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Attend the 2026 Introductory Course in Immunology

Registration will open in March 2026

  Registration will open in March 2026

July 14 – 19, 2026 
, Los Angeles, CA 

Course Director: Helen S. Goodridge, Ph.D., Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental principles of immunology and is appropriate for those with a general background in biology. The curriculum is divided into two parts: 

  • Part 1 (July 14-16): A detailed overview of core immunology concepts, designed for participants with a general biology foundation.
  • Part 2 (July 17-19): A clinically oriented lecture series that builds on foundational principles by exploring their application in clinical and disease contexts.
  • Flexible Enrollment: Participants may choose to take Part 1, Part 2, or both, depending on their interests and background.

Those seeking a more intensive program designed for advanced trainees and scientists who wish to expand or update their knowledge are encouraged to attend the AAI Advanced Course in Immunology.

Contact education@aai.org for more information.

Registration will open in March 2026.

If you’d like to be notified when registration opens, let us know via .
 

Schedule

NOTE: All times are shown in Pacific time (PT)

Part 1

Tuesday, July 14

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM 
Registration 

1:00 PM – 2:10 PM 
Katie M. Sandlin, A´¡±õ&²Ô²ú²õ±è;²¹²Ô»å&²Ô²ú²õ±è;, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center 
Welcome and Introduction to the Immune System 

2:10 PM – 2:30 PM 
Rest Break and Discussion with Faculty 

2:30 PM – 3:45 PM 
, University of California, Los Angeles 
Innate Immunity: Cells and Functions 

3:45 PM – 4:00 PM 
Rest Break and Discussion with Faculty 

4:00 PM – 5:15 PM 
, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences 
The Complement System

5:15 PM – 6:30 PM
Networking Reception


Wednesday, July 15

8:00 AM – 9:15 AM 
, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center 
Pattern Recognition Receptors

9:15 AM – 9:30 AM 
Rest Break and Discussion with Faculty

9:30 AM – 10:45 AM 
, Virginia Commonwealth University 
Antigen Processing and Presentation

10:45 AM – 11:00 AM 
Rest Break and Discussion with Faculty

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM 
, University of California, San Diego Schools of Medicine & Biological Sciences 
Dendritic Cells: The Bridge Between Innate and Adaptive Immunity

12:15 PM – 1:45 PM
Lunch Break (on your own)

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM 
, Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard 
B Cell Development and Maturation 

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM 
Rest Break and Discussion with Faculty 

3:15 PM – 4:30 PM 
, University of Toronto and Sunnybrook Research Institute 
T Cell Development

4:30 PM – 4:45 PM 
Recap


Thursday, July 16

8:00 AM – 9:15 AM 
, University of California, San Diego 
Effector T Cell Differentiation and Response

9:15 AM – 9:30 AM 
Rest Break and Discussion with Faculty

9:30 AM – 10:45 AM 
, La Jolla Institute for Immunology 
B Cell Activation and Humoral Immunity

10:45 AM – 11:00 AM 
Rest Break and Discussion with Faculty

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM 
, Independent Scientist  
Orchestrating the Adaptive Immune Response

12:15 PM – 1:45 PM
Lunch Break (on your own)

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM
, University of California, Davis
Immunity to Bacterial Pathogens

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Rest Break and Discussion with Faculty

3:15 PM – 4:30 PM
, La Jolla Institute for Immunology
Immunity to Viruses

4:30 PM – 4:45 PM 
Recap

Part 2

Friday, July 17

8:00 AM – 9:15 AM 
, University of California, San Francisco 
Immune Regulation and Tolerance 

9:15 AM – 9:30 AM 
Rest Break and Discussion with Faculty 

9:30 AM – 10:45 AM 
, University of California, Irvine 
Autoimmunity 

10:45 AM – 11:00 AM 
Rest Break and Discussion with Faculty 

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM 
, University of Washington 
Type 2 Immunity 

12:15 PM – 1:45 PM 
Lunch Break (on your own) 

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM 
, The Ohio State University 
Mucosal Immunology 

3:15 PM – 4:30 PM 
, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center 
Solid Organ Transplantation


Saturday, July 18

8:00 AM – 9:15 AM
, University of Virginia 
Neuroimmunology 

9:15 AM – 9:30 AM
Rest Break and Discussion with Faculty 

9:30 AM – 10:45 AM 
, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center 
Tumor Immunology 

10:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Rest Break and Discussion with Faculty

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
, Stanford University
Inborn Errors of Immunity

12:15 PM – 1:45 PM
Lunch Break (on your own)

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM
, La Jolla Institute for Immunology 
Immunologic Memory 

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM 
Rest Break and Discussion with Faculty 

3:15 PM – 4:30 PM 
, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center 
Vaccination


Sunday, July 19

8:00 AM – 9:15 AM
, La Jolla Institute for Immunology 
Sex Differences in Immune Responses 

9:15 AM – 9:30 AM 
Rest Break and Discussion with Faculty 

9:30 AM – 10:45 AM 
, University of Washington 
Immunotherapeutics Targeting Cytokines 

10:45 AM – 11:00 AM 
Rest Break and Discussion with Faculty 

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM 
, Genentech, Inc. 
Molecules Meet Immunity: How Drug Development Illuminates Human Disease Mechanisms 

Housing Accommodations

A block of discounted sleeping rooms is reserved at  for course attendees.  

425 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095 
Phone: 310-206-8585
Email: lcc@ha.ucla.edu 

Room Rate:

  • $295 single/double plus applicable taxes
  • Rate expires June 15, 2026.

Attendees must make their own hotel reservations by calling 855-LCC-UCLA (522-8252) or by booking online at . The group code to use for the discounted rooms is LG2607AAI2.  

All reservations must be guaranteed with a major credit card and accompanied by a first night room deposit. 48 hours prior to arrival, the credit card provided to guarantee the room reservation will automatically be charged the remaining balance of the reservation for full payment prior to arrival.

Registration for Introductory Course in Immunology 

Don’t miss the most comprehensive introduction to immunology available! Join us in person to benefit from:

  • 26 course lectures (32.5 lecture hours)
  • Interactive Q&A sessions with leading experts
  • Opportunities to network with faculty and fellow attendees

Registrants will receive access to a read-only electronic copy of the course slides on site and will retain access for 12 weeks after the course concludes. Please note that, due to copyright restrictions, the electronic course handouts cannot be downloaded.

Optional Printed Course Materials

For those who prefer printed materials for note taking, ¿ì»îÊÓÆµ pleased to offer the option to purchase printed, spiral-bound handouts during online registration. These materials will be: 

  • Provided in black and white to keep costs affordable
  • Compiled into two spiral-bound volumes covering the full course

Please note: If we do not receive a sufficient number of print orders, we will be unable to produce the printed materials. In that event, all print orders will be fully refunded.

  Part 1 or Part 2  Both Parts 
Academic or Government Trainee* Member  $670  $980 
Academic or Government Trainee* Nonmember  $875  $1,230 
Academic or Government Regular Member  $920  $1,305 
Academic or Government Nonmember  $1,120  $1,510 
Industry Regular or Trainee* Member  $1,645  $2,395 
Industry Nonmember includes Trainees*  $1,830  $2,600 
ADD PRINTED COURSE MATERIALS** $90 $180


* Trainee rates are offered to undergraduate students, recent college graduates (young professionals), graduate students, or postdoctoral trainees engaged in a training program. Recent college graduates must be within 5 years of receiving a BA, BS or equivalent degree.

 

** See Optional Printed Course Materials section above.

AAI Policy Statements

Attendees at AAI activities and events are required to comply with the following policies. 

Non-Discrimination 
¿ì»îÊÓÆµ Association of Immunologists (AAI) is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment at AAI activities for all participants regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, skin color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, sexual preference, age, military or veteran status, marital status, or disability.

Code of Conduct
In addition to providing a safe and welcoming environment for AAI activities, AAI adheres to the principles of integrity, civility, diversity, and respect. To that end, prohibited behaviors at AAI activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Physical assault (including unwelcome touching or groping)
  • Unwelcome or uninvited attention or contact
  • Real or implied threat of physical harm
  • Real or implied threat of professional or financial damage or harm
  • Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
  • Intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning speech or actions
  • Verbal or physical abuse of any person working on behalf of AAI, including convention center, hotel, AAI, or contract staff
  • Harmful or prejudicial verbal or written comments or visual images related to race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation/preference, age, or disability (including in presentation slides)
  • Inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images (including in presentation slides)
  • Harassing photography or taking identifying photos of someone without their express permission
  • Photographing or recording scientific or other sessions
  • Disruption of scientific sessions or other events
  • Inebriation or use of illegal substances at the activity
  • Entering the meeting area or sessions without registering or wearing a meeting badge
  • Sharing or borrowing meeting badges
  • “Crashing” an “invitation only” event.

AAI reserves the right to remove, without refund, individuals who have engaged in any of the above-described behaviors from all further activities at, or associated with, the AAI event. Convention center security and/or police may be asked to intervene as is necessary. AAI reserves the right to bar offenders from future AAI-sponsored meetings or events.

Photography and Recording
AAI is committed to the respectful sharing of scientific research and data. Attendees are strictly prohibited from photographing and recording (audio or video) course lectures or presentations. Violators will be asked to delete photographs or recordings and risk expulsion from the event. Official photographs and recordings will be taken at the AAI Courses. By registering for this course, participants agree to allow AAI to use their photo in AAI publications, including on the AAI website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Registration

Where is the course being held?
The course is hosted in person at the  in Los Angeles, CA.

Can I register for a virtual or hybrid option of the course?
There is no hybrid option for the in-person course, but we are currently exploring the possibility of having an on-demand option. Check back after the in-person course ends for more details.

Can I pay by check?
Yes, you can pay by check by selecting the “Bill Me” option upon registering. Please make checks payable to ¿ì»îÊÓÆµ Association of Immunologists (AAI), add a note to the check that lists the Member/Non-Member ID number, and send the check to:

AAI Introductory Course in Immunology
¿ì»îÊÓÆµ Association of Immunologists, Inc.
1451 Rockville Pike, Suite 650
Rockville, MD 20852

Can I pay by PO?
Yes — we can accept payment via Purchase Order (PO) for institutional payments. A valid PO must be issued and approved by your institution before we can invoice or process payment. Please send all POs to education@aai.org. If your institution requires a PO, we recommend starting the process early to avoid delays. 

Are there travel grants/scholarships available for the course?
No, there are no travel grants or scholarships available for this course.

I just joined AAI. Can I still register at the member rate?
Yes, you can register at the membership rate if you’ve completed your membership application before registering for the course. Join today to get the member discounted rates! 

Can I cancel my registration?
If your plans have changed, you can cancel or transfer your registration. To make any changes, please submit a request via  on or before June 9, 2026. There is a $75 processing fee for cancellations. After June 9, 2026, no refunds will be issued. Your course registration may be transferred to a colleague following the cancellation deadline; please contact education@aai.org with the transfer request at least a week before the course start date.

Can I register for just Part 1 or Part 2?
Part 1 covers core concepts, while Part 2 is more clinically focused. You are welcome to register for one or the other.

How do I request accommodation for a disability?
If you require reasonable accommodation that is not already being provided, ¿ì»îÊÓÆµ pleased to provide such accommodation consistent with federal and state law. Requests can be made by emailing education@aai.org.

Do you offer CME credits?
We do not currently offer CME for this course.

Do you offer a certificate of completion?
All attendees will receive a badge and certificate of completion through Credly for each part of the course. You will receive these via email within one week of completing the course.

What experience do I need to take Part 1 and/or Part 2?
The course is designed for those with a general background in biology. Part 2 also requires a background in the core concepts of immunology, which you will obtain in Part 1.

 

Course Content and Materials

How can I access the slides?
You will be emailed a link to access the slides ahead of the course start date.  

Why can’t I download the slides?
Due to copyright restrictions, we are unable to provide participants with downloadable copies that could be distributed outside of the course. There is an option for participants to purchase printed, spiral-bound, black-and-white handouts during online registration for those who wish to retain a copy for future reference or who prefer printed materials for note taking.

Why are the printed course materials not in color?
This reduces costs for attendees. It would cost approximately three times the amount for color compared to the black-and-white copies.

If I didn’t order the printed course materials during registration, is it possible to still buy one?
It may be possible to still order printed course materials after the deadline. Email education@aai.org or ask a staff member at the registration desk when you check in at the course.

© ¿ì»îÊÓÆµ Association of Immunologists, Inc.
1451 Rockville Pike, Suite 650, Rockville, Maryland 20852
(301) 634-7178 | infoaai@aai.org