Virology Retreat

We are looking forward to welcoming you to the 4th annual Virology Retreat!

Date

Friday, December 4th, 2026

Location

Black Prong Resort
450 SE County Road 337
Bronson, FL 32621
www.blackprong.com

Keynote Speakers

Keynote Speaker

Blossom Damania

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Lineberger Cancer Center

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keynote speaker

Griffith Parks

Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida

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Program

Agenda

8:00-8:45 am Continental Breakfast

8:45-9:00 am Introduction by Stephanie Karst

Session 1: Molecular Virology & Replication Conveners: Megan Stanifer & Sumita Bhaduri-McIntosh

9:00-9:50am Keynote Speaker: Griffith Parks, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, UCF

9:50-10:10am Emmanuelle Genoyer, Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, UF College of Medicine

10:10-10:30am Mingyi Xie, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UF College of Medicine

10:30-11:00am Coffee Break

Session 2: Virus Ecology, Evolution, & Discovery Conveners: Lindsay Campbell & Amy Vittor

11:00-11:20am Robert Ossiboff, Department of Comparative, Diagnostic & Population Medicine, UF College of Veterinary Medicine

11:20-11:40am Panpim Thongsripong, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, UF Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences and College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

11:40-12:00pm Donald Behringer, Department of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences, UF College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

12:00-12:40pm Trainee talks

12:40-2:00pm Lunch and Poster Session

Session 3: Virus-host Interactions & Pathogenesis Conveners: Zhe Ma & Rolf Renne

2:00-2:50pm Keynote Speaker: Blossom Damania, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Lineberger Cancer Center

2:50-3:10pm Melissa Jones, Department of Microbiology & Cell Sciences, UF Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences

3:10-3:30pm Scott Tibbetts, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, UF College of Medicine

3:30-4:00pm Coffee Break

Session 4: Emerging Viruses, Surveillance, & Preparedness Conveners: Svetlana Folimonova & Bryony Bonning

4:00-4:20pm Artem Nemudryi, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UF College of Medicine

4:20-4:40pm Benjamin Anderson, Department of Environmental and Global Health, UF College of Public Health and Health Professions

4:40 – 5:20pm Trainee Talks

5:30-8:30pm Cocktails & Dinner