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St. Jude/PIDS Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Conference

 

March 4-6, 2026
Marlo Thomas Center for Global Education and Collaboration
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Also available virtually
Trainee career session on March 3 - in person only

 
 

The St. Jude/PIDS Pediatric Infectious Diseases Conference features leaders in the field of Infectious Diseases and features Pediatric ID Research, Transplant/ Immunocompromised Hosts, Infectious Diseases, Career Development and Global Health.

For over 20 years, this symposium, hosted by the St. Jude Department of Infectious Diseases and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, has  highlighted research as a career for pediatric infectious diseases specialists by drawing from all the Pediatric Infectious Diseases training programs in the country.

  1. Registration

    In-person and virtual registration options are available now. 

    Register now

  2. Travel

    Accredited Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Training Programs (not individuals) based in the U.S. or Canada are eligible to apply for a $1,000 USD travel stipend. A maximum of 35 stipends will be awarded. 

    Apply for a Travel Stipend

  3. Hotel

    The Peabody Memphis is the official hotel for the 25th Annual St. Jude/PIDS Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Conference. A special room block has been reserved at a rate of $221 per night.

    Book your room Book your room

     
     
     
  4. Tuesday, March 3

    Time Event/Session
    6:00-8:00 pm Early Registration Check-In
    Peabody Hotel
    4:30-5:30 pm Networking Cocktail Hour
    Peabody Hotel
    5:30-7:00 pm Dinner and Career Panel Presentation
    Peabody Hotel

    Careers in Peds ID - Administration as Part of the Mission in an Academic Health Center

    Carrie I. Byington, MD
    University of California, San Diego


    Careers in Peds ID- Public Health

    Annabelle de St. Maurice, MD
    Los Angeles Department of Public Health/UCLA


    Careers in Peds ID - Medical Education

    Riley Hospital for Children/Indiana University School of Medicine


    Careers in Peds ID - Antimicrobial Stewardship

    Jack G. Schneider, MD
    Riley Hospital for Children


    Careers in Peds ID - Hospital Epidemiology/Infection Control

    Ibukun Christine Kalu, MD
    Duke University School of Medicine


    Careers in Peds ID Panel - Transplant ID

    Surabhi (Sara) Vora MD, MPH
    Seattle Children's Hospital/University of Washington

    7:00-8:00 pm Guided Conversation Tables

    Wednesday, March 4

    Time Event/Session
    7:55 – 8:00 am

    Welcome and Introduction
     

    Miguela A. Caniza, MD, MPH
    Director, Infectious Diseases Division of Global Pediatric Medicine
    St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

    Marlo Thomas Center Auditorium

    8:00-9:30 am Luminaries in Global Health
    8:00-8:30 am

    Luminary 1 


    A. Desiree LaBeaud, MD, MS, FASTMH
    Stanford University

    Vector-borne Disease Prevention

    8:30-9:00 am

    Luminary 2

     

    Eva Harris
    University of California, Berkeley


    Characteristics and Evolution of Arboviruses

    9:15-9:30 am Q & A with Luminaries
    9:30-10:00 am

    Oral Abstracts Session 1
     

    • Abstract Presentation 1: Transplant
    • Abstract Presentation 2: Global Health
    • Abstract Presentation 3: General Research
    10:00-10:30 am Break
    10:30-11:00 am

    Frontiers in Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Lecture 1


    Rana El Feghaly, MD, MSCI, CPHQ
    Children's Mercy Kansas City


    Leading the Charge: Advancing Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship, One Child at a Time

    11:00-11:30 am

    Frontiers in Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Lecture 2


    Joe Real, MD
    Cinncinati Children's Hospital Medical Center


    Leveraging Virtual Reality to Address Vaccine Hesitancy and Top Threats to Childhood Health

    11:30-11:45 am Q & A with Frontier Speakers
    11:45 am-1:45 pm Lunch
    1:45-3:00 pm State of the Art Session 1 - CMV

    Mark R. Schleiss, MD
    University of Minnesota

    CMV Research - Universal Screening


    Asuncion Mejias, MD, PhD, MsCS

    St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

    Biomarkers in Congenital CMV


    Ajit Limaye, MD
    University of California, San Francisco

    Updates to the Diagnosis and Management of Refractory/Resistant CMV in Transplant Recipients

    3:00-3:15 pm Q & A
    3:15-3:30 pm Break and Poster Set-up
    3:30-4:30 pm

    Poster Session 1

    Board Room

    Thursday, March 5

    Time Event/Session
    7:50-8:00 am

    Welcome and Announcements


    Monica I. Ardura, DO, MSCS

    Nationwide Children's Hospital
    Chair, St. Jude/PIDS Symposium Planning Committee


    Gabriela Maron, MD, MSc

    Director IDS–BMTCT
    Department of Infectious Diseases
    St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

    Marlo Thomas Center Auditorium

    8:00-9:00 am

    Grand Rounds


    Joshua Hill, MD, FIDSA
    Fred Hutch Cancer Center

    HHV-6: Advances and Ongoing Challenges in  Immunocompromised Hosts

    9:00-9:30 am

    Pediatric Transplant/Immunocompromised Hosts Platform #1

    Marian Michaels
    UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh


    "Do I Accept This Donor?" Discussion on Calls About Infectious Risks in Prospective Solid Organ Donors

    9:30-9:45 am Q & A
    9:45-10:15 am Break
    10:15-10:45 am Updates from the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Transplant (PIDTRAN)
    10:45-11:30 am

    Oral Abstracts Session 2

    • Abstract Presentation 4: Transplant
    • Abstract Presentation 5: General Research
    • Abstract Presentation 6: Global Health
    11:30 am - 1:00 pm

    Lunch

    TID Jeopardy (12:00-1:00 pm) in the Marlo Thomas Center Auditorium

    1:00-1:45 pm

    Challenging Cases

    • Case 1 - TBD
    • Case 2 - TBD
    • Case 3 - TBD
    1:45-2:15 pm

    Pediatric Transplant/Immunocompromised Hosts Platform #2
     

    Kaitlin J. Devine, MD, MS
    Children's Hospital of Philadelphia


    PTLD in Children

    2:15-3:15 pm

    Interactive Debate/Panel Discussion


    Joshua A. Hill, MD, FIDSA
    Fred HutchCancer Center

    HHV-6: Advances and Ongoing Challenges in Immunocompromised Hosts


    and


    Alexandra Freeman, MD
    National Institutes of Health

    Immunizations in Special Populations

    3:15-3:30 pm Q & A with Platform and interactive Debate
    3:30-3:45 pm Break - Poster Set-up
    3:45-4:45 pm Poster Session 2
    6:00-10:00 pm 25th Anniversary Celebration at the Peabody Hotel Skyway

    Friday, March 6

    Time Event/Session
    7:50-8:00 am

    Welcome and Announcements
     

    Debra Palazzi, MD, MEd, FPIDS
    President, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

    Octavio Ramilo, MD
    Chair, Department of Infectious Diseases
    St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital


    Marlo Thomas Center Auditorium

    8:00-8:30 am

    Frontiers in Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Lecture 3
     

    Michael Silverman, MD, PhD
    Childrten's Hospital of Philadelphia

    Early Life Microbiome and Immune Development/Infection Risk

    8:30-8:45 am  Q & A
    8:45-10:00 am State of the Art Session 2 - CNS

    Emma Mohr, MD, PhD
    University of Wisconsin - Madison


    From Outbreak to Answers: Zika CNS Pathogenesis


    Charles Chiu, MD, PhD
    University of California, San Francisco


    Advances in Sequencing-based Infectious Disease Diagnostics in Children and Immunocompromised Hosts


    Speaker 3


    TBD

    10:00-10:15 am Q & A
    10:15-10:45 am Break
    10:45-11:00 am

    Oral Abstracts Session 3
     

    Abstract Presentation 7: Top Abstract

    11:00 am-12:00 pm Lunch
    12:00-1:00 pm 

    2026 John H. Erskine Lecture in Infectious Diseases

    Drew Weissman, MD, PhD
    University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine


    Nucleoside Modified mRNA-LNP Therapeutics

    Moderator: Octavio Ramilo, MD

    1:00 pm Adjourn
  5. Abstracts

    Abstracts will be accepted beginning Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. Abstracts must be submitted by 11:00 p.m. CT, on Sunday, Nov. 16. Accepted abstracts will be notified Dec. 1-8.

    Submit an abstract

  6. Cases

    Cases will be accepted beginning Monday, Sept 8. Cases must be submitted by 11:00 p.m. CT, on Sunday, Nov. 16. Accepted cases will be notified Dec. 1 - 8. 

    Submit a case

  7. Accreditation

    This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

 
 
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