AAI annual meeting 2026

Matthew presents his poster on lung neonatal gamma delta T cells

The Klonowski Lab descended upon Boston for this year’s annual American Association of Immunology (AAI) meeting. Both Disha and Matthew presented posters and were excited to engage with the broader immunology community throughout the meeting.

Disha presents her poster using a modified technique to intravascularly label T cells in neonatal mouse lungs

Highlights for Matthew included reconnecting with incoming AAI President Avery August, meeting immunology communicator @nicktheimmunologist (a favorite follow on Instagram), learning about cutting-edge approaches to selectively deplete antigen-specific T cells in mice, and exploring the historic streets of Boston, with some well-deserved Thai food along the way.

Disha particularly enjoyed David Masopust’s talk on memory CD8 T cells and Saerom Kweon’s presentation on senescent memory CD8 T cells in human samples. She also enjoyed exploring poster sessions highlighting how diet-associated changes in the Western world can influence immune function. Beyond the science, Disha appreciated the opportunity to reconnect with old colleagues, including Colleen Sedney, and meet new ones, including Colin and Pablo from the Ehrlich Lab. She also enjoyed exploring Boston’s neighborhoods and cuisines with Matthew and seeing colleagues relax and celebrate together at the Gala- unfiltered and unbothered.

Kim enjoyed reconnecting with colleagues and mentors from different stages of her scientific journey throughout the meeting. She especially enjoyed hearing Uli von Andrian’s Presidential Address and the scientific journeys shared by his invited Presidential Symposium speakers, Drs. Eugene Butcher, Federica Sallusto, Tim Springer, and Paul Kubes, whose pioneering work has shaped the field of lymphocyte trafficking. The sessions on “T Cell Development” and “Developmental Exposures in Early Life that Impact Immune Development and Function” were particularly exciting for Kim, who also found time to participate in timely discussions on scientific communication and public policy. Specific stand out talks for Kim included Petter Brodin’s “A Seeding Reaction to Commensal Microbes in Human Newborns,” Donna Farber’s “Immune Memory to Infection and Vaccination in Human Tissues,” and Subash Bhandari’s “Virtual Memory CD8+ T Cell Behavior Is Linked to Peripheralization in the Lymph Node.”

(L to R): Hillary, Disha, Kim, and Matthew

Work and fun went hand-in-hand during the trip, as the lab reunited with Klonowski Lab alumna Hillary Shane near Harvard Square for dinner. Matthew even sampled his first raw oyster - verdict pending. It was a wonderful opportunity for Matthew and Disha to pick Hillary’s brain about life after graduate school, the current job market, and strategies for building the networks needed to find the right career opportunities.

The lab also enjoyed catching up with the Thymus P01 investigators at the AAI Gala.

It was a busy and inspiring few days, but we returned home energized, recharged, and excited to bring fresh perspectives and new ideas back to our research questions.

(L to R): Disha, Matthew, Kim, Ellen Ritchie (MD Anderson), Nancy Manley (Arizona State University), and Lauren Ehrlich (University of Texas, Austin)