2026 Annual LCTRC Symposium
The Louisville Clinical & Translational Research Center will host its third annual symposium, Academic Advancement and Translational Discovery, during Research!Louisville.
2026 Annual LCTRC Symposium
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | UofL Clinical & Translational Research Building
The Louisville Clinical & Translational Research Center (LCTRC) invites faculty, students, staff, and institutional colleagues to its 2026 Annual Symposium: Academic Advancement and Translational Discovery. This half-day conference highlights the scientific contributions and career trajectories of the center's emerging investigators.
The program features comprehensive research updates and showcases from our Presidential Scholars, addressing current trends and innovations in clinical and translational science. Attendees will engage in cross-disciplinary dialogue with senior investigators on best practices for advancing translational research methodologies while maintaining work-life balance.
Tentative Agenda:
8:30 - 9:00 AM - Registration & Coffee
9:00 - 10:30 AM - Presidential Scholar Updates: Mistry, Buonpane, Vanzhula, Lynn, Ekuban, Bhutiani, Ong
10:30 - 10:45 AM - Break
10:45 - 11:45 AM - Presidential Scholar Showcase: Redi & Keskey
11:45 - 12:30 PM - Academic Advancement & Work-life Balance: A Discussion with Senior Investigators
12:30 - 1:00 PM - Box Lunches
Come network and learn more about the research being done at UofL by the next generation of up and coming clinical and translational scientists. Registration is required for lunch.
2026 LCTRC Annual Symposium
Join us during Research!Louisville for our symposium on Academic Advancement and Translational Discovery! Earn CEUs. Lunch provided with registration.
Previous LCTRC Symposiums
10:00AM - 10:20AM | LCTRC Opportunities For Researchers & Scientists
Welcome Kenneth Palmer, PhD & Maxwell Boakye MD
Bioinnovation at UofL In Kim, MD & Ted Smith, PhD
10:20AM - 11:50AM | Presidential Scholars: Research Showcase
Akshitkumar Mistry MD, Dexamethasone: Friend or Foe for Brain Tumor Patients?
Christie Buonpane MD, Harnessing Microbial Metabolite Analogs: Urolithin A as a Preventative and Therapeutic Avenue for Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Clarissa Ong PhD, Personalizing Psychological Treatment from a Process-Based Lens
Andrew Lynn PhD, Investigating Attention-Perception Interactions in Typical and Atypical Development
Frederick Ekuban PhD, Environmental Pollutants as Hidden Risk Modifiers of Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease Severity: Mechanistic & Translational Insightss
Neal Bhutiani MD-PhD, Leveraging the IL-17-gdT-Neutrophil Axis to Improve Immunotherapy in Colorectal Cancer
11:50AM - Noon | Break Lunch Farm to Fork
Noon - 1:00PM | Keynote: Sally Hodder, MD
Dr. Sally Hodder is an infectious diseases physician with extensive experience in both academia and the pharmaceutical industry. She currently serves as the Director of the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute (WVCTSI) and is the Associate Vice President for Clinical and Translational Research at West Virginia University.
Throughout her career, Dr. Hodder has focused on translational research, aiming to translate scientific discoveries into tangible health improvements, particularly for underserved rural populations. Her work has a special emphasis on HIV treatment and prevention, especially among women. She has also led initiatives related to long COVID, addiction, and lung and heart health.
In 2024, Dr. Hodder was elected to the National Academy of Medicine, becoming the first person from West Virginia University to receive this honor. She is a recognized leader in her field, having authored numerous scientific papers and book chapters, and has served on national committees, including the Council of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.