Last Friday, a group of researchers from our partner IrsiCaixa took part in El Saló de l’Ensenyament in Barcelona, one of the city’s most important educational events. This annual fair brings together thousands of high school students who are beginning to explore their future academic and professional paths. Among the many activities offered, a dedicated science stand provided a space for hands-on learning, where our team hosted an interactive workshop focused on how vaccines are developed.

During the session, students were introduced to the West Nile virus and learned about the objectives of the LWNVIVAT project, which aims to develop an effective vaccine against this pathogen. The workshop was designed to guide participants through the key stages of vaccine development in an engaging and accessible way. Students explored how scientists identify viral components, specifically, proteins such as the envelope protein (protein E), that can serve as potential targets for vaccines. They then learned how these proteins are isolated and analyzed to determine which ones are most capable of triggering a strong and protective immune response.

To make these concepts more tangible, students interacted with a lymph node simulator. Through this activity, they were able to visualize and understand the roles of different immune system components, including T cells, B cells, and antigen-presenting cells. By testing various protein candidates within the simulator, students could observe which ones elicited the most robust immune activation, effectively mimicking the decision-making process scientists follow when selecting vaccine candidates.

In addition to the scientific content, participants were also introduced to the protective equipment used by researchers working in Biosafety Level 3 laboratories. This gave them insight into the strict safety measures required when handling potentially dangerous viruses, helping them better appreciate the complexity and responsibility involved in infectious disease research.

Overall, the workshop proved to be a highly enriching experience for the students. It not only showcased the LWNVIVAT project but also served as an excellent opportunity to bring science closer to the public, inspire curiosity, and highlight the real-world impact of biomedical research.