Virology Nexus Symposium

Registration and Abstract Submission Now Open

Registration and abstract submission are now available for the 2026 Virology Nexus Symposium, which will be held on April 9–10, 2026, at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, in Austin, Minnesota.

The objectives of the Symposium are to gather virologists from the Upper Midwest in order to share new research results, facilitate interactions and new collaborations, and support trainee career development. The program will feature current research on structural virology, virus replication, virus-host interactions, viral epidemiology, and emerging viruses. This meeting is an integral part of the career development of trainees supported by the NIH-supported Minnesota Training Program in Virology (T32 AI083196).

Registration and abstract submission close on April 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

For more information about the conference, contact Director of Building and Services Chelsey Lustig, [email protected].

Program

All times are Central Time (US)

Thursday, April 9, 2026

6-7 p.m.	Pre-registration/Reception with light refreshments
7-7:45 p.m.	Keynote Speaker "Highlights of 45 Years of Chlorovirus Research" Jim VanEtten, PhD, Professor University of Nebraska-Lincoln
7:45-8:30 p.m.	Keynote Speaker "Neuroimmune Pharmacology for the Treatment and Prevention of Viral and Neurodegenerative Disorders" Howard Gendelman, MD, Professor University of Nebraska Medical Center
8:30 p.m.	Adjourn

Friday, April 10, 2026

7:30-8:30 a.m.	Registration & Breakfast
8:30-8:35 a.m.	Opening Remarks
8:35-9:05 a.m.	"Defining Ebola Virus Vertical Transmission" Wendy Maury, PhD, Professor University of Iowa
9:05-9:35 a.m.	Anna Fagre, PhD, Assistant Professor Iowa State University
9:35-10:05 a.m.	"Understanding the Interplay of the HCMV RL11 Glycoproteins in Cell Cate, Cellular Function, and Viral Infection" Lindsey Crawford, PhD, Assistant Professor University of Nebraska-Lincoln
10:05-10:15 a.m.	Break
10:15-10:45 a.m.	Amanda Dudek, PhD, Assistant Professor University of Iowa
10:45-11:15 a.m.	"Novel Translation Mechanisms of Novel Plant Viruses" W. Allen Miller, PhD, Professor Iowa State University
11:15-12:15 p.m.	Poster Session
12:15-1:30 p.m.	Lunch & Optional Tour
1:30-2 p.m.	"Influenza A (H5N1): Pathogenesis and Host‑Range Dynamics" Joaquin Caceres, PhD, Assistant Professor Iowa State University
2-2:30 p.m.	"Arthropod-borne Orthoflavivirus Evolution and Transmission Are Shaped by Distinct Host Environments" Nicole Sexton, PhD, Assistant Professor University of Nebraska-Lincoln
2:30-3 p.m.	"Elucidating the Role of IP6 in HIV-1 Assembly and Maturation" Alex Kleinpeter, PhD, Assistant Professor University of Iowa
3 p.m.	Closing Remarks