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The goal of the Pittsburgh Rust Belt Microbiome (RBM) Conference is to bring together the microbiome, microbial evolution, and pathogenesis research communities from academic institutions and medical centers in the Rust Belt Region.

Our program integrates basic and translational science researchers and physicians in clinical practice at all levels of their careers. Plenary session, keynote talks, poster sessions, lunches, and a banquet dinner will provide multiple opportunities for participants to present and discuss their work.

Hosted by

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Gary Borisy, Ph.D.

The ADA Forsyth Institute

short bio

Gary Borisy is a Senior Investigator at The ADA Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA, and former President and Director of the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA. Dr. Borisy received his Ph.D in Biophysics from the University of Chicago and carried out postdoctoral studies at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England. He was Perlman-Bascom Professor and Chair of Molecular Biology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, then Arey Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology at Northwestern University in Chicago where he also served as Associate Vice President for Research. He is a recipient of numerous awards including an NIH MERIT Award, the Carl Zeiss Award from the German Society for Cell Biology, the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Chicago and the E.B. Wilson Award from the American Society of Cell Biology. Dr. Borisy is a past President of the American Society for Cell Biology, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and an elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. He has authored or co-authored more than 260 publications with more than 50,000 total citations.

Jennifer Bomberger, Ph.D.

Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

short bio

Jennifer Bomberger, PhD is the Philip J. Hanlon Second Century Professor in Personalized Treatments for Cystic Fibrosis in the department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, where she leads the Dartmouth Research and Development Program in Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Dr. Bomberger is an editor at mBio and PLoS Pathogens, is a member of the Medical Advisory Council and chairs the Infection Research Initiative at the CF Foundation and serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of Emily’s Entourage research foundation. Bridging her interests in epithelial biology and microbiology, the Bomberger laboratory studies viral-bacterial and polymicrobial infections in the respiratory tract. Her team is interested in how the mucosal nutritional environment and microbial interactions shape the ecology and evolution of microbes in the upper and lower respiratory tract to ultimately develop new therapies to eradicate infections that plague chronic lung disease patients, like those with CF.

Iliyan D. Iliev, Ph.D.

Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University

short bio

Iliyan Iliev is an Immunologist, Laboratory Director and an Associate Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York.

His pioneering research on the gut mycobiota defined the role of commensal fungi in innate mucosal and protective humoral immunity, and provided the first evidence for mycobiota involvement in the pathophysiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The laboratory develops and applies translational, experimental and computational approaches to study the role of immunity and mycobiota early and later in life, upon therapeutic interventions and during conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, allergy, immunodeficiencies and gastrointestinal cancers, where fungi contribute to pathologies. Current effort in the laboratory, focused on the gut-bran axis and cancer, explores the unique neuro-modulatory and cancer-immunity modulating properties of fungi.

Dr. Iliev earned his PhD from the European School of Molecular Medicine and the University of Milan and was previously associated with the Tohoku University in Japan, LB Bulgaricum Plc., Meiji Co., Ltd and the Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Currently he is a Burroughs Wellcome Fund PATH Investigator, Irma T. Hirschl Scholar, Kenneth Rainin Foundation Innovator, Fellow at the Canadian Institute For Advanced Research (CIFAR) and a Cancer Research Institute Lloyd J. Old STAR Fellow.

SPEAKER SECTIONS

Mother and Infant Communication

Moderators:
Dr. Timothy Hand PhD, University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Mike Morowitz MD, University of Pittsburgh

Speakers:
Dr. Tim Hand PhD, University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Eldin Jašarević PhD, University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Stephanie Langel PhD, Case Western Reserve
Dr. Matt Olm PhD, University of Colorado

Multi-species Communities

Moderators:
Dr. Tagbo Niepa PhD, Carnegie Mellon University
Dr. Vincent Young MD, PhD, University of Michigan

Speakers:
Dr. Chelsie Armbruster PhD, University at Buffalo
Dr. Miqdad Dhariwala PhD, The Ohio State University
Alyssa Hamm MS, Case Western Reserve University
Dr. Yolanda Huang PhD, University of Buffalo
Dr. Joseph Zackular MD, University of Pennsylvania

Translation & Clinical Applications

Moderators:
Dr. Alison Morris MD, MS, University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Georgios Kitsios MD, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Daria van Tyne PhD, University of Pittsburgh

Speakers:
Dr. Paul Carlson PhD, United States Food and Drug Administration
Dr. Ghady Haidar MD, University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Rasha Hammamieh PhD, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Dr. Michael Woodworth MD, Emory University School of Medicine

Microbiome Metabolites and their Functions

Moderators:
Dr. Vaughn Cooper PhD, University of Pittsburgh
Dr. William de Pas PhD, University of Pittsburgh

Speakers:
Dr. Jan Claesen PhD, Cleveland Clinic
Dr. Ryan Hunter PhD, University of Buffalo
Kala Mahen, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute
Dr. Lauren Palmer PhD, University of Illinois
Dr. Apollo Stacy PhD, Cleveland Clinic
Dr. Jianglin Zhang PhD, Carnegie Mellon University

Microbial-host Interactions

Moderators:
Dr. Luisa Hiller PhD, Carnegie Mellon University
Dr. Drew Bridges PhD, Carnegie Mellon University
Dr. Catherine Armbruster PhD, Carnegie Mellon University

Speakers:
Dr. Drew Bridges PhD, Carnegie Mellon University
Dr. Laty Cahoon PhD, University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Laura Cook PhD, Binghamton University
Dr. Patricia Grace PhD, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Dr. Mark Mandel PhD, University of Wisconsin

Abstract submissions for posters are now closed.

The 3rd Pittsburgh Rust Belt Microbiome Conference

November 7 – 8, 2024

University Club at the University of Pittsburgh

Please direct any questions to: Luisa Hiller at lhiller@andrew.cmu.edu or Cindy Vinkovich at vinkovichc@upmc.edu

Statement of commitment to provide a safe environment
The RBM 2024 conference is dedicated to fostering a safe and respectful environment for all attendees, free from discrimination and harassment. This commitment is backed by the University of Pittsburgh’s Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, which provides an Anti-Harassment Policy, inclusive of a Nondiscrimination Policy and Sexual Misconduct Policy.

Expectations of behavior
Conference attendees will be expected to behave respectfully and collegially, free from discrimination and harassment in all meeting interactions. This includes sexual, racial, ethnic, disability, age, religious, LGBTQ+, and any other type of discrimination, harassment, or intimidation.

How individuals can notify NIH
Individuals can contact the NIH to file complaints or provide information via this link and by calling: (301) 480-6701.

HOSTS

Georgios Kitsios, M.D., Ph.D.

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Luisa Hiller, Ph.D.

Carnegie Mellon University

Barbara Methé, Ph.D.

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Alison Morris, M.D., M.S.

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Definitions:
Rust Belt: An area of the north United States historically known for heavy industry and steel production.
Rust Belt Microbiome: A cutting-edge conference named to commemorate the rise of Science and Medicine as emerging economic drivers in the Rust Belt region. The outstanding programs in microbiome or host-pathogen research highlight new forces in our region to improve human health, advance novel technology, and develop entrepreneurship. Our conference is designed to celebrate the past and the future of our thriving and vital area.