We’re still building our final program.
All listings subject to change.
Saturday, May 15, 2021 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Poster Session
Saturday, May 15, 2021 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Interviewing for a Job
Speaker:
- Derek Haseltine, Hertz Foundation
This session will be focused on tips and techniques to help you successfully navigate the interview process. Emphasis will be on how you can present yourself in the best possible light. You will also learn how to respond to unexpected questions. This session is open to anyone but is especially intended for student and postdoctoral attendees.
Saturday, May 15, 2021 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Transforming the Study of Human Disease through Systems Immunology
Sponsored by the AAI Clinical Immunology Committee
Single-cell analytics are changing the way we interpret and understand immunology. In this session sponsored by the AAI Clinical Immunology Committee, top researchers will highlight the use of single-cell analytics to explore human immunology and how such techniques will open doors to tomorrow’s therapeutics.
Chair:
- Jennifer Anolik, Univ. of Rochester Med. Ctr., AAI Clinical Immunology Committee Chair
Saturday, May 15, 2021 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Block Symposia
Saturday, May 15, 2021 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
AAI-Steinman Award for Human Immunology Research Presentation and Lecture
Chair:
- Jeremy M. Boss, Emory Univ. Sch. of Med., AAI President (2019–2020)
Award Recipient:

Michael J. Lenardo
NIAID, NIH
Identification of novel gene defects leads to precision therapies for congenital immune diseases
Recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the understanding of immune processes underlying human disease pathogenesis, prevention, and therapies
Saturday, May 15, 2021 2:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Major Symposium G: B Cell Lineage Signals in Protective vs. Maladaptive Antibody Responses
Chairs:
- Mark R. Boothby, Vanderbilt Univ. Med. Ctr.
- Roberta Pelanda, Univ. of Colorado, Denver
Speakers:
- Roberta Pelanda, Univ. of Colorado, Denver, Molecular control of central B cell tolerance: is it one for all?
- Julie Zikherman, Univ. of California, San Francisco, Negative feedback regulation of normal and autoimmune B cell responses
- João P. Pereira, Yale Univ., B cell circuits in homeostasis and disease
- Pamela L. Schwartzberg, NIAID, NIH, Modulation of B cell responses by activated PI3K-delta
- Mark R. Boothby, Vanderbilt Univ. Med. Ctr., Imag(in)ing a fusion of nutrients, metabolism, and function as B cells effect antibody responses
- Michel C. Nussenzweig, Rockefeller Univ., Human antibody responses to viral pathogens
Saturday, May 15, 2021 2:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Major Symposium H: The Stromal Cell Underpinning of Immune Cell Development and Function
Chairs:
- Susan R. Schwab, New York Univ. Grossman Sch. of Med.
- Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker, Univ. of Toronto, and Sunnybrook Res. Inst., Canada
Speakers:
- Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker, Univ. of Toronto, and Sunnybrook Res. Inst., Canada, Thymus stromal cells are plastic
- Mark S. Anderson, Univ. of California, San Francisco, Maintenance of immune tolerance by thymic stromal cells
- Burkhard Ludewig, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, Switzerland, Fibroblastic reticular cells: subsets and functions
- Susan R. Schwab, New York Univ. Grossman Sch. of Med., Exit strategies: S1P and immune cell migration
- Theresa T.-S. Lu, Hosp. for Special Surgery Res. Inst., Langerhans cells and stromal regulation in lupus
- Melody A. Swartz, Univ. of Chicago, Antigen presentation by lymphatic endothelial cells and T cell memory
Saturday, May 15, 2021 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
AAI Business Meeting and Awards Presentation
AAI reports on the “state of the association” to its members at every AAI annual meeting. Members will hear from the Executive Director, the Secretary-Treasurer, the Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Immunology (The JI), and the Chair of the Committee on Public Affairs on the financial standing of AAI, the status of The JI, important public policy issues, and other items of interest for the membership. Special AAI awards will also be presented during this session.
Saturday, May 15, 2021 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
AAI Distinguished Fellows Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 Acknowledgment
Acknowledged at the AAI Business Meeting.
The Distinguished Fellows of AAI program annually recognizes members for distinguished careers and outstanding scientific contributions as well as their service to AAI and the immunology community. It honors active, long-term members (25 or more years) who have demonstrated one or more of the following: excellence in research accomplishment in the field of immunology; exceptional leadership to the immunology community in academia, foundations, nonprofits, industry, or government at a national or international level; notable distinction as an educator. Election as a Distinguished Fellow is among the highest honors bestowed by AAI.
Saturday, May 15, 2021 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
AAI Distinguished Service Award Presentation
Presented at the Business Meeting
Award Recipient:

Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker
Univ. of Toronto, and Sunnybrook Res. Inst., Canada
For outstanding service to AAI and the immunology community as director of the AAI Introductory Course in Immunology, 2014–2019
Recognizes a member for outstanding service to the AAI community
Saturday, May 15, 2021 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Pfizer-Showell Award
This award recognizes the professional promise of an early career investigator (assistant professor or equivalent) by assisting the award recipient with registration for the AAI annual meeting to present their research. This award is supported through an endowment from Henry J. Showell and Pfizer, Inc.
Saturday, May 15, 2021 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Lefrançois-BioLegend Memorial Award
Established to honor the memory of AAI Member Dr. Leo Lefrançois, this award is intended to advance the career of a trainee who attends the AAI annual meeting and presents an outstanding abstract specifically in the area of mucosal immunology. This award is generously supported by BioLegend and donations from friends and colleagues of Dr. Lefrançois.
Saturday, May 15, 2021 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Lustgarten-Thermo Fisher Scientific Memorial Award
Established to honor the memory of AAI Member Dr. Joseph Lustgarten, this award is intended to advance the career of a mid-career scientist who attends the AAI annual meeting and presents an outstanding abstract specifically in the area of immune regulation. This award is generously supported by Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Saturday, May 15, 2021 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Chambers-Thermo Fisher Scientific Memorial Award
Established to honor the memory of AAI Member Dr. Cynthia Chambers, this award is intended to advance the career of an early career scientist who attends the AAI annual meeting and presents an outstanding abstract specifically in the area of cancer biology. This award is generously supported by Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Saturday, May 15, 2021 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
AAI-Thermo Fisher Trainee Achievement Awards
This award recognizes up to six promising trainees in the field of immunology. Selection is based on career promise and presentation of an outstanding first-author abstract selected for a Block Symposium. This award is generously supported by Thermo Fisher Scientific.