Symposium on​ Eye Inflammation and Infection
September 11 - 13, 2026
4:00 PM - 1:00 PM America/Chicago
Location
College of Dentistry RM510A
Address
801 S. Paulina St., Chicago, IL 60612
Calendar
Download iCal File
Program is available and update the timings accordingly. Friday at 3:00 PM and ends on Sunday 1:30 PM.
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Currently, only Zoom and vendor registrations are open until 09/10.
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Registration and abstract submissions are now open for the 2026 Symposium on Eye Inflammation and Infection (SEII), a premier, NEI‑supported meeting taking place September 11-13, 2026, at the University of Illinois Chicago.
Building on the momentum of previous years, SEII 2026 will convene more than 50 internationally recognized scientists, clinicians, and clinician‑scientists who are redefining what’s possible in:
Ocular immunity and inflammation
Ocular infection and microbiology
Artificial intelligence
Translational therapeutics
This year’s program highlights:
🔹 40+ keynote and featured talks spanning basic, translational, and clinical science
🔹 A spotlight presentation by an NEI Program Director (PD)
🔹 A focused career development & funding opportunities session with the NEI PD, tailored for trainees and junior faculty
🔹 A strategic funding landscape talk by the Executive Director of the Alliance for Vision Research, highlighting where NIH support is headed
🔹 30+ competitively selected oral presentations from submitted abstracts
🔹 High‑visibility poster sessions for emerging and established investigators
🔹 Multiple Best Presentation and Research Achievement Awards recognizing outstanding science
🔹 10 competitive trainee travel awards (up to $750 each) to support the next generation of vision scientists
Whether you are a clinician, scientist, or clinician‑scientist, SEII 2026 offers a rare opportunity to:
- Present your work on a national stage
- Engage directly with NEI leadership and advocacy organizations
- Build collaborations at the interface of immunology, infection, AI, and therapeutics
- Mentor and be mentored in a highly collegial, interactive environment
Join us in Chicago this September to advance the science and care of immune‑mediated eye disease and infection.
Register today.
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Symposium Co-Organizers:
Ali Djalilian, MD, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Sandeep Jain, MD, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Jason McAnany, PhD, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Deepak Shukla, PhD, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Symposium Secretary:
Chandrashekhar Patil, PhD, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Organizing Committee:
Benny Alexander, MBA, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Jenny Baker, MA, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Margaret Chervinko, MFA, MLS, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Elmira Jalilian, PhD, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Lauren Kalinoski, MS, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Nishit Mukhopadhyay, PhD, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Afsar Naqvi, PhD, Periodontics, UIC
Tejabhiram Yadavalli, PhD, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Keynote Speakers (2025 Awardees):
James Chodosh, MD, MPH, The University of New Mexico
Richard D. Dix, PhD, Georgia State University
Homayon Ghiasi, PhD, Cedars Sinai HCS
Renu A. Kowluru, PhD, FARVO, Wayne State University
Alex Ljubimov, PhD, Cedars Sinai HCS/UCLA
Danielle M. Robertson, OD, PhD, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Andrew W. Taylor, PhD, FARVO, Boston University
Steven Yeh, MD FASRS, University of Nebraska Medical Center
NEI Featured Presentation:
Houmam Araj, PhD, Program Director
Alliance for Vision Research Featured Presentation:
Featured Speakers:
Vinay Aakalu, MD, MPH, Medical College of Wisconsin
Paulo J. M. Bispo, PhD, Mass Eye and Ear / Harvard Medical School
David Bloom, PhD, University of Florida
Charles S. Bouchard, MD, MA, Loyola University Chicago
Michelle C. Callegan, PhD, Dean McGee Eye Institute / University of Oklahoma HSC
Shyam S. Chaurasia, MSc, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin
Christopher D. Conrady, MD, PhD, University of Utah
Cintia S. De Paiva, MD, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine
Ali Djalilian, MD, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Suzanne Fleiszig, OD, PhD, School of Optometry and Vision Science, UC Berkeley
Asim Farooq, MD, University of Chicago
Lynn Hassman, MD, PhD, University of Colorado Anschutz
Sandeep Jain, MD, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Elmira Jalilian, PhD, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Clinton Jones, PhD, Oklahoma State University
Vineet Joshi, MD, LV Prasad Eye Institute, India / Byers Eye Institute at Stanford, USA
Uday Kompella, PhD, University of Colorado Anschutz
Abby Kroken, PhD, Loyola University Chicago
Ashok Kumar, PhD, Wayne State University
Jeremy A. Lavine, MD, PhD, Northwestern University
Goldis Malek, PhD, Duke Department Of Ophthalmology
Mary E. Marquart, PhD, University of Mississippi Medical Center
Donna Neumann, PhD, University of Wisconsin Madison
Afsar Naqvi, PhD, Periodontics, UIC
Chandrashekhar D Patil, PhD, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Kathryn Pepple, MD, PhD, University of Washington
Lev Prasov, MD, PhD, University of Michigan
Raju V. S. Rajala, PhD, Dean McGee Eye Institute / University of Oklahoma
Sriram Ravindran, PhD, Periodontics, UIC
Hajirah Saeed, MD, MPH, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Anjali Sharma, PhD, Washington State University
Shruti Sharma, PhD, Augusta University
Deepak Shukla, PhD, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Sachin Shukla, PhD, L V Prasad Eye Institute, India
Pawan Singh, PhD, University of Missouri
Debashish Sinha, PhD, Johns Hopkins University
Anthony St. Leger, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
K. P. Connie Tam, PhD, Cleveland Clinic
Tejabhiram Yadavalli, PhD, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Rachel K. Wozniak, MD, PhD, University of Rochester Medical Center
Sarah Xin Zhang, MD, University at Buffalo
Gulab Zode, PhD, University of California, Irvine
Session Chairs:
David Evans, PhD, Touro University California
Jason McAnany, PhD, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UIC
Eric Moulton, OD, PhD, Harvard University
Jaya Rajaiya, PhD, The University of New Mexico
Robert M.Q. Shanks, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
Susmit Suvas, PhD, Wayne State University
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View our past event pages:
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Date posted
Jan 8, 2025
Date updated
Sep 10, 2026
Registration Pricing
Registration ends August 31st.
Regular Registration
| General Registration | $300 |
| Academic Attendee | $200 |
| Trainee | $100 |
| Virtual Zoom Attendee | $50 |
| UIC Faculty/Staff/Trainee | $0 |
Late Registration:
| General Registration | $350 |
| Academic Attendee | $250 |
| Trainee | $150 |
| Virtual Zoom Attendee | $50 |
| UIC Faculty/Staff/Trainee | $0 |