2026 SCEP Symposium Program

2026 SCEP Symposium Agenda

Schedule subject to change

8:45-9:20am	Breakfast. Registration. Poster Set-up.
9:20-9:30am	Welcome to the 16th annual SCEP Symposium Karine Le Roch, PhD. Director, Center for Infectious Disease and Vector Research, UC Riverside
9:30-10am	SCEP Morning Speaker Elissa Hallem, PhD. Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics University of California, Los Angeles "Skin-penetration behaviors of the human-infective worm Strongyloides stercoralis"
Morning Session	Chair, Emma Wilson, PhD., Professor, Biomedical Sciences, SOM-UCR
10-10:15am	Julian Wagner, Hallem Lab, MIMG, UCLA "Inducible social swarming behavior of human-parasitic worm"
10:15-10:30am	Farveh Sadat Mostafavi Neyshabouri, Nematology Lab, UCR "A receptor-like protein influences whether nematode parasite-derived molecules activate or suppress plant innate immune responses"
10:30-10:45am	Samuel Asiedu, Nair Lab, UCR "PTPN2 restrains myeloid progenitor expansion and differentiation into pro-inflammatory macrophages in helminth infection"
10:45-11am	BREAK
11-11:15am	Chandrasekaran Sambamurthy, Koshy Lab, University of Arizona "A small novel protein that influences Toxoplasma gondii encystment in vitro and in vivo"
11:15-11:30am	Ji-Hun Shin, Lodoen Lab, UC Irvine "NLRP3 inflammasome activation in Toxoplasma gondii-infected human monocytes involves PIKfyve-dependent endolysosomal function"
11:30-11:45am	Jimson Thach, Bradley Lab, MIMG, UCLA "Function and interactions of CRCK1 a key regulator of Toxoplasma gondii replication"
11:50am-12pm	BREAK and SQUEEZE UP!
12-1pm	Keynote Speaker Jon P. Boyle, PhD. Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences University of Pittsburgh "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen: Less than ideal model systems and how they help us understand life cycle evolution and host-parasite interactions"
1-2:15pm	Lunch and Poster Viewing
Afternoon Session	Chair, Meera Nair, PhD., Professor, Biomedical Sciences, SOM-UCR
2:15-2:30pm	Jose Luis Martin, Wilson Lab, UCR "Sex differences in the susceptibility to Toxoplasma infections stem form differential regulation of Th1/Treg population"
2:30-2:45pm	Yubai (Sarah) Sun, Pernas Lab, UCLA "Toxoplasma gondii dense granule protein TgGRA7 mediates maturation of mitochondria-derived structures during infection"
2:45-3pm	Angela Agnew, Hill Lab, UCLA "Elliptical Subpellicular Microtubules in Trypanosoma brucei: Structural Clues Toward Microtubule Deformation and Cytoskeletal Crosslinking"
3-3:15pm	Brianna Ortiz, Jimenez Lab, California State University, Fullerton "Role of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel in Trypanosoma cruzi"
3:15-3:30pm	Irin Ploypray, Jimenez Lab, CSU Fullerton "Mechanosensitive channels as molecular determinants of parasite survival and infectivity in Trypanosoma cruzi"
3:30-3:45pm	Loic Ciampossin, Le Roch Lab, UCR "Genome-wide Mapping of IncRNA-Chromatin Interactions in Plasmodium falciparum reveals regulatory RNA contacts associated with gene expression antigenic variation and sexual differentiation"
3:45-4pm	Kathryn Morales, Riestra Lab, San Diego State University "Characterizing interactions between Trichomonas vaginalis and vaginal bacteria Lactobacillus gasseri and Garderella vaginalis"
4-6pm	Drinks and Nibbles Poster presentation (event numbers 4-4:45pm; odd numbers 4:45-5:30pm) Announcement of abstracts awards and networking (5:30-6pm)