Veterinary Sciences | Interview with Prof. Dr. Wentao Li, Conference Chair of the 1st International Conference on Veterinary Sciences (IOCVS 2025)

We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Prof. Dr. Wentao Li, who is serving as the Conference Chair for the upcoming 1st International Online Conference on Veterinary Sciences.

The following is a short interview with Prof. Dr. Wentao Li:

1. Could you introduce your current research direction and provide an update on your progress?
My name is Wentao Li, and I am a Professor at Huazhong Agricultural University, China. I serve as the Director of the Animal Disease Diagnostic Center and am affiliated with the National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production. I am also honored to serve as the Conference Chair of IOCVS 2025. My research is focused on coronaviruses and African swine fever virus (ASFV), with a particular interest in virus entry into the host cell, as well as the molecular determinants of cross-species transmission.
Recently, our team has:

• Identified critical polymorphisms in the spike protein of PEDV that determine virulence;
• Constructed a platform for evaluating vaccine candidates and antivirals;
• Performed CRISPR/Cas9 screens to identify host factors essential for ASFV and coronavirus infections.

2. Have you encountered any challenges in your research, and how did you overcome them?
Yes, several challenges have arisen, especially:

• Difficulties in establishing reliable in vitro and in vivo models for host–virus interaction studies;
• The complexity of integrating data from virology, immunology, and structural biology.

To overcome these:

• We have developed porcine organoids and a mouse model to study virus infection and evaluate antivirals;
• We work closely with interdisciplinary teams in structural virology and chemistry to accelerate discovery.

3. What do you believe will be the hot topics in the field of Veterinary Sciences or Veterinary Virology research in the next few years? Please share the topics and the reasons for them.
I believe the following topics will gain increasing attention:

• Mechanisms of virus entry and fusion – essential for rational vaccine and antiviral design;
• Viral cross-species transmission and One Health virology – especially as zoonotic interfaces expand;
• Structure-guided multivalent vaccine development – to cope with rapidly mutating pathogens;
• High-throughput drug screening integrated with AI – to shorten the time from discovery to clinical application.

These trends reflect the need for precision and speed in responding to both endemic and emerging threats in animal health.

4. What do you think makes IOCVS 2025 stand out from other conferences?
IOCVS 2025 offers several unique advantages:

• It is a fully open-access, online conference with no registration fees, lowering the barrier for global participation;
• It features a wide range of topics from virus discovery and diagnostics to vaccine development and epidemiology;
• The scientific committee includes highly cited researchers, ensuring both depth and breadth in academic discussions;
• The proceedings are published in a peer-reviewed open-access journal, providing long-term visibility.

5. As the Conference Chair of IOCVS 2025, what would you hope this conference will be for all the scholars out there?
My hope is that IOCVS 2025 will serve as a global platform for collaboration and inspiration, enabling:

• Direct exchange between young researchers and leading experts;
• Timely dissemination of cutting-edge findings;
• Formation of cross-disciplinary partnerships to address shared challenges in veterinary virology.

6. From your perspective, what are the benefits of attending an academic conference?
Attending academic conferences allows researchers to:

• Stay informed on the latest advances;
• Present and receive feedback on their work;
• Expand their professional networks and explore collaboration opportunities;
• Gain visibility and recognition, especially through awards or invited talks.

It is also a space for intellectual growth, where new ideas often emerge through discussion.

7. What are your thoughts on the current trends and developments of open access publishing?
Open access publishing plays a vital role in ensuring immediate access to scientific knowledge.
I believe:

• Open-access journals, such as Veterinary Sciences, provide greater visibility and faster dissemination;
• Researchers are increasingly valuing transparency, data sharing, and reproducibility;
• The combination of open conferences and open publishing is especially powerful in promoting early-career scientists.

At IOCVS 2025, all accepted submissions will be published with discounted fees, making scientific communication more inclusive and impactful.