Seminar Series

The Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity holds regular seminars with invited speakers from outside the institution, as well as researchers from RUSH University.

2026-2027 academic year seminars schedule

Seminars are held in Cohn Research Building Auditorium Room 160 (1735 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60612), unless noted otherwise.

Date and TimeSpeakerTitle/Topic
September 16, 2026
Wednesday, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Liudmila Romanova, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Neurological Sciences
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, IL

(Host: Jeff Schneider, PhD)

"Brain Borders in Aging and Neurodegeneration"
September 23, 2026
Wednesday, 9:30-10:30 a.m.		Judy Friedrichs, DNP, RN, CPLC, FT
Wellness Liaison | RUSH Wellness Center
NICU Cuddler Program Coordinator
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, IL		"I am strong, I am courageous, I am tired: Caring for your own mental health"
September 30, 2026
Wednesday, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

John L. Hamilton, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Orthopedic Surgery 
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, IL

(Host: Jeff Schneider, PhD)

"Developing New Technologies for the Prevention, Detection, and Treatment of Periprosthetic Joint Infection"
October 7, 2026
Wednesday, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Navdeep S. Chandel, PhD
Professor
Department of Medicine, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics
Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern University
Chicago, IL

(Host: Jennillee Wallace, PhD)

"Mitochondrial Signaling Control of Physiology"
October 14, 2026
Wednesday, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Wendy A. Goodman, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pathology, School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH

(Host: Jeff Schneider, PhD)

"Estrogen and the Immune System"
October 28, 2026
Wednesday, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Erica Ollmann Saphire, PhD, MBA
Professor, President & CEO
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
La Jolla, CA

(Host: Jeff Schneider, PhD)

"TBA"

Virtual Meeting

November 4, 2026
Wednesday, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Savas Tay, PhD
Professor of Molecular Engineering
Director of the Immunoengineering and Bioengineering Institute
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Chicago, IL

(Host: Jennillee Wallace, PhD)

"Single Cell Immunology"
November 11, 2026
Wednesday, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Paul Spearman, MD
Vice Chair, Clinical and Translational Research and Education
Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, OH

(Host: João Mamede, PhD)

"TBA"
November 18, 2026
Wednesday, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Sandra Pinho, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Pharmacology & Regenerative Medicine
University of Illinois
Chicago, IL

(Host: Jennillee Wallace, PhD)

"Stem Cell Biology, Hematopoiesis, Aging"

Please contact the department at (312) 942-6383 or our seminar coordinator, Jennillee Wallace, PhD, for additional information.

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