AIC2026 PROGRAM
PROGRAM DETAILS
Our 54th Annual Meeting AIC2026 will be held November 20-23, 2026 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown. AIC2026 will be chaired by Dr. Jennifer Bermick, University of Iowa.
FRIDAY, NOV. 20, 2026
REGISTRATION OPENS
3:00 PM • 7th Floor
MEET THE SPEAKER’S ROUNDTABLE
For Trainees • 5:30 - 6:30 PM • Pre-registration required.
AWARD PRESENTATION
7:15 PM • Recognition of AAI Young Investigator Awards, National Multiple Sclerosis Society Travel Awards, and John Wallace Fellows
CARL WALTENBAUGH KEYNOTE ADDRESS
7:30 - 8:30 PM • Dr. Ilhem Messaoudi, Professor of Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics at University of Kentucky
Multiomics in Immunity
WINE RECEPTION
Immediately following keynote address
SAturDAY, NOV. 21, 2026
Symposium i
MECHANISMS OF TRAINED IMMUNITY
Chaired by Dr. David Williams • 8:30 AM - Noon
Dr. Maziar Divangahi, McGill University
Trained immunity in vaccine development
Dr. Colin Conine, University of Pennsylvania
Transgenerational inheritance of host-microbe crosstalk
COFFEE BREAK
10:00 - 10:30 AM
Coffee provided by AIC
Dr. Julia Bohannon, Vanderbilt University
Trained immunity in critical illness
Dr. David Williams, East Tennessee State University
Trained immunity in sepsis
LUNCH BREAK
12:00 - 2:00 PM
Food not provided by AIC
AFTERNOON PROGRAM I
2:00 – 4:30 PM • Workshop Blocks 1-12
4:30 – 6:30 PM • Poster Presentations I
4:30 – 6:30 PM • Undergraduate Poster Presentations
4:30 – 6:30 PM • Reception Concurrent with Poster Session I
SUNDAY, NOV. 22, 2026
Symposium iI
UNDERSTUDIED IMMUNE CELLS
Chaired by Dr. Julie Jameson • 8:30 AM - Noon
Dr. David Lo, University of California Riverside
M cells and mucosal surveillance
Dr. Michael Constantinides, Scripps Research Institute
Microbial influence on MAIT cells
COFFEE BREAK
10:00 - 10:30 AM
Coffee provided by AIC
Dr. Kelvin Lee, Indiana University
Plasma cells in malignancy
Dr. Julie Jameson, California State University
γδ T cells in skin
LUNCH BREAK
12:00 - 2:00 PM
Food not provided by AIC
UNDERGRADUATE CAREERS IN IMMUNOLOGY WORKSHOP
12:15 -1:45 PM
AFTERNOON PROGRAM II
2:00 – 4:30 PM • Workshop Blocks 1-12
4:30 – 6:30 PM • Poster Presentations II
4:30 – 6:30 PM • Undergraduate Poster Presentations
4:30 – 6:30 PM • Reception Concurrent with Poster Session II
MONDAY, NOV. 23, 2026
Symposium iII
NEONATAL AND REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY
Chaired by Dr. Jennifer Bermick • 8:30 AM - Noon
Dr. Kristin Scheible, University of Rochester
Systems based approach to early life immune development
Dr. Trevor Burt, Duke University
Fetal/neonatal T cell development
Dr. Nardhy Gomez-Lopez, Washington University in St. Louis
Maternal-fetal tolerance in obstetrical complications
Dr. Jennifer Bermick, University of Iowa
Mechanisms of neonatal sepsis
As a courtesy to our speakers, we request that cell phones, pagers, and electronic devices be turned off or on vibrate during all sessions. Cameras and recording equipment may not be used at the Keynote, Symposia, Workshops or Poster sessions. Photographs of posters can only be made with the express permission of the poster presenter.