2026 Annual Meeting
Translational scientists are outpacing genetic diseases. At our 2026 Annual Meeting, we will learn how these breakthroughs are moving from the lab and into people’s lives.
Details
When: Friday, September 18, 2026.
Where: Hine Hall auditorium on the IU Indianapolis campus.
How: In-person only. The keynote address will be recorded and made available after the event.
Agenda
8:30 a.m. | Continental Breakfast & registration
9:00 a.m. | Welcome & presentation of the August M. Watanabe Award in Translational Research
9:20 a.m. | August M. Watanabe Translational Research Keynote Address. Kevin Campbell, PhD, of University of Iowa
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Innovation in Action: Research Blitz. Brief presentations on cutting-edge science spanning gene therapy, pharmacogenomics, cancer biology, immunotherapy, neuroregeneration, metabolism, and precision medicine.
- “Next-Generation Gene Therapy for Muscular Dystrophy,” by Renzhi Han, PhD, of IU School of Medicine
- “Targeting Asparagine Synthetase in Relapsed Leukemia,” by Ji Zhang, PhD, of IU School of Medicine
- Title TBA. Todd C. Skaar, PhD, of IU School of Medicine
- “Neuroimmune Drivers of Regeneration,” by Dana Klatt Shaw, PhD, of University of Notre Dame
- “Enabling and Engineering Immunotherapy,” by Xin Lu, PhD, of University of Notre Dame
- “Identifying Genetic Regulators of Myelin Repair in Demyelinating Diseases,” Katrina Adams, PhD, of University of Notre Dame
- “Identifying Metabolic Signatures of Resilience in Alzheimer’s Disease Using Network-Based Approaches,” by Priyanka Baloni, PhD, of Purdue University
- “Expanding Cellular Immunotherapy: Engineer CAR-Neutrophils for Cancer Targeting,” by Xiaoping Bao, PhD, of Purdue University
- “Osteoimmunology and Therapeutic Strategies for Prostate Cancer Bone Metastasis,” by Marxa Figueiredo, PhD, of Purdue University
- Title TBA. Patricia Wolf, PhD, RDN, of Purdue University
- “Persistent Cellular Memory of Early-Life Stress Links Developmental Methylmercury Exposure to Neurodegenerative Disease,” by Aaron Bowman, PhD, of Purdue University
12:15 p.m. | Lunch
1:15 p.m. | Indiana CTSI Faculty Mentoring Award Presentation
1:30 p.m. | Making Discoveries, Changing Lives. A panel discussion on translating advances in genetic medicine into real-world care.
Moderator:
- Roland W. Herzog, PhD, of U School of Medicine
Panelists:
- Radoslaw Kaczmarek, PhD, of IU School of Medicine
- Erin Conboy, MD, of IU School of Medicine
- Tae-Hwi Linus Schwantes-An, PhD, of IU School of Medicine
- Research participants TBA
2:30 p.m. | Plenary Session: Andrew Harmon, PhD, of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration
2:45 – 4:00 p.m. | Networking & refreshments
Parking Information
You can park at either of the flat lots located at 765 West North Street (lot 71) or 800 West North Street (lot 69).
The best parking option is North Street Parking Garage, located at 819 West North Street. The entrance is located on North Street and you will take a ticket as you enter. Vouchers will be available by request at the registration table and will serve as your payment when you exit.
