2026 Immunoengineering Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar - Summary for the 2026 GRC Immunoengineering Immunoengineering integrates immunology, bioengineering, and computational sciences to advance treatments for cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and transplantation. Key innovations like CAR T-cell therapies, bispecific antibodies, and mRNA vaccines address global health threats. Advances in nanotechnology, biomaterials, AI-driven biomarker discovery, and computational modeling enhance immune modulation and drug delivery. The field bridges synthetic biology, materials science, and data science to accelerate bench-to-bedside translation, impacting diverse medical applications. Growing investment from federal agencies (NIH, NIAID, NCI, NIBIB) and universities supports immunoengineering research and training. Despite increasing interest, existing conferences limit collaboration. The Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Immunoengineering, first held in 2022, is the only dedicated international meeting advancing interdisciplinary exchange and clinical applications. The goal of the “2026 Immunoengineering GRC: Cells, Proteins, and Biomaterials in Translational Medicine” is to share advances across all subfields simultaneously, to catalyze new ideas and collaborations, and thus serve as the national and international conference “home” for the immunoengineering community. The 2026 Immunoengineering GRC will balance immunology, translational science, biomaterials, and nanotechnology, shaping immunotherapy, vaccine development, and immune modulation strategies. The conference prioritizes academic-industry dialogue, featuring structured mentoring, poster sessions, and career development for trainees and junior investigators. GRC’s established format will ensure productive scientific exchange in a supportive environment. We will fulfill the following specific aims: Aim 1: Advance progress in immunoengineering at two levels – by promoting collaborations and relationships across scientific disciplines (fundamental and translational science) and by fostering interactions between academia and industry. Aim 2: Advance the careers of new investigators and trainees in the field of immunoengineering by showcasing their work and facilitating networking with senior investigators and peer mentors.
