarette or related components into Singapore. Importing, possessing and using these products is illegal, including for visitors.
- Never carry packages or medication for another person. Singapore imposes severe penalties for drug offences. Pack your own luggage and make sure you know what it contains.
- Use only designated smoking areas. Check for signs before smoking, as it is prohibited in many indoor and outdoor public places.
Singapore has a number of strictly enforced laws that may be unfamiliar or surprising to international visitors and considerably stricter than those in your home country. Please read the full Travel and Safety Guide carefully, follow local signs and instructions, and check the official guidance before travelling if you are unsure about any rule or restriction.
Who can attend the Annual Meeting?
The Annual Meeting is open to VALIDATE members and invited guests. If you are not currently a VALIDATE member, you must apply for membership before registering. Membership is free.
Can I bring my family to Singapore?
Yes. Family members are welcome to accompany you to Singapore, but all associated costs—including their travel, accommodation, meals and local transport—must be paid by you.
Family members cannot attend the ECR Workshop, scientific sessions, Annual Meeting Dinner or other delegate-only activities unless they have been specifically invited by VALIDATE. This is because places and catering are limited, and some sessions may include confidential or unpublished research.
If you plan to share your hotel room with a family member, please inform the VALIDATE Team. You will be responsible for any additional occupancy, breakfast or other hotel charges.
When will the agenda be available?
The full agenda is still being developed and will be published on this page when it is ready. Registered delegates will be notified of important programme updates by email.
Do I need to complete the SG Arrival Card?
Yes. All delegates entering Singapore must complete the free SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration within three days before arrival, including the day they arrive.
The SG Arrival Card is not a visa. You must complete it even if you do not require a visa or already hold one. Use only the official Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority website or MyICA app, as third-party websites may charge for this free service.
Who will arrange my flights and accommodation?
Delegates receiving VALIDATE funding will be contacted directly with instructions about their travel and accommodation arrangements. Self-funded delegates are responsible for making and paying for their own bookings. Please let the VALIDATE Team know your arrival date and flight time once your travel has been arranged.
Do not make bookings on VALIDATE’s behalf or assume that costs will be reimbursed unless this has been agreed with the VALIDATE Team in advance.
Can I extend my stay in Singapore?
You may extend your visit at your own expense, provided this does not substantially increase the cost to VALIDATE. You will be responsible for any additional accommodation, meals, transport and other expenses, as well as any increase in the cost of your flight resulting from the extension.
Please discuss any proposed changes with the VALIDATE Team before making arrangements or confirming bookings.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. All delegates should ensure that they have appropriate travel and medical insurance for the duration of their trip. Please check whether your institution provides cover and what it includes.
What travel costs can VALIDATE-funded delegates claim?
VALIDATE-funded delegates will receive detailed guidance explaining what they may claim and how to submit their expenses. Please read this guidance carefully before travelling.
In general, delegates may claim reasonable expenses including:
- Meals not already provided as part of the meeting or hotel booking
- One alcoholic drink with an evening meal
- Drinking water and other reasonable refreshments
- A taxi or suitable public transport between the airport and the hotel
- Visa fees, where applicable and agreed by VALIDATE
Delegates cannot normally claim for:
- Clothing or laundry
- Sightseeing, tourism or entertainment
- Transport to restaurants, tourist attractions or other personal activities
- Minibar charges or additional alcoholic drinks
- Expenses incurred by family members or other guests
- Additional accommodation or costs arising from a personal extension to the trip
This is not a complete list of eligible and ineligible expenses. Always check the detailed guidance first. If you are still unsure whether a cost can be claimed, contact the VALIDATE Team before making the purchase. All claims must be reasonable and supported by an itemised receipt.
At the Meeting
Where will the meeting take place?
The Annual Meeting will take place at:
One Farrer Hotel
1 Farrer Park Station Road
Singapore 217562
The hotel is directly connected to Farrer Park MRT Station on the North East Line. Please take care not to confuse Farrer Park Station with Farrer Road Station, which is in a different part of Singapore.
Will meals be provided?
Refreshments and lunch will be provided during the meeting programme. Delegates whose accommodation has been booked by VALIDATE will also have breakfast included with their hotel stay.
Registered delegates will receive further information about the official dinners and social activities included in their attendance. Delegates are responsible for meals outside the official programme unless VALIDATE has confirmed otherwise.
Can you accommodate dietary requirements?
Yes. Please provide full details of any dietary requirements or food allergies on the registration form. If your requirements change after registering, contact the VALIDATE Team as soon as possible.
What should I wear?
Smart-casual clothing is appropriate for the scientific sessions and social events. Singapore is hot and humid, but the hotel’s meeting rooms may feel cool because of air conditioning, so we recommend bringing a light layer.
Will the talks be recorded or photographed?
The Annual Meeting will be photographed, and some sessions may be recorded. Photographs and recordings may be used on the VALIDATE website, Hub, social-media channels and other communications.
Delegates will receive further information before the meeting. Please contact the VALIDATE Team if you have any questions or concerns.
Will Wi-Fi be available?
Yes. Wi-Fi will be available at the venue. Connection details will be provided during the meeting.
Who should I contact about accessibility or additional requirements?
Please tell us about any accessibility or other support requirements on the registration form. You can also contact VALIDATE@ndm.ox.ac.uk so that the team can discuss suitable arrangements with you.
Changes and Cancellations
What should I do if I can no longer attend?
Please inform the VALIDATE Team as soon as possible. Places and accommodation are limited, and late cancellations may result in costs to the Network.
VALIDATE-funded delegates must not cancel or change flights, accommodation or other bookings themselves without first contacting the team.
What happens if my travel plans change or I miss a flight?
Contact the VALIDATE Team and the relevant travel provider immediately. Additional costs arising from a personal extension to the trip, missed flights or a failure to follow the agreed itinerary may be the delegate’s responsibility.
Who should I contact in an emergency during the meeting?
Emergency contact details for the VALIDATE Team will be shared with registered delegates before they travel. In an immediate emergency in Singapore, contact the local emergency services. Call 999 to contact the emergency services
Who can I contact if my question is not answered here?
Please contact the VALIDATE Team at VALIDATE@ndm.ox.ac.uk.
Delegates are responsible for checking whether they require a visa to enter Singapore and for completing their application in good time. Requirements depend on the passport or travel document you will use, so please consult the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority visa guidance rather than relying on general travel websites. Your passport should normally be valid for at least six months when you enter Singapore.
If you require an invitation letter or other supporting documentation from VALIDATE, please contact VALIDATE@ndm.ox.ac.uk as early as possible. Some applications may require additional documents or assistance from an authorised visa agent or Singapore Overseas Mission, so delegates start the process as soon as possible. VALIDATE-funded delegates may claim eligible visa costs in accordance with the VALIDATE Travel Guidance.
Please remember that a Singapore visa permits you to travel to Singapore but does not guarantee entry, which is decided by immigration officials on arrival. All delegates must also complete the free SG Arrival Card within three days before entering Singapore. The SG Arrival Card is a separate entry requirement and is not a visa.