Neuroinfectious Diseases Research Workshop: Advancing Translational Science and Clinical Innovation

June 04, 2026 | 7:00 - June 06, 2026 | 6:00
ET
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Overview

Illustration of brain cross-section with microbes representing neuroinfectious disease.

The Neuroinfectious Diseases Research Workshop will be a two-day scientific meeting designed to accelerate research, foster collaboration, and build capacity in the field of neurological infections. Hosted at the NIH Neuroscience Center (NSC, Executive Boulevard), this meeting will bring together clinician-scientists, laboratory investigators, translational researchers, government partners, and trainees committed to advancing understanding of neuroinfectious diseases.

 

 

NIH Neuroscience Center (Executive Blvd) — no venue cost; no registration fees.

In-person participation strongly encouraged, hybrid for main talks

Thursday, June 4 – Arrival and Welcome

7:00–9:00 PM
Opening Networking Reception and Plenary Talks

  • Drs. Avindra Nath and Kenneth Tyler 

Friday, June 5

Welcoming Remarks and Overview

  • Drs. Avindra Nath and Kiran Thakur

Special Guests

  • Sonia Lee (NICHD)
  • Amy Adams (NINDS Acting Director)
  • Matthew J. Memoli, MD, MS, Principal Deputy Director NIH
Morning session: Neurovirology
TimeSession
8:15–9:45 AM

JC and Polyoma Viruses (Chair: Irene Cortese)

Speakers: 

  • Dr. Sasha Gupta (UCSF), engineered VST for treatment of PML;
  • Dr. Aron Lukacher (Penn State) - topic: insights into role of antibody response in JCV pathophysiology and/or evaluation of potential for antiviral effect of IV Brincidofovir from MuPyV model;
  • Dr. Angela Rocchi (Temple). topic: cerebral organoid models for PML and use of CRISPR-based treatment strategies targeting Large T Antigen.
9:45–11:00 AM

West Nile and Arboviruses (Chair: Jim Sejvar) 

Speakers: TBD

11:00–11:15 AMBreak
11:15–12:30 PM

Herpesviruses (Chair: Arun Venkatesan)

Speakers: 

  • Dr. Jeffrey I. Cohen, Chief, Medical Virology Section, NIAID;
  • Dr. Shen-Ying Zhang, Assoc Prof Rockefeller Univ, topic: Immunogenetics of viral CNS infections
12:30–1:00 PM

Special Plenary – Neurological Complications of Measles: Research Gaps and Opportunities

  • Dr. Carol Glaser, California Department of Health
1:00–2:00 PMLunch
Afternoon Session: CNS Viral and Post-Viral Infections
TimeSession
2:00–3:30 PM

Enteroviruses (Chair: Kevin Messacar)

Speakers: 

  • Dr. Hai Nguyen-Tran : Enterovirus Clinical and Epidemiology
  • Dr. Megan Freeman: Enterovirus Basic and Translational
  • Dr. Matt Vogt: Enterovirus Therapeutics and Prevention (antivirals, monoclonals, vaccines)
3:30–5:00 PM

Neuro-HIV (Chairs: Felicia Chow, Shibani Mukerji)

Speakers: 

  • Dr. Shelli Farhadian (Tentative) 
5:00–6:00 PM

Post Viral Syndromes (Chair: Avindra Nath)

Speakers: 

  • Dr. Igor Koralnik
  • Dr. Jeane Billious
  • Dr. Brian Walitt
6:00–6:15 PMBreak
6:15–7:00 PMSummary Discussion and Brainstorming
7:30–9:30 PMDinner

Saturday, June 6

Morning Sessions
8:00–8:10 AMIntroduction by Chairs
8:15–10:00 AM

Endemic Fungal Infections & Cryptococcal Meningitis (Chair: David Boulware)

Speakers:

  • Dr. Arturo Casadevall, Johns Hopkins University – Damage Response Framework;
  • Dr. David Boulware, University of Minnesota – Customized Immunotherapy for Cryptococcal Meningitis: One size does not fit all;
  • Dr. Manish Butte, UCLA – Immunotherapy for Coccidioidal Meningitis (Remote);
  • Dr. Michael Wilson, UCSF – Unbiased serological profiling reveals a compartment-specific antigen signature in coccidioidal meningitis
10:00–10:15 AMBreak
10:15–11:45 AM

Spirochetes & Tick-Borne Infections

Speakers:

  • Dr: Alex Greninger, University of Washington
  • Dr. Sumanth Reddy, University of California San Francisco
  • Dr. Caroline Cameron, University of Victoria
11:45 AM–1:00 PM

Panel Discussions

  • Emerging/Reemerging Infections:
    • Dr. Carol Glaser
    • Dr.  Justin McArthur
    • Dr. David Clifford
  • Guideline Development and Clinical Research Groups:
    • Dr. Rodrigo Hasburn
    • Dr. Kevin Messacar
  • Undiagnosed CNS infections:
    • Dr. Michael Wilson
    • Dr. Carlos Pardo
    • Dr. Kiran Thakur
1:00 PM - 2:00 PMLunch
Afternoon Sessions
3:00 PM - 6:00PM

Cross-Cutting & Translational Topics

  • Gene and Immunotherapies for CNS Infections
    • Dr. Lisa Henderson
  • FDA Regulatory Framework for Diagnostics and Biomarkers
  • Patient-Reported Outcomes and Neuro-ID Clinical Trials
    • Dr. Laura Jaeger
  • NCATS and Drug Discovery Platforms
  • Emerging Research Tools (Extracellular Vesicles (Dr. Fatah Kashanchi), Organoids, platforms for pathogen discovery, AI-Based Analytics)

Networking and Study Development Workshops (Chairs)

Networking and Study Development Workshops (Chairs)