<figure class="image image-style-align-left image_resized" style="width:28.47%;"><img src="https://ceirr-public-website-static-stag.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/Holly5_116959c19e.jpg"><figcaption>iDPCC Center Coordinator at the CEIRR Network booth</figcaption></figure>Members across the CEIRR Network attended the American Society for Virology (ASV) Annual Meeting 2026, held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from July 27–30, 2026. ASV meetings are among the largest virology conferences in the world, bringing together national and international scientists to discuss research spanning basic virology, vaccines, and antiviral therapeutics. The meeting’s program was developed from more than 1,000 participant-submitted abstracts and included 17 invited symposium speakers and six State-of-the-Art speakers.&nbsp;CEIRR researchers presented their work throughout the meeting in one satellite symposium, 39 workshop talks, and 43 posters. Their participation highlighted the breadth and impact of research conducted across the CEIRR Network and provided opportunities for investigators, staff, and trainees to share findings, exchange ideas, and connect with collaborators from across the virology community.The CEIRR Influenza Data Processing and Communication Center (iDPCC) attended the ASV2026 vendor show. The iDPCC’s Center Coordinator, Holly May, Ph.D., represented the Network to share a variety of outreach materials about the <a href="https://www.ceirr-network.org/pilot-research-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CEIRR Pilot Research Program</a>, CEIRR <a href="https://www.ceirr-network.org/resources/reagents" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reagents</a> and the new <a href="https://www.fluhub.org/resources/biospecimen" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NIAID Flu Hub Clinical Biospecimen Repository</a>.&nbsp;The iDPCC enjoyed sharing the CEIRR Network’s accomplishments and capabilities at ASV2026 and looks forward to continuing to connect with researchers and collaborators at future conferences.

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CEIRR researchers shared their work at ASV 2026 in Minneapolis through 1 satellite symposium, 39 workshop talks, and 43 posters, highlighting the Network’s virology research and collaboration across the meeting.

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CEIRR Researchers Share Their Work at ASV 2026

The next &nbsp;<a href="https://www.ceirr-network.org/news/ceirr-annual-network-meeting-2026">5th Annual CEIRR Network Meeting (ANM)</a> Poster Winner the iDPCC is excited to spotlight is Dr. Pamela Brigleb! Pamela Brigleb is a postdoctoral fellow in the <a href="https://www.ceirr-network.org/search?keyword=Schultz-Cherry">Schultz-Cherry Lab</a> at <a href="https://www.ceirr-network.org/centers/sjceirr">SJCEIRR</a>. Dr. Brigleb was awarded First Place in the Immunity, Transmission, and Breadth of Protection category for her poster titled “Obesity Across Generations: Impact of Parental Obesity on Offspring’s Response to Influenza Infection.”<figure class="image image-style-align-right image_resized" style="width:29.16%;"><img src="https://ceirr-public-website-static-prod.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/Pamela_Brigleb_Photo_1_d7f390be99.png"><figcaption>Photo of Pamela Brigleb</figcaption></figure>Obesity is known to increase disease risks of influenza infection. It has also been established that parental metabolic health can influence offspring immunity though the dynamics of this influence on influenza infection are poorly understood. Dr. Brigleb aims to unravel these complicated interactions by developing an obese parent-offspring mouse model. Sires and dams were placed on a twelve-week high-fat diet to induce metabolic dysfunction. Dr. Brigleb found that offspring born to these parents reach significantly higher weights than offspring born to lean parents, indicating they undergo early-life metabolic reprogramming. Future studies using this model will delve into how parental obesity influences metabolic health and immune responses to influenza in their offspring. According to Dr. Brigleb, “Collectively, these studies will define how parental obesity shapes childhood vulnerability to respiratory infection and inform strategies to strengthen early-life antiviral immunity.”The iDPCC asked Brigleb to share more about her journey as a scientist:1. How has the CEIRR Program benefited your scientific training?A: The CEIRR Program has had a tremendous impact on my scientific postdoctoral training. My research has been supported through CEIRR, allowing me to pursue questions at the intersection of influenza, immunology, metabolism, and host responses. CEIRR has provided the opportunity to become part of a collaborative network of investigators who have provided valuable feedback, mentorship, and opportunities for collaboration. These experiences have helped shape my development as a scientist and will continue to influence my approach as I establish my own independent research program focused on immunity to influenza infection.2. What motivates you to study your current research project(s)?A: I am motivated by understanding how metabolism shapes immune responses to viral infection and why some populations are more susceptible to severe disease than others. My current research examines how parental obesity influences offspring metabolic health and their immune responses to influenza, an area that remains relatively understudied despite the growing prevalence of obesity across generations. What I enjoy most is investigating the mechanisms that connect metabolic changes to immune function and uncovering how those changes influence disease outcomes. I find it especially rewarding to study questions that have the potential to explain differences in susceptibility among vulnerable populations.3. What impact do you hope your current research project will have?A: I hope this research expands our understanding of how parental metabolic health influences offspring immunity and susceptibility to respiratory viral infections. While obesity is a well- recognized risk factor for severe influenza, far less is known about how its effects may extend across generations. By identifying the mechanisms that link parental obesity to altered immune responses in offspring, I hope this work opens new avenues for studying intergenerational influences on infectious disease and ultimately informs strategies to better protect future generations from severe viral infections.4. Who/what inspired you to go into science in general?A: I was fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in science research and engineering throughout high school, and those experiences inspired me to pursue a career in science. My science research teachers, Ms. Holmes and Mr. Piccirillo, along with my engineering teacher, Mr. Albrecht, had a tremendous impact on my career by fostering my curiosity and encouraging me to think like a scientist. Although my research at the time was very different from what I study today, focusing on American eels in the Hudson River, and I also participated in robotics, those experiences taught me how to ask meaningful scientific questions, communicate my findings, collaborate with others, and lead a team. Looking back, I would not be where I am today without their mentorship and the opportunities they gave me to discover a passion for scientific research.&nbsp;5. How have your career interests and plans changed over time?A: My career interests have evolved as I gained new research experiences and discovered what I enjoyed most. As an undergraduate, I studied biomedical engineering, where my research focused on nanoparticle drug delivery systems for pancreatic cancer. During the summers, I worked in microbiology at a large biotech company, and those experiences, combined with an inspiring immunology course, sparked my interest in host-pathogen interactions and infectious diseases. That ultimately led me to pursue a PhD in microbiology and immunology, where I developed a passion for studying host immune responses to viral infections, a foundation that continues to shape my research today. When I began my postdoctoral training, I was still exploring my long-term career goals and whether leading an academic research program was the right fit for me. Through the mentorship and support of Dr. Stacey Schultz-Cherry, I realized that what I enjoyed most was asking new scientific questions, mentoring trainees, and building collaborative teams to tackle complex problems. Those experiences solidified my goal of leading my own research program.6. What are your plans following your training?&nbsp;A: Following my postdoctoral training, I will join McGill University and the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research as an Assistant Professor in Microbiology and Immunology, where I will establish an independent research program focused on influenza immunity and immunometabolism. I look forward to continuing collaborations within the CEIRR network as an independent investigator and contributing to its mission of advancing influenza research and pandemic preparedness.7. What’s one thing you wish you knew when you started your research?A: I wish I had known that it is okay not to have everything figured out at the beginning. I tend to be very goal-oriented and like having clear milestones to work toward, so learning that research rarely follows a straight path was an important lesson. My research interests, career goals, and even the questions I wanted to study evolved over time as I gained new experiences and learned from incredible mentors and collaborators. Looking back, I realize that staying curious, being flexible, and embracing unexpected opportunities has been just as important as having a well-defined plan.8. What is your favorite assay or technique?A: Flow cytometry is my favorite technique because it allows us to examine many aspects of immune cell biology simultaneously, making it an incredibly powerful tool for answering complex questions. I enjoy designing experiments that make the most of its capabilities, but what I find most rewarding is teaching others. Whether it's helping someone build their first panel or troubleshoot an experiment, I enjoy sharing what I've learned and seeing others become confident using the technique.9. Do you have any hobbies or special interests that you'd like to share?A: Outside the lab, I enjoy watching hockey. With my upcoming move to Canada, I'm looking forward to experiencing just how seriously hockey is taken and finding the perfect team to cheer for. I suspect choosing a team may be the most controversial decision I'll make after moving!

Spotlight

Awards

Dr. Brigleb describes her research to develop a mouse model of parental obesity to understand and improve early-life immunity of offspring.

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Pamela Brigleb, Postdoctoral Fellow and Immunity, Transmission, and Breadth of Protection Poster Winner, Develops a Model to Understand the Role of Parental Metabolic Health on Offspring Immunity

The iDPCC is pleased to continue our <a href="https://www.ceirr-network.org/news/ceirr-annual-network-meeting-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">5th Annual CEIRR Network Meeting (ANM)</a> Poster Winner Spotlight Series with Anastasija Cupic! Anastasija Cupic is a Ph.D. student in the <a href="https://www.ceirr-network.org/search?keyword=Garcia" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Garcia-Sastre Lab</a> at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Cupic was awarded First Place in the H5/Risk Assessment and Data Management category for her poster titled “Development of hMX1 knock-in mice for zoonotic influenza risk assessment.”<figure class="image image-style-align-right image_resized" style="width:23.34%;"><img src="https://ceirr-public-website-static-prod.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/Anastasija_Cupic_headshot_1_a5ec65905c.jpg"><figcaption>Photo of Anastasija Cupic</figcaption></figure>Zoonotic influenza viruses remain a continuous global health threat. One key barrier for zoonotic influenza spillover to humans is evasion of the myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) encoded by the MX1 gene. MxA targets the viral nucleoprotein to limit viral replication. Human influenza A viruses (IAVs) have adapted to partially evade MxA, but avian IAVs lack these adaptations making them susceptible to MxA. Therefore, to assess the risks posed by avian IAVs, it is critical to accurately model MxA-dependent virus restriction.Cupic’s research leverages in vivo models to better understand MxA-mediated virus restriction by generating CRISPR-engineered human MX1 knock-in mice. These mouse lines include wildtype MxA and clinically relevant loss-of-function MxA variant knock-ins. Cupic found that wildtype MxA expression restricted avian, but not human, influenza in vivo, with expression leading to increased survival. In contrast, mice expressing variant MxA displayed decreased resistance to avian IAV. As Cupic concludes, “Together, these data establish a humanized MxA mouse platform that enables mechanistic interrogation of host restriction and provides a robust tool for improving zoonotic influenza risk assessment.”The iDPCC asked Cupic to share more about her scientific goals and interests:1. How has the CEIRR Program benefited your scientific training?A: The CEIRR Program has provided funding to my mentors, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre and Lisa Miorin, to pursue our project. I especially enjoyed the CEIRR Annual Meeting because it was a great opportunity to present our work and network with incredible colleagues in the field.&nbsp;2. What motivates you to study your current research project(s)?A: Compared to conventional laboratory mouse strains, our model more closely recapitulates human innate immunity to influenza viruses. Improving our understanding of virulence factors and host response to zoonotic influenza viruses can aid in the development of more effective surveillance, risk-assessment, prevention, and control strategies.3. What impact do you hope your current research project will have?A: We hope that our human MxA-expressing mice and ex vivo tools will be used to complement existing risk-assessment strategies for emerging zoonotic influenza viruses.4. How have your career interests and plans changed over time?A: During my college years, I initially wanted to pursue medicine but my time as a technician during the COVID-19 pandemic showed me that the work we do as researchers plays an important role in public health, pandemic preparedness policy, and patient care. This led me to pursue a Ph.D. focusing on viral and host determinants of pathogenesis, specifically with SARS- CoV-2 and Influenza.5. What are your plans following your training?A: Following the completion of my Ph.D., I plan to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship to further expand my expertise in virus-host interactions. &nbsp;I am passionate about and advocate for advancing biosafety and pandemic preparedness policy, which I plan to continue throughout my career.6. What’s one thing you wish you knew when you started your research?A: One thing that I always tell my students is that patience and precision are very important to conducting quality experiments. And to take good notes!7. What is your favorite assay or technique?A: I would have to say that it’s a tie between western blot and plaque assay! Western blot was the first technique that I learned as an undergraduate in Adolfo’s lab and at this point I can probably do it with my eyes closed. Getting the perfect exposure in the dark room is an art. On the other hand, plaque assay requires meticulousness that is satisfying for a perfectionist like myself.8. Do you have any hobbies or special interests that you'd like to share?A: A fun fact about me is that I am a black belt in Tang Soo Do and a recreational bodybuilder.&nbsp;

Cupic describes her research to develop a mouse model recapitulates MxA-dependent restriction of influenza viruses to complement risk assessment strategies.

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Anastasija Cupic, Graduate Student and H5/Risk Assessment and Data Management Poster Winner, Characterizes a Novel hMX1 Knock-in Mouse Model for Zoonotic Influenza Risk Assessment

The iDPCC is thrilled to spotlight the second winner of a poster presentation award at the <a href="https://www.ceirr-network.org/news/ceirr-annual-network-meeting-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">5th Annual CEIRR Network Meeting (ANM)</a>! Megan Martinez is a Ph.D. student in the <a href="https://www.ceirr-network.org/search?keyword=Lowen" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lowen lab</a> at Emory University. Martinez was awarded First Place in the Virology and Viral Evolution category for their poster titled “Drivers of influenza A virus density dependence.”<figure class="image image-style-align-right image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://ceirr-public-website-static-prod.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/Martinez_Image_4db89ca30b.png"><figcaption>Photo of Megan Martinez.</figcaption></figure>Martinez’s research investigates how multiple infection shapes virus–virus interactions throughout the influenza A virus (IAV) life cycle. During infection, multiple viral particles often infect the same cell, and these virus–virus interactions can strongly influence replication efficiency, though the processes driving these interactions are poorly understood. To unravel these complicated dynamics, Martinez used two phenotypically identical but genetically distinct IAVs in a co-infection model across multiple cell types. Martinez’s work demonstrated that the density dependence of IAVs varies by host cell type and the viral function affected, with virus–virus interactions ranging from competitive to beneficial. In Martinez’s words, “Our findings to date suggest that host and viral factors shape the density dependence of IAVs, playing a critical role in viral propagation and expansion.”The iDPCC asked Martinez some additional questions to learn more about them&nbsp;and their&nbsp;interests:1. How has the CEIRR Program benefited your scientific training?A: The CEIRR Program has provided me with opportunities to connect with researchers outside my own institution and see how different groups approach similar scientific questions. It has been especially valuable to receive feedback on my own research while learning about work across the network, which has exposed me to new ideas and approaches I might not have encountered otherwise. The CEIRR meetings have also helped me build meaningful relationships with other trainees at similar stages, creating a peer network that I expect to continue beyond graduate school. Altogether, these interactions have helped me think more broadly about my project and its place within the larger field of influenza research.2. What motivates you to study your current research project(s)?A: My current research focuses on how interactions between co-infecting influenza A viruses influence viral replication and infection outcomes, an area where many fundamental questions remain unanswered. I feel privileged to be in a position where I can pursue these unknowns and contribute new knowledge to the field. That opportunity to uncover new biology and contribute to a broader scientific understanding is what continues to motivate me.3. What impact do you hope your current research project will have?A: I hope this research helps answer fundamental questions about how viruses interact within infected cells and why those interactions matter for infection outcomes. While the immediate impact is a better understanding of influenza A virus biology, I also hope these findings generate new questions and ideas that other researchers can build on.4. Who/what inspired you to go into science in general?A: I was drawn to research as an undergraduate, and I’m incredibly grateful for my mentor I had at that time. He created an environment where I could explore my curiosity and develop as a scientist, which helped me build the skills that have brought me to where I am today. What continues to inspire me is the curiosity that drives scientific research. I hope to foster that same sense of curiosity in others throughout my career.5. What is one thing on your bucket list?A: One thing on my bucket list is to visit all the Seven Wonders of the World.6. How have your career interests and plans changed over time?A: My career interests have continued to evolve since starting graduate school. Originally, I never saw myself staying in academia, but I’ve come to really value its creativity and rigor, as well as the opportunity to communicate scientific findings and contribute to how they are understood and applied.

Martinez describes their work to understand how virus-virus interactions influence viral replication efficiency.&nbsp;

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Megan Martinez, Graduate Student and Virology and Viral Evolution Poster Winner, Investigates the Role of Virus-Virus Interactions During Viral Replication

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