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\"Rust<\/span><\/div>\n\n

Pittsburgh Rust Belt<\/h2>\n

Microbiome Conference<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

November 5 - 6, 2026<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Registration will open soon!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The goal of the Pittsburgh Rust Belt Microbiome (RBM) Conference 2026 is to bring together the microbiome, microbial evolution, and pathogenesis research communities from academic institutions and medical centers in the Rust Belt region.<\/p>\n

Our program integrates basic and translational science researchers and physicians in clinical practice at all levels of their careers. Plenary sessions, keynote talks, poster sessions, lunches, and a reception at the Phipps Conservatory will provide multiple opportunities for participants to present and discuss their work.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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KEYNOTE SPEAKERS<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Graham<\/div>

Graham Hatfull, PhD<\/h4>

University of Pittsburgh<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n

short bio<\/h5>

Dr. Hatfull is Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. He received his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Edinburgh University in 1981 and did postdoctoral work at Yale University and at the Medical Research Council at Cambridge University. He joined the University of Pittsburgh in 1988 and served as Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences from 2003 to 2011. Dr. Hatfull\u2019s research focuses on the molecular genetics of the mycobacteria and their bacteriophages, and their use for educational advancement and clinical interventions. Dr. Hatfull has published over 300 articles, book chapters and reviews, and has co-edited four books. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Academy of Microbiology, and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has been a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor since 2002.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\"Vaughn<\/div>

Vaughn S. Cooper, PhD<\/h4>

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n

short bio<\/h5>

Vaughn Cooper, Ph.D. is an evolutionary biologist and microbiologist. He is currently Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, and Computational and Systems Biology, at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine. He co-founded is Director of the Center for Evolutionary Biology and Medicine (CEBaM), which works to catalyze research and education at the interface of these disciplines. He\u2019s also a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, an elected Board member of the American Society of Microbiology (ASM), and is President-Elect of ASM in 2025-6. The Cooper laboratory studies how potential pathogens evolve to adapt to new hosts and environments, including by forming biofilm or gaining antimicrobial resistance. This research has led to >140 peer-reviewed publications and several perspective articles for public audiences. Recently, Dr. Cooper helped to form a team of scientists to consider the potential risks of mirror life and became a board member of the Mirror Biology Dialogue Fund. The Cooper laboratory is proud to have founded EvolvingSTEM<\/a>, a comprehensive educational program that provides authentic classroom research experiences for thousands of middle and high school students annually in which they conduct a microbiology experiment that demonstrates evolution in action. The major goal of EvolvingSTEM is to help students see themselves as scientists and join the STEM workforce.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\"Andrew<\/div>

Andrew D. Patterson, PhD<\/h4>

Pennsylvania State University<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n

short bio<\/h5>

Andrew Patterson is the John T. and Paige S. Smith Professor at Penn State, Associate Director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, and Director of the Center for Environmental Health Sciences. His research focuses on the intersections of the gut microbiome, metabolism, toxicology, and environmental health. His lab\u2019s work aims to define how diet, environmental chemicals, and microbial metabolism influence host physiology and disease risk. By integrating metabolomics, microbiome science, and systems-level approaches, his group seeks to uncover the mechanisms by which the microbiome shapes responses to everyday chemical exposures and contributes to human health.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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SPEAKER SECTIONS<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Interface of Immunity and Microbiome<\/h5>

Chairs:<\/strong>
Dr. Timothy Hand PhD, University of Pittsburgh<\/em>
Anthony St. Leger PhD, University of Pittsburgh<\/em><\/p>\n

Speakers:<\/strong>
Anthony St. Leger PhD, University of Pittsburgh<\/em>
Phillip Ahern PhD, Cleveland Clinic<\/em>
Rachel Gottschalk PhD, University of Pittsburgh<\/em>
Natalie Silver PhD, Cleveland Clinic<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Drug Discovery and the Microbiome<\/h5>

Chair:<\/strong>
Dr. Jan Claesen PhD, Cleveland Clinic<\/em><\/p>\n

Speakers:<\/strong>
Dr Jennie Kwon DO, MSCI \u2013 Northwestern University<\/em>
Illana Brito PhD, Cornell University<\/em>
Marcy Balumas PhD, University of Michigan<\/em>
Mark Mimee PhD, The University of Chicago<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Secretion, Signaling & Sensing<\/h5>

Chairs:<\/strong>
Dr. Laty Cahoon PhD, University of Pittsburgh<\/em>
Dr. N. Luisa Hiller PhD, Carnegie Mellon University<\/em><\/p>\n

Speakers:<\/strong>
Francis Alonzo PhD, University of Illinois in Chicago<\/em>
Sampriti Mukherjee PhD, University of Chicago<\/em>
Julia van Kessel PhD, Indiana University Bloomington<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Microbiome Dynamics & Development<\/h5>

Chair:<\/strong>
Dr. Vincent Young MD, PhD, University of Michigan<\/em><\/p>\n

Speakers:<\/strong>
Vincent Young MD PhD, University of Michigan<\/em>
Ryan Hunter PhD, University of Buffalo<\/em>
Christina Farr PhD, Case Western University<\/em>
Sam Light PhD, University of Chicago<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Systems Biology of the Microbiome<\/h5>

Chairs:<\/strong>
\nDr. Catherine Armbruster PhD, Carnegie Mellon University<\/em>
\nDr. Daria van Tyne PhD, University of Pittsburgh<\/em><\/p>\n

Speakers:<\/strong>
\nRebeca Keogh PhD, University of Pittsburgh<\/em>
\nSkye Fishbein PhD, Ohio State University<\/em>
\nJohn F. Brooks PhD, Princeton University<\/em>
\nMichael Abt PhD, University of Pennsylvania<\/em>
\nJudith Behnsen PhD, University of Illinois Chicago<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The 4th Pittsburgh Rust Belt Microbiome Conference<\/h3>\n

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November 5 \u2013 6, 2026<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

Mellon Institute<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Carnegie Mellon University<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

Please direct any questions to:<\/em>
N. Luisa Hiller at lhiller@andrew.cmu.edu<\/a>
or Cindy Vinkovich at vinkovichc@upmc.edu<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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