Next generation influenza virus vaccines are urgently needed to improve protection from antigenically drifted seasonal influenza viruses. The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic also highlights the need for broadly protective vaccines that would enhance our pandemic preparedness for influenza viruses. Scientific discoveries and initiatives towards universal influenza virus vaccines have moved the field forward in recent years. What this conference is trying to do to further advance development of these vaccines is unique. This conference will address the design of next generation influenza virus vaccines starting at epidemiology, disease and transmission, bridging to immunology and structural biology and finally to vaccine design and ongoing clinical trials with universal influenza virus vaccines. In this conference we will bring scientists from many disciplines together to focus on the ultimate goal, a universal influenza virus vaccine. We believe that this meeting will catalyze vaccine development and will help to bring aspects into this process that are important but usually not considered.