2026 Biology of Acute Respiratory Infection Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar

About This Grant

Project Summary The Gordon Research Conference (GRC) titled Biology of Acute Respiratory Infection meets every 2 years and focuses on advancing the frontiers of science through presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research in the field. The theme for 2026 is Integrated Protection Across the Respiratory Tract. The conference program includes a wide range of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. This BARI-GRC focuses on big problems facing the field of acute respiratory infections and the ever-evolving interactions between pathogens and host affecting human biology. The GRC is preceded by the Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), a unique forum for trainees and early career scientists with comparable levels of experience to present and exchange new data and cutting-edge ideas. The goals of the Biology of Acute Respiratory Infections GRC/GRS are to 1) To create a multidisciplinary platform highlighting pathogens across different kingdoms, enabling dissemination and interpretation of the latest scientific discoveries related to acute respiratory infections with a focus on the impact on human biology; 2) To generate a welcoming environment for all that empowers the scientific and career development of early- stage researchers. This conference venue facilitates mentorship and training of junior scientists who will benefit from these multidisciplinary interactions. The format (both formal and informal), size (< 200 attendees), and content of the conference (unpublished, cutting-edge, cross-disciplinary) are designed to maximize opportunities for early-stage investigators to directly interact with leaders in the field, foster collaborations and employment opportunities in a collegial environment. We have developed a program with a unifying theme of One Airway and integrated protection across the entirety of the respiratory tract. We will highlight varied pathogens which can cause acute pneumonia including bacteria (intracellular and extracellular), viruses, parasites and fungi. This meeting provides the single-most comprehensive venue for discussing the latest advances in pneumonia biology.