FairJourney Bio ("FJBio"), a global antibody discovery expert, has announced the program for The Antibody Series (TAS) 2026, which will explore how insights from natural antibody repertoires, advances in computational design, and novel engineering strategies are transforming the discovery and development of antibody therapeutics. Taking place in évora, Portugal, September 16-18, the three-day forum will bring together leading scientists and industry voices to discuss the latest scientific and technological advances shaping the future of the field.
Chaired by Dr Laura Walker, Executive Director of Therapeutic Immunology and Protein Engineering at Moderna and co-chaired by Dr John Desjarlais, Chief Scientific Officer of Xencor, Inc., the 2026 program has been curated to showcase the rapid pace of innovation across antibody science and engineering. The speaker line-up includes leading experts from academia and industry, including Dr George Georgiou (UT Austin), Dr Robert Seder (NIH), Professor Sarel Fleishman (Weizmann Institute of Science and Scala Biodesign) and Dr Jo Viney (Seismic Therapeutic).
Launched in 2021, TAS is a recognized annual forum that facilitates knowledge sharing and strategic collaboration across the global antibody community. Attendance is by registration of interest and invitation only, creating a focused platform for scientific leaders to share pioneering research, emerging technologies, and applications redefining the sector. To register interest in attending or to receive early access to on-demand lectures and session recordings, visit: https://antibodyseries.com/get-involved/
Building on the success of previous TAS events, we are excited to announce the program for TAS 2026 and the involvement of science- and industry-leaders, Dr Walker and Dr Desjarlais. TAS offers an invaluable opportunity for science and technology to converge, delivering real value to scientific leaders across the sector and fostering the ideas and collaborations that will shape the future of Biologics."
Dr. Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer, FairJourney Bio
"The Antibody Series has become an important forum where academic and industry communities come together around the key questions shaping antibody discovery," added Dr Laura Walker, Executive Director of Therapeutic Immunology and Protein Engineering, Moderna. "What stands out about this year's program is how well it reflects where the field is moving: computational antibody design, novel multispecific formats, and next-generation therapeutic strategies. We have brought together speakers who are helping define how future antibody therapeutics will be discovered, engineered, and developed. For anyone working at the frontier of this space, this is a meeting worth attending."
Facts Only
* FairJourney Bio announced the program for The Antibody Series (TAS) 2026.
* The forum will explore insights from natural antibody repertoires, computational design, and novel engineering strategies in antibody discovery and development.
* The event is scheduled for September 16-18 in évora, Portugal.
* The program is chaired by Dr Laura Walker (Moderna) and co-chaired by Dr John Desjarlais (Xencor, Inc.).
* Speakers include Dr George Georgiou (UT Austin), Dr Robert Seder (NIH), Professor Sarel Fleishman (Weizmann Institute of Science and Scala Biodesign), and Dr Jo Viney (Seismic Therapeutic).
* TAS is an annual forum launched in 2021 for knowledge sharing and strategic collaboration in the antibody community.
* Attendance requires registration of interest and invitation only.
* The event aims to showcase advances in computational antibody design, novel multispecific formats, and next-generation therapeutic strategies.
Executive Summary
FairJourney Bio announced the program for The Antibody Series (TAS) 2026, an event focused on how insights from natural antibody repertoires, computational design, and engineering are transforming antibody discovery and development. The three-day forum will take place in évora, Portugal, from September 16 to 18. The program is chaired by Dr Laura Walker, Executive Director of Therapeutic Immunology and Protein Engineering at Moderna, and co-chaired by Dr John Desjarlais, Chief Scientific Officer of Xencor, Inc. The event aims to bring together scientists and industry leaders to discuss recent scientific and technological advances in the field.
The TAS series is an annual forum established in 2021 that facilitates knowledge sharing and collaboration within the global antibody community. Leading experts will participate, including Dr George Georgiou, Dr Robert Seder, Professor Sarel Fleishman, and Dr Jo Viney. The event is invitation-only by registration of interest, designed to focus on pioneering research and emerging technologies shaping future antibody therapeutics.
Full Take
The narrative positions advanced science—specifically computational design and engineering within antibody discovery—as the central force reshaping therapeutics. The structure of TAS supports this by convening leading voices from both academia and industry, suggesting that the future of biologics is defined by convergence at this intersection. The recurring emphasis on "transforming" and "redefining" the sector implies a momentum toward a new paradigm where traditional discovery methods are supplemented or superseded by computational methodologies.
The authority established by including leaders like Dr Walker and Dr Desjarlais, alongside figures from major research institutions (NIH, UT Austin), leverages intellectual capital to signal that these emerging techniques are not peripheral but foundational shifts in the field. The implied pattern is a necessary convergence of expertise for future advancement. This creates an implicit pressure on the scientific community to adopt these specific methodologies as the defining path forward.
What assumptions underpin the claim that this gathering alone will shape the future? Does focusing heavily on computational design and engineering risk overlooking parallel developments or alternative strategic pathways in biology and immunology? What are the long-term consequences if collaboration remains confined to forums focused on current technological frontiers rather than broader systemic biological understanding?