We’re still building our final program.
All listings subject to change.
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Zoonotic Pandemics—Immune Factors Contributing to Pathogenesis and Protection
Sponsored by the AAI Veterinary Immunology Committee
Support in part provided by the American Association of Veterinary Immunologists (AAVI)
Approaches to improve health via immunomodulation or immunotherapy cross into both human and veterinary medicine. Advances in vaccine formulations and therapeutic modalities in domestic animals have translational applications for improving human health. This symposium will highlight the clinical implications of using stem cells as immunomodulators, approaches to modulate immunity to decrease infectious disease, and provide insight on novel therapeutic approaches for animal health. Collectively, the talks presented in this symposium will showcase the translational cohesion between veterinary and human health to support the current “One Health” research concept.
Chairs:
- Crystal Loving, USDA, ARS, Natl. Animal Dis. Ctr., AAI Veterinary Immunology Committee Chair
Speakers:
- Ilhem Messaoudi, Univ. of California, Irvine
- James E. Crowe, Vanderbilt Univ. Med. Ctr.
- Sara L. Sawyer, Univ. of Colorado, Boulder
- Juliet Morrison, Univ. of California, Riverside
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Panel Discussion: Minority Scientists’ Experience: Challenging and Overcoming Barriers to Enhancing Diversity and Career Advancement
Sponsored by the AAI Minority Affairs Committee
Chair:
- Tonya Webb, Univ. of Maryland Sch. of Med., AAI Minority Affairs Committee Chair
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
How to Have a Successful Postdoctoral Experience
- Lori Conlan, Office of Postdoctoral Services, NIH
A postdoctoral fellowship is the time to develop research skills you will need to succeed as an independent scientist. It is, however, just as important to realize that you need to prepare for a career path at the same time. This session will highlight ways of getting the most out of your postdoctoral fellowship, relating successfully with your mentor, and understanding how to use the resources available to you to ensure that your training prepares you adequately for a seamless transition into the next phase of your career.
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Distinguished Lecture—Dario A.A. Vignali: Immune inhibitory mechanisms in cancer
Chair:
- David Masopust, Univ. of Minnesota, AAI Program Committee Chair
Speaker:

Dario A.A. Vignali
Univ. of Pittsburgh Sch. of Med.
Immune inhibitory mechanisms in cancer
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Block Symposia
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 1:45 pm – 2:45 pm
AAI-BD Biosciences Investigator Award Presentation and Lecture
Generously supported by BD Biosciences
Chair:
- Jeremy M. Boss, Emory Univ. Sch. of Med., AAI President (2019–2020)
Award Recipient:

Erika L. Pearce
Bloomberg-Kimmel Inst. for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins Univ.
Metabolic regulation of T cell function
Recognizes an early-career investigator who has made outstanding contributions to the field of immunology
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
2021 AAI President’s Symposium
The Impact of Immunology on Health and Diseases: As Far as the Eye Can See
Chair:
- Jenny P. Ting, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, AAI President (2020–2021)
Speakers:

Etty (Tika) N. Benveniste
Univ. of Alabama, Birmingham, Sch. of Med.
Neutrophil involvement in autoimmune neuroinflammation

Mary N. Carrington
NCI, NIH
The impact of immunogenetic variation on functional characteristics of the immune response

Blossom A. Damania
Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Modulation of host immunity by human herpesviruses

Laurie H. Glimcher
Dana Farber Cancer Inst.
Stressed out: a novel approach to cancer immunotherapy