Viral Pathogenesis and Immunity: From Molecular Discoveries to Therapeutics

Jun 15–18, 2026 | Herrenhausen Palace, Hannover, Germany
Scientific Organizers: Michaela U. Gack, Michael S. Diamond, Volker Thiel, and Pei-Yong Shi

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Jun 15–18, 2026 | Herrenhausen Palace, Hannover, Germany

Scientific Organizers: Michaela U. Gack, Michael S. Diamond, Volker Thiel, and Pei-Yong Shi

Supported by the  Directors' Fund

***Meeting program subject to change.

Available Formats:   = In Person     = On Demand
Monday, June 15, 2026
Registration
4:00–8:00 PM
Welcome Mixer
6:00–8:00 PM
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Breakfast
8:00–9:00 AM
Poster Setup
8:30–9:00 AM
Poster Viewing
8:45–5:00 PM
Welcome Remarks
9:00–9:10 AM
Keynote Address
9:10–10:00 AM
Kate A Fitzgerald, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Molecular Mechanisms of Antiviral Innate Immunity and Inflammation
Host-Virus Interactions in Innate Immunity
10:00–12:15 PM
Michaela U. Gack, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Innate Immune Sensing and Viral Escape Mechanisms
John W. Schoggins, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Decoding the Antiviral ISG Response
Taia T Wang, Stanford University
Antibody Signaling through Fc gamma Receptors as Key Driver of Infection and Inflammation Outcome
Emily Rex †, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Short Talk: FEAR Factor: Viral Evasion of an IFN-Independent Innate Immune Response
Coffee Break
10:30–10:50 AM
Lunch
12:15–1:15 PM
Poster Session 1
12:30–2:30 PM
Symposia Spotlight 1
2:30–4:30 PM
Manutea C Serrero, Aarhus University
SMARCA2 Enables Tonic Expression Of ISGs To Control Virus Infections In The Brain
Brigitte Flannery †, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Arenaviral NP Exonuclease Function in Host Antiviral Suppression and Infectious Genome Production
Indra Bekere †, Technical University of Munich
Spatial Coordination of Viral dsRNA Sensing by the OAS Proteins
Roberto B.D. Cattaneo, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Measles Virus Spreads in the Brain by Relocating its Proteins to Neurites and Calibrating Cell-to-Cell Fusion
Yara Bouery †, Université Paris Cité
Alphavirus nsP3 Organizes into Tubular Scaffolds Essential for Infection and the Cytoplasmic Granule Architecture
Scott B Biering †, University of California, San Diego
Calprotectins Safeguard against Dengue Virus Nonstructural Protein 1-mediated Endothelial Dysfunction and Vascular Leak
Kam Leng Aw-Yong †, Duke-NUS Medical School
A Previously Unrecognized Epithelial Factor Mediates Pteropine Orthoreovirus Entry into Human Cells
Eva Harris †, University of Califonia, Berkeley
Ephrin B1 is a Dengue Virus NS1 Receptor Required for Induction of Endothelial Dysfunction
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Species Expansion of (re)Emerging Viruses and Associated Immunity
5:00–7:00 PM
Michael S. Diamond, Washington University School of Medicine
Evolutionary Relationships of Entry Receptors and Arboviral Pathogenesis
Maria-Carla Saleh, Institut Pasteur
RNA Interference and Viral Immunity in Insects
Jonathan Abraham, Harvard University
Entry Factors Determining Alphavirus Infection
Kartik Chandran †, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Short Talk: Roles of the tick-borne encephalitis virus receptor LRP8 in viral infection and pathogenesis
Sean Hui †, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine
Short Talk: Structural Basis of Yellow Fever Virus Engagement of the LRP1 Receptor
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Breakfast
8:00–9:00 AM
Poster Setup
8:30–9:00 AM
Poster Viewing
8:45–5:00 PM
Success and Failures of Adaptive Immunity to Acute and Persistent Virus Infections
9:00–12:00 PM
Kellie Ann Jurado, University of Pennsylvania
Fetal Immune Responses and their Influence on Life-Long Health
David Veesler, University of Washington
TMPRSS2-mediated Coronavirus Spike Activation and Inhibition
Daniela Weiskopf, La Jolla Institute for Immunology
Adaptive Cell-Mediated Immune Responses to Vaccination and Natural RNA Virus Infection
Ted C. Pierson, NIAID, National Institutes of Health
Humoral Immunity to Arboviruses
Abigail Vanderheiden †, Washington University in St. Louis
Short Talk: IFNg Producing Dural CD4+ T Cells Promote Hippocampal Memory Deficits in a Mouse Model of COVID-19
Matthew R. Vogt †, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
Short Talk: A Single Non-Neutralizing Human Monoclonal Antibody Mediates In vivo Protection from Multiple Enterovirus Species via an Fc Effector Function Independent Mechanism
Coffee Break
10:00–10:20 AM
Lunch
12:00–1:00 PM
Poster Session 2
12:30–2:30 PM
Career Roundtable
3:00–4:30 PM
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Genetic and Acquired Immune Factors Modulating Viral Susceptibility
5:00–7:00 PM
Shen-Ying Zhang, Rockefeller University
Human Genetic and Immunological Determinants of Viral Encephalitis
Trine Mogensen, Aarhus University Hospital
VZV/herpesvirus and Innate Immunity Defects
Charles Agoti, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme
Epidemiological Insights into Mechanisms of Respiratory Virus Reinfections
Hridi Halder †, Helmholtz Munich
Short Talk: A Pan-Coronavirus Interaction Network Identifies Innate Immune Modules Converging with Host Genetic Risk
Daniel J Rawle †, QIMR Berghofer
Short Talk: Apolipoprotein E Drives Inflammation Resolution Pathways Essential for Recovery from Japanese Encephalitis
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Breakfast
8:00–9:00 AM
Poster Setup
8:30–9:00 AM
Poster Viewing
8:45–5:00 PM
Novel Approaches of Host-Directed and Immune-based Therapies to Virus Infections
9:00–12:00 PM
Pei-Yong Shi, GSK
Prophylactic and Therapeutic Viral Vaccines
Liang Shan, Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation
CARD8 Inflammasome Sensitization as Novel Antiviral Therapeutics Approach for HIV
Lisa Purcell, Third Rock Ventures
Monoclonal Antibody Development and Technologies for Acute and Persistent Viral Infections
Gong Cheng, Tsinghua University
Novel Antiviral Approaches to Control Mosquito-Borne Viruses
Emi Nakahara †, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Short Talk: Mammalian RTP4 Targets Sequences Enriched in Flavivirus RNA and Protects against Yellow Fever Virus Pathogenesis in Mice
Jarrod Mousa †, Florida State University
Short Talk: The Structural Basis of Protective and Nonprotective Human Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting Parainfluenza Virus Surface Proteins
Coffee Break
10:00–10:20 AM
Lunch
12:00–1:00 PM
Poster Session 3
12:30–2:30 PM
Symposia Spotlight 2
2:30–4:30 PM
Anice C Lowen †, Emory University School of Medicine
Host and Viral Factors Shaping Influenza A Virus Population Dynamics
Gisa Gerold †, Medical University of Innsbruck-Institute of Virology
A Suicide Gene Modified Chikungunya Virus Enables CRISPR Screen and Identifies an Entry Factor in Mosquitoes
Seth Scott †, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
TRIM5α Promotes Replication Human Coronaviruses by Regulating Endosomal Entry
Artem Ashurov †, University Hospital of Cologne
Structural Characterization of Antibodies for Synergistic HCMV Neutralization
Ella N Hartenian †, University of Lausanne
NINJ1 Blocks HSV-1 Entry into Macrophages to Impact Viral Replication and Immunity
Arvin T Persaud †, University of Toronto
The Incorporated Host Protein Repertoire can Shape Virus-Host Interactions: Insights from HIV-1
Sofia Romero Ferrufino †, NIH
SARS-CoV-2 Infection Dramatically Alters Human Brain Gene Expression
Virginie Girault †, TUM
Multi-Proteomic Profiling Oo the Varicella-Zoster Virus-Host Interface Reveals Host Susceptibilities to Severe Infection
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
New Approaches to Optimizing Vaccine-Induced Immunity to Viral Pathogens
5:00–6:45 PM
Volker Thiel, University of Bern
Translating Viruses into Vaccines
Penny L Moore, University of the Witwatersrand and National Institute for Communicable Diseases
Novel Platforms and Technologies for Vaccine Development and Boosting
Andrea Carfi, Moderna
New Vaccination Approaches for Viruses
Aaron Schmidt †, Harvard Medical School
Short Talk: Rationally Designed Neuraminidase Immunogens Elicit Humoral Responses onto Conserved Viral Sites
Meeting Wrap-Up: Outcomes and Future Directions (Organizers)
6:45–7:00 PM
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Entertainment
8:00–11:00 PM
Cash Bar
8:00–11:00 PM
Friday, June 19, 2026
Departure
12:00–11:59 PM

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