Autoimmunity & Autoinflammation: Translating Basic Mechanisms into Novel Therapeutic Approaches (A2)
January 19-22, 2026
| Keystone Resort, Keystone, CO, United States
Virginia Pascual, Raphaela Goldbach-Mansky, Veit Hornung and Richard M. Siegel
Scholarship Deadline: Oct. 3, 2025 | Abstract Deadline: Dec. 30, 2025 | Early Registration Deadline: Nov. 20, 2025
| 4:00–8:00 PM |
Registration |
Longs Peak Foyer |
| 6:00–8:00 PM |
Welcome Mixer |
Longs Peak Foyer |
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
| 7:00–8:00 AM |
Breakfast |
Longs Peak |
| 8:00–8:10 AM |
Welcome Remarks |
Grays Peak |
| 8:10–9:00 AM |
Keynote Address |
Grays Peak |
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Jenny P Ting, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A 360° View of the Inflammasome: Mechanisms of Activation, Cell Death, and Diseases |
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| 9:00–11:15 AM |
Autoimmunity and Autoinflammation: The Nucleic Acid Sensing Perspective |
Grays Peak |
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Veit Hornung, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
Recognition of Non-Self RNA by the Innate Immune System |
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Andrea Ablasser, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
cGAS-STING in Aging-Related Inflammation and Neurodegeneration |
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Michael Crackower, Ventus Therapeutics
Novel Therapies to Target cGAS-STING |
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Marleen Bérouti, LMU
Short Talk: Pseudouridine RNA Avoids Immune Detection through Impaired Endolysosomal Processing and TLR Engagement |
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Joshua McElwee, Nimbus Therapeutics
Short Talk: SLC15A4 Inhibition by NTX-348 Suppresses Endolysosomal Toll-like Receptor Signaling, IRF5 Activation, and the Production of Type I Interferon and Pro-inflammatory Cytokines |
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Martin R Jakobsen, Aarhus University
Short Talk: Treatment with SP2H, a Targeted Degrader of STimulator of INterferon Genes (STING), Leads to Substantial Improvements in Disease Outcomes in two Highly Pathogenic Type 1 Interferonopathy Models |
|
| 9:30–9:50 AM |
Coffee Break |
Longs Peak Foyer |
| 11:15–1:00 PM |
Poster Setup |
Longs Peak |
| 11:15–2:30 PM |
On Own for Lunch |
|
| 1:00–10:00 PM |
Poster Viewing |
Longs Peak |
| 2:30–4:30 PM |
Symposia Spotlight |
Grays Peak |
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Xue Han, The Ohio State University
Immune Checkpoint Activation of PD-1H (VISTA) Restores T-Cell Tolerance in Human Autoimmunity |
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Shunsuke Mori, The University of Osaka
Breaking Immune Tolerance: Self and Neoself Discrimination by T cells in Autoimmune Diseases |
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Nicole Wilkinson, UCLA
The Role of Xist in T Cell Function and Female-Biased Autoimmunity |
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Simone Caielli, Weill Cornell Medical College - Drukier Institute For Children's Health
Single Cell RNA Profiling of Blood CD4+ T Cells Identifies Distinct Helper and Dysfunctional Regulatory Clusters in Children with SLE |
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Ayano Kohlgruber, Boston Children's Hospital
High-Throughput Genetic Screens to Identify Adverse T cell Autoreactivities in Response to Immunotherapy |
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| 4:30–5:00 PM |
Coffee Available |
Longs Peak Foyer |
| 5:00–7:00 PM |
Inflammasomes: From Basic Mechanisms to Autoinflammatory Diseases |
Grays Peak |
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Franklin Zhong, NTU LKC School of Medicine
The NLRP1 Inflammasome |
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Raphaela Goldbach-Mansky, NIAID, National Institutes of Health
Novel Mechanisms in Autoinflammatory Diseases |
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Nick Clarke, NodThera
An Update on Inflammasome Targeting |
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Hal Hoffman †, University of California, San Diego
Short Talk: Gasdermins Cooperate to Drive Disease Associated Neutrophilic Inflammation in Cryopyrin Associated Periodic Syndrome (CAPS) |
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Luochen Liu, Harvard Medical School/Boston Children's Hospital
Short Talk: Regulated Condensate Formation Governs Pyrin Inflammasome Assembly and Signaling |
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| 7:00–8:00 PM |
Social Hour with Dinner |
Longs Peak |
| 7:30–10:00 PM |
Poster Session 1 |
Longs Peak |
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
| 7:00–8:00 AM |
Breakfast |
Longs Peak |
| 8:00–11:00 AM |
Innate Immune Cell Dysregulation in Autoimmune and AutoInflammatory Diseases |
Grays Peak |
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Musa M. Mhlanga, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences
The Intersection of Epigenetics and Metabolism in Trained Immunity |
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Virginia Pascual, Cornell University
Innate Immunity Dysregulation in Human Lupus |
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Coco Chu, Tsinghua University
Neuro- and Stromal-immune Interactions in the Intestine |
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Kate L. Jeffrey, Moderna
mRNA: A New Era in Immune Therapeutics |
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Juan Rodriguez-Alcazar, WCM
Short Talk: Mapping the Immune Architecture of Pediatric Lupus Nephritis Across Histological Classes |
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Ramona Johnson, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Short Talk: Investigating the Role of Pyroptotic Monocytes and Macrophages in Citrullinated Autoantigen Generation for Rheumatoid Arthritis |
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Xiao-Fei Kong, UT southwestern medical center
Short Talk: Haploinsufficiency for Human ABCF1 Underlies Gastrointestinal Autoimmunity |
|
| 9:00–9:20 AM |
Coffee Break |
Longs Peak Foyer |
| 11:00–1:00 PM |
Poster Setup |
Longs Peak |
| 11:00–3:00 PM |
On Own for Lunch |
|
| 1:00–10:00 PM |
Poster Viewing |
Longs Peak |
| 1:30–2:45 PM |
Career Roundtable |
Grays Peak |
| 3:00–4:30 PM |
Panel Discussion 1: Interactions with Biotech, Pharma and Venture Capital: Translating Discoveries to Novel Therapeutics |
Grays Peak |
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* Richard M. Siegel, Novartis Biomedical Research
Panel Moderator |
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Kriti Lall, Perceptive Advisors
Panelist |
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Dennis M Zaller, Curie.Bio
Panelist |
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Markus Warmuth, Monte Rosa Therapeutics Inc
Panelist |
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Michael Crackower, Ventus Therapeutics
Panelist |
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Kara Lassen, Roche
Panelist |
|
| 4:30–5:00 PM |
Coffee Available |
Longs Peak Foyer |
| 5:00–7:00 PM |
Adaptive Immune Cell Dysregulation in Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Diseases |
Grays Peak |
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Francisco J Quintana, Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School & Broad Institute
Disease-Associated Astrocyte Epigenetic Memory Promotes CNS Pathology |
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Carola G. Vinuesa, Francis Crick Institute
Preclinical Models of Human Monogenic Autoimmunity |
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Mark J. Shlomchik, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
How Systemic Autoimmunity Starts and How it Spreads |
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Aleksandra Bylinska, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Short Talk: Early Disruption of B cell Development and Tolerance Pathways across the Preclinical Systemic Autoimmune Disease Continuum |
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Adam N. Cartwright, Monte Rosa Therapeutics
Short Talk: MRT-6160, a Highly Selective and First-in-class VAV1-directed Molecular Glue Degrader, Inhibits Disease Progression, Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Production, and Immune Cell |
|
| 7:00–8:00 PM |
Social Hour with Dinner |
Longs Peak |
| 7:30–10:00 PM |
Poster Session 2 |
Longs Peak |
Thursday, January 22, 2026
| 7:00–8:00 AM |
Breakfast |
Longs Peak |
| 8:00–11:00 AM |
Stromal Cells in Autoinflammation and Autoimmunity: From Basic Mechanisms to Precision Medicine |
Grays Peak |
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Shahin Rafii, Weill Cornell Medical College
Dysfunction of Tissue-specific Endothelial Cells in Triggering Auto-immunity |
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Michael B. Brenner, Harvard Medical School
Adipocyte and Fibroblast Dysfunction in Inflammatory Diseases |
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Ken H Cadwell, University of Pennsylvania
Mechanisms of Intestinal Tissue Resilience to Immune-Mediated Damage |
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Kara Lassen, Roche
Patient Stratification Towards Precision Medicine in IBD |
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Adiba I Azad, Mayo Clinic
Short Talk: Profibrogenic Cholangiocyte-MAIT Cell-Fibroblast Axis in Immune Mediated Liver Disease |
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Javier Cote-Sierra, Allianthera Biopharma
Short Talk: Therapeutic AhR Activation Ameliorates Colitis Through Regulation of Inflammation, Gut Barrier Homeostasis, and Fibrosis |
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Andrew Z Wang, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Short Talk: Immune-Checkpoint Engineered Normal Tissues: A Curative Approach to Autoimmune Diseases |
|
| 9:00–9:20 AM |
Coffee Break |
Longs Peak Foyer |
| 11:00–12:00 PM |
Panel: Meet the Editors |
Grays Peak |
| 12:00–2:30 PM |
On Own for Lunch |
|
| 2:30–4:30 PM |
Panel Discussion 2: Research and Funding Opportunities from Governments, Pharma, Academia, and Foundations |
Grays Peak |
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* Virginia Pascual, Cornell University
Panel Moderator |
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Stacy E. Ferguson, NIAID, National Institutes of Health
Panelist |
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Angela Dobes, IBD Plexus at Crohn's and Colitis Foundation
Panelist |
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Hoang Nguyen, Lupus Research Alliance
Panelist |
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Veit Hornung, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
Panelist |
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Richard M. Siegel, Novartis Biomedical Research
Panelist |
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Raphaela Goldbach-Mansky, NIAID, National Institutes of Health
Panelist |
|
| 4:30–5:00 PM |
Coffee Available |
Longs Peak Foyer |
| 5:00–6:45 PM |
Novel Disease Insights and Therapies: Lessons from Tissue Profiling |
Grays Peak |
| |
Tobias Lanz, Stanford University
Roadmap for Understanding Mechanisms on how Epstein-Barr Virus Triggers Multiple Sclerosis and for Developing Therapeutic Approaches |
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Shruti Naik, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Mapping Inflammatory Disease over Space and Time |
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Richard M. Siegel, Novartis Biomedical Research
Novel Approaches to Tissue B Cell Depletion in Autoimmune Diseases |
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Aleksandra Ivovic †, Wellcome Sanger Institute
Short Talk: Ultra-Sensitive Sequencing Identifies Potentially Disease-Driving Somatic Mutations in X-linked Genes in Salivary Gland Lymphocytes in Sjögren Disease |
|
| 6:45–7:00 PM |
Meeting Wrap-Up: Outcomes and Future Directions (Organizers) |
Grays Peak |
| 7:00–8:00 PM |
Social Hour with Dinner |
Longs Peak |
| 8:00–9:00 PM |
Entertainment |
Longs Peak |
| 8:00–9:00 PM |
Cash Bar |
Longs Peak |
