Retroviruses 2026

Retroviruses

May 18 - 23, 2026

Abstract Deadline: February 27, 2026

Organizers:

Gregory Melikian, Emory University
Gilda Tachedjian, Burnet Institute, Australia

We are pleased to host the 52nd annual meeting on Retroviruses which will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 18, and will conclude after lunch on Saturday, May 23, 2026.

We are looking forward to a broad-based meeting, and abstracts are welcomed on all aspects of retrovirology.

Topics:

Entry
Innate Immunity
Post-entry Events
Integration and Transcription
Latency
Retroelements and Endogenous Retroviruses
Pathogenesis
Accessory Proteins and Restriction Factors
Capsid and Maturation
RNA, Packaging and Assembly

Keynote Speakers:

Chris Aiken, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Frederic (Rick) Bushman, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

Abstracts should contain only new and unpublished material and must be submitted electronically by the abstract deadline. Selection of material for oral and poster presentations will be made by the organizers and individual session chairs. Status (talk/poster) of abstracts will be posted on our website as soon as decisions have been made by the organizers.

The ANDY KAPLAN Prize: We are pleased to announce that this year’s meeting will again accept nominations for this prize which aim to honor the research achievements of a unique investigator in retrovirology who is entering the late stages of his or her postdoctoral work or at the early stages of an independent career. View Andy Kaplan Prize nominating instructions.

The UTA VON SCHWEDLER Prize for Retrovirology was established in 2012 to be awarded annually with the purpose of honoring the accomplishments of a distinguished graduate student as he or she completes a dissertation in retrovirology. The cash prize is awarded directly to the student based upon their scientific accomplishments and promise. Additional information can be found here.

The JUDITH LEVIN Prize was established in 2024 to commemorate her research and honor her memory. The prize is awarded annually to support a trainee with financial need to attend the Cold Spring Harbor Retroviruses meeting. More details about Judith's contribution to this meeting and science here.

The DANIEL WOLF Prize was established in 2011 to be awarded annually for the best poster presented at this annual meeting. There are no requirements for entry, all posters presented will be eligible, although preference will be given to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows embarking on a career in any aspect of retrovirology. More information here.

All questions pertaining to registration, fees, housing, meals, transportation, visas, abstract submission, financial assistance, or any other matters may be directed to Val Pakaluk.

Major support for this conference is provided by:

In-Person Fees:
Academic/Media Private Room/Private Bath: $2340 (Subject to Availability)
Academic/Media Private Room/Shared Bath: $2195
Academic Shared Room: $1990
Academic/Media No-Housing: $1460
Student /Double Occupancy: $1840
Student /No Housing: $1310
Corporate Private Room/Private Bath: $2910
Corporate No-Housing: $2025
*Student Housing is default double occupancy. Please inquire about availability and fees to upgrade to a private room

NOTE: We cannot guarantee housing will be on campus

Room packages close 2 weeks before the meeting start date

Virtual Participation: Includes access to the oral sessions via Zoom, the digital poster gallery, the Slack discussion workspace, and the Leading Strand video archive. If you are submitting an abstract for an oral or poster presentation, please plan to attend the meeting in person.

Virtual Fees

Academic Virtual Package $425
Grad Student Virtual Package: $265
Corporate Virtual Package: $625

Late Fee (Registrations submitted after 5:00 p.m. ET on May 14)
Late Academic Virtual Package: $525
Late Student Virtual Package: $365
Late Corporate Virtual Package: $725