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Biology of Acute Respiratory Infection

Gordon Research Conference

Integrated Protection Across the Respiratory Tract

February 22 - 27, 2026

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GRC Education Requirements: Undergraduates or those who have not obtained a bachelor's degree in science/engineering (or acceptable equivalent) are not eligible to apply to attend Gordon Research Conferences or Seminars.

Chairs

and

Vice Chairs

and

Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center

601 West McKinley Ave.

Pomona, California, United States

Venue and Travel Information

Application Information

Applications for this meeting must be submitted by January 25, 2026. Please apply early, as some meetings become oversubscribed (full) before this deadline. If the meeting is oversubscribed, it will be stated here. Note: Applications for oversubscribed meetings will only be considered by the conference chair if more seats become available due to cancellations.

Conference Description

The Biology of Acute Respiratory Infection GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes an array of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.

The focus of 2026 GRC is on big problems facing the field of acute respiratory infections and the ever-evolving interactions between pathogens and host affecting human biology. We will discuss the potential of harnessing artificial intelligence, drug discovery, and host-directed therapies. The program includes topics such as advancing therapies that address widespread antimicrobial resistance, innovative concepts in host directed therapies, inter-kingdom respiratory pathogen evolution, pathogen-mediated disruption of structure and function in the lung, multi-organ axes beyond the lung, novel tools to study host cellular and molecular responses, cell atlases of the mouse and human lung, novel prophylaxis and therapeutics, and the unifying theme of one airway and integrated protection across the entirety of the respiratory tract.

Related Meeting

This GRC will be held in conjunction with the "Biology of Acute Respiratory Infection" Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). Those interested in attending both meetings must submit an application for the GRS in addition to an application for the GRC. Refer to the associated GRS program page for more information.

Conference Program

Sunday
2:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Arrival and Check-in
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm	Introductory Comments by GRC Staff / Welcome and Introduction from the Chairs
7:40 pm - 9:30 pm	Keynote Session: Big Problems in Acute Respiratory Infections Discussion Leader:
7:40 pm - 8:05 pm	"Accelerating Antibiotic Discovery Using AI"
8:05 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:40 pm	"Towards Therapeutic Repair of the Aging Lung"
8:40 pm - 8:50 pm	Discussion
8:50 pm - 9:15 pm	"From Petri Dish to Patient: Mycobacteriophages and their Therapeutic Potential"
9:15 pm - 9:25 pm	Discussion
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	General Discussion
Monday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Inter-Kingdom Respiratory Pathogen Evolution Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:25 am	"Using Antimicrobial Resistance Evolution to Explore New Therapies for Bacterial Lung Infections"
9:25 am - 9:35 am	Discussion
9:35 am - 10:00 am	"Respiratory Virus Evolution: How a Mutation Becomes a "Variant""
10:00 am - 10:10 am	Discussion
10:10 am - 10:20 am	"The Toxin Pneumolysin Expands a Protective Interstitial Macrophage Population in the Lung During Streptococcus Pneumoniae Infection"
10:20 am - 10:25 am	Discussion
10:25 am - 10:55 am	Coffee Break
10:55 am - 11:20 am	"Neutrophil-Mediated Antifungal Defense in the Lung"
11:20 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:40 am	"Immunometabolic Crosstalk During Respiratory Viral-Bacterial Co-Infections Development"
11:40 am - 11:45 am	Discussion
11:45 am - 11:55 am	"A Dual Role for Caspase-8 in Mediating Inflammation and Cell Death in Bacterial Superinfection Post-Influenza"
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	"Pneumococcal Modulation of Influenza A Virus Reassortment"
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"Evolution of Pathogenic Bacteria in Generating Antibiotic Resistance and Development of Novel Antimicrobials to Overcome Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Respiratory Infections"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Global Impact of Pathogens Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:55 pm	"Long Term Consequences of Parainfluenza Virus Infection"
7:55 pm - 8:05 pm	Discussion
8:05 pm - 8:30 pm	"Host Defense in Melioidosis"
8:30 pm - 8:40 pm	Discussion
8:40 pm - 9:05 pm	"Understanding Influenza Transmission and Immunity: Insights from Long-Term Studies in Nicaragua"
9:05 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:25 pm	"Bordetella Spp Manipulate Eosinophils to Promote Persistence and Transmission"
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Tuesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Group Photo
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Pathogen Mediated Disruption Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:25 am	"Structure-Function Insights on the Pathogenesis of Toxin-Mediated Staphylococcus Aureus Pneumonia"
9:25 am - 9:35 am	Discussion
9:35 am - 10:00 am	"Chewing the Fat with Francisella"
10:00 am - 10:10 am	Discussion
10:10 am - 10:20 am	"Spatial Control of Cytokine Activation to Promote Immune Defense at the Respiratory Surface"
10:20 am - 10:25 am	Discussion
10:25 am - 10:55 am	Coffee Break
10:55 am - 11:20 am	"Human and Mouse Inflammasome Responses to Gram-Negative Bacterial Infection"
11:20 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:40 am	"Lung Endothelial Cell-Mediated Presentation of Viral Antigens Activates Lung Resident CD8+ T Cells to Limit Influenza-Induced Lung Injury"
11:40 am - 11:45 am	Discussion
11:45 am - 11:55 am	"Dual Deletion of C5aR1 and C5aR2 Receptors Disrupts Alveolar Immune Cell Dynamics During S. Pneumoniae Infection"
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	"Sensory Neuron Interferon Signaling Plays a Critical Role in the Anti-Viral Response During Coronavirus Infection"
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"Novel Treatments for Viral Acute Lung Injury-Associated Thrombosis"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Beyond the Lung: Multi-Organ Axes Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:55 pm	"Neuroimmune Interactions in the Lung"
7:55 pm - 8:05 pm	Discussion
8:05 pm - 8:30 pm	"The Gut-Lung Axes"
8:30 pm - 8:40 pm	Discussion
8:40 pm - 9:05 pm	"The Lung as a Sensory Organ"
9:05 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:25 pm	"Cholinergic T Cells are Required for Protection from Influenza A Virus Infection"
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Wednesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Digging Deep with Novel Tools to Study Host Responses Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:25 am	"Unveiling the Mysteries of Pulmonary Vascular Development and Regeneration with Advanced Human Organoid Models"
9:25 am - 9:35 am	Discussion
9:35 am - 10:00 am	"Sex-Divergent Lung-Brain Circuits in Airway Inflammation"
10:00 am - 10:10 am	Discussion
10:10 am - 10:20 am	"Investigating a Role for Cachexia in Tuberculosis Disease Pathogenesis"
10:20 am - 10:25 am	Discussion
10:25 am - 10:55 am	Coffee Break
10:55 am - 11:20 am	"Paracorporeal Crystal Ribcage to Probe Lung Immunity Against Respiratory Infection"
11:20 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:40 am	"Spatial Metallomics in the Lung"
11:40 am - 11:45 am	Discussion
11:45 am - 11:55 am	"Ozone-Induced Lung Injury Increases Susceptibility to Lower Respiratory Tract Infections by Elevating Airspace Iron Concentrations"
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	"Febrile Temperature Activates the Innate Immune Response by Promoting Aberrant Influenza A Virus RNA Synthesis"
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"Combined Cytokine Blockade Inhibits Severity-Associated Myeloid Responses During Acute Respiratory Infection"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Cell Atlases Reveal Mechanistic Insights and Host Defenses From Mouse and Human Lungs Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:55 pm	"Lung Endothelial Heterogeneity and Plasticity in Pulmonary Vascular Disease"
7:55 pm - 8:05 pm	Discussion
8:05 pm - 8:30 pm	"Epithelial Responses to Respiratory Viral Infection"
8:30 pm - 8:40 pm	Discussion
8:40 pm - 9:05 pm	"Fibroblast Plasticity in Response to Alveolar Injury"
9:05 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:25 pm	"Early Cell Autonomous and Niche-Mediated Alveolar Epithelial Response to Influenza Infection in Primary Lung Organoids"
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Thursday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Business Meeting Nominations for the Next Vice Chair(s); Complete the GRC Evaluation Forms; Election of the Next Vice Chair(s)
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	The Latest Weapons in Novel Prophylaxis and Therapeutics Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:25 am	"CD1-Restricted Lipid Antigen Specific T Cell Responses in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection"
9:25 am - 9:35 am	Discussion
9:35 am - 9:45 am	"Epitope Discovery for Cell Mediated Immunity Towards Influenza Viruses"
9:45 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:00 am	"Hypoxia-Driven Immunoregulation: The HIF–Adenosine–A2B Receptor Circuit in SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis"
10:00 am - 10:05 am	Discussion
10:05 am - 10:40 am	Coffee Break
10:40 am - 11:05 am	"Clinical Development of an Intranasal Vaccine Targeting Enterobacteriaceae"
11:05 am - 11:15 am	Discussion
11:15 am - 11:25 am	"A-Tocopherol Succinate Derivatives Inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 Replicase via a Novel Mechanism"
11:25 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:40 am	"Plug-and-Play Nanovaccine Platform Elicits B and T Cell–Mediated Protection Against Influenza B Virus Infections"
11:40 am - 11:45 am	Discussion
11:45 am - 11:55 am	"Driving Serotype Independent Pneumococcal Immunogenicity with Bacteriophage Endolysins"
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	"The ARIH2-BIK Axis: A Host Antiviral Pathway Restrained by IAV to Drive Replication and a Target for AAV-Mediated Therapeutics"
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"From Lungs to Blood: How LY6E Restricts Coronavirus Pathogenesis"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	One Airway Leads to Integrated Protection Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:55 pm	"Pneumococcus: Why a Commensal Misbehaves"
7:55 pm - 8:05 pm	Discussion
8:05 pm - 8:30 pm	"Immune Memory in Human Upper Airways and Vaccine Immunology"
8:30 pm - 8:40 pm	Discussion
8:40 pm - 9:05 pm	"Innate and Adaptive Immunity to Pulmonary Coccidioides Infection"
9:05 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:25 pm	"Microbiota–Host Interactions Orchestrate Persistent Tissue-Resident Immunity in the Human Upper Airway"
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Friday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Departure

Contributors

Janet S. Lee

Conference Links

Conference History Biology of Acute Respiratory Infection (GRS) Contribute Financially to This Conference

Conference Fees

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Poster Information

Poster sessions are an integral part of the our conferences, and offer all conferees an opportunity to discuss their research.

Preparing your GRC poster

Funding Opportunities

Financial assistance is available beginning in 2026 for qualified applicants through the Carl Storm Opportunity Fellowships program. Learn more.

Registration Fees

Conferee Single Room:

$1,810.00

Conferee Shared Room:

$1,575.00

Conferee Off-Site:

$1,340.00

Guest Single Room:

$1,590.00

Guest Shared Room:

$1,355.00

Guest Off-Site:

$1,120.00

Child 4-12 yrs Shared Room:

$678.00

Child 4-12 yrs Off-Site:

$560.00

Child Under 4 yrs Shared Room:

Free

Child Under 4 yrs Off-Site:

Free

Additional Fee Info

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