August 14 - 16, 2026
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Photo credit: Destination BC/Alex Strohl
Program Highlights
- Lectures and Scientific Abstracts
- Workshops
- Debates and discussions on key controversies
- Interactive question and answer sessions
- Poster sessions
- Vitiligo Primer sessions
Key topics will include:
- Basic Science
- Translational Research
- Medical Treatment
- Surgical Treatment
- Phototherapy
- Epidemiology
- Case Reports
- Assessment of vitiligo severity, impact & therapeutic response
- Artificial Intelligence in Vitiligo
7th Vitiligo Congress
Call for Abstracts
The 7th Vitiligo International Congress (VIC7) will be held August 14-16, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver, Canada. Formerly known as the Vitiligo International Symposium and recently held in Egypt in 2024, this meeting will bring together 500–600 leading dermatologists, researchers, healthcare professionals, and patient advocates from around the globe.
Together, we will share the latest advancements in vitiligo diagnosis, management, and care — united under our inspiring 2026 theme: Victory Over Vitiligo in Vancouver. The Scientific Committee invites you to submit abstracts for consideration as oral or poster presentations.
Key Dates
VIC7 Online Abstract Portal open for submissions
Monday, December 15, 2025
Abstract Submission Deadline – extended
Friday, April 10, 2026
Abstract Notification – updated
Friday, May 1, 2026
Late breaking abstract portal open for submissions
Friday, May 1, 2026
Late breaking abstract submission deadline: 9:00am PDT
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Late breaking abstract notification
Monday, May 25, 2026
Presenting Author Registration Deadline
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Presentation at 7th Vitiligo International Congress
August 14-16, 2026
Key Dates
VIC7 Online Abstract Portal open for submissions
Monday, December 15, 2025
Abstract Submission Deadline
Monday, April 6, 2026
Abstract Notification
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Presenting Author Registration Deadline
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Presentation at 7th Vitiligo International Congress (VIC7)
August 14-16, 2026
7th Vitiligo Congress
Program at a Glance
as of June 15, 2026
Detailed Program – at June 15, 2026
Thursday, August 13, 2026
| 12:00–17:00 | REGISTRATION OPEN Regency Foyer |
| 12:00–18:00 | SPEAKER CENTRE OPEN Oxford Room |
| 15:00–17:00 | Advisory Board TBC [by invitation] Room TBC |
| 17:30–20:30 | Faculty & Sponsor Dinner [by invitation] Prince of Wales Room |
Friday, August 14, 2026
| 07:00–18:00 | REGISTRATION & SPEAKER CENTRE OPEN Regency Foyer & Oxford Room |
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07:30–08:45
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BREAKFAST AND POSTER VIEWING IN EXHIBIT HALL Regency AB |
| 07:30–17:00 | EXHIBITS OPEN Regency AB |
| 08:45–09:00 | Welcome & Opening Remarks Regency C |
| 09:00–09:40 |
Rapid Fire, Best of Posters Chair: Iltefat Hamzavi |
| 09:00 | Introduction – Iltefat Hamzavi |
| 09:05 | Real-World Psychosocial Burden, Quality of Life, and Disease Management of Non-Segmental Vitiligo in the United States – Samantha Kurosky, New York, USA |
| 09:07 | Development and validation of an Arabic vitiligo impact patient scale short form version – Mona Atwa, Ismailia, Egypt |
| 09:09 | Mannose-Binding Lectin Gene Polymorphism in Vitiligo: an Observational Study and Computational Analysis – Noha Tawfik, Ismaila, Egypt |
| 09:11 | Assessment of Vitiligo Activity before and after Alexandrite and Nd;YAG Laser Assisted Hair Removal in Patients with Stable Non Segmental Vitiligo – Mona Atwa, Ismailia, Egypt |
| 09:13 | Do Surgical Implants Trigger Autoimmune Depigmentation? A Global Study of Orthopedic and Breast Prostheses – Racha Cherradi, Houston, USA |
| 09:15 | The efficacy of Topical barcitinib and excimer light in non segmental vitiligo – Yasmin Elbadrmany, Assuit, Egypt |
| 09:17 | Extended Phototherapy Sessions and Their Effect on Serum Beta-Endorphin and Well-Being in Vitiligo Patients – Wedad Z. Mosataf, Cairo, Egypt |
| 09:19 | Autofluorescence Biomarkers of Vitiligo Detected by Non-invasive in vivo Excitation-Emission Matrix Spectroscopy – Jianhua Zhao, Vancouver, Canada |
| 09:21 | The role of mini-oral pulse steroid therapy in melanocyte keratinocyte transplantation: A randomized controlled trial – Sherouk Elessawy, Cairo, Egypt |
| 09:23 | Cadaver-Based Simulation for Comprehensive Hands-on Training in Vitiligo Surgery: A High-Volume Scalable Model – Deepti Ghia, Mumbai, India |
| 09:25 | Application of Exposure-Response Modeling to Inform the Phase 3 Dose Selection of Povorcitinib in Nonsegmental Vitiligo – Jessica Wojciechowski, Wilmington, USA |
| 09:27 | Q&A |
| 09:45–11:35 |
Session 1 – Translational Research Chair: Harvey Lui |
| 09:45 | Introduction – Harvey Lui |
| 09:50 | Presentation Title TBC – Viktoria Eleftheriadou, Birmingham, UK |
| 10:10 | Quantitative Assessment of Biophysical Skin Properties in Vitiligo Using in vivo Multimodal Spectroscopy Reveals Significant Tissue Alterations Beyond Melanopenia – Jianhua Zhao, Vancouver, Canada |
| 10:20 | Cellular and Immune Landscapes of vitiligo: Insights from Genomic and Transcriptomic Analyses – Hyun Jeong Ju, Seoul, Korea |
| 10:30 | Metabolic Reprogramming of Keratinocytes as a Driver of Therapy Resistance in Acral Vitiligo – Jin Cheol Kim, Suwon, Korea |
| 10:40 | Decoding Vitiligo through Sebum: A possible novel platform for disease monitoring – Mauro Picardo, Rome, Italy |
| 10:50 | Towards understanding tissue factors that determine heterogenous vitiligo response to JAK inhibitor treatment – Elizabeth Vazquez, Irvine, USA |
| 11:00 | Upadacitinib Suppresses Inflammatory Pathways and Enhances Melanocyte-Associated Biomarker c-Kit in Non-Segmental Vitiligo: Phase 3 Biomarker Analysis – Anand Ganesan, Irvine, USA |
| 11:10 | Enhancing Visualization of Vitiligo Lesions in Clinical Images Using Yellow Channel Suppression – James Zhong, Burnaby, Canada |
| 11:20 | hiJAcK vitiligo: JAK3 and TEC-family kinase inhibition in the pathogenesis and treatment of vitiligo – Sanne Uitentuis, Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| 11:30 | Q&A |
| 11:40–12:40 | LUNCH AND POSTER VIEWING IN EXHIBIT HALL Regency AB |
| 12:45–13:25 |
Session 2 – Keynote Presentation: Megan K. Levings, PhD Chair: Sunil Kalia |
| 12:45 | Introduction – Sunil Kalia |
| 12:50 | T cells to induce immune tolerance – Megan K. Levings, Vancouver, Canada |
| 13:20 | Q&A |
| 13:30–15:30 |
Session 3 – Medical Treatment Chair: Youwen Zhou |
| 13:30 | Introduction – Youwen Zhou |
| 13:35 | Combination Therapy in Vitiligo – Samia Esmat, Cairo, Egypt |
| 13:55 | Identifying Unmet Needs in Patients with Non-Segmental Vitiligo – a Survey Study in Egypt, South-Korea and the Netherlands – Marlide Jukema, Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| 14:05 | Efficacy of Upadacitinib in Adults and Adolescents for Treatment of Nonsegmental Vitiligo in Six Body Regions Across 48 Weeks of Treatment from Two Phase 3 Studies (Viti-Up) – Iltefat Hamzavi, Detroit, USA |
| 14:15 | Circulating Central Memory T Cells in Localized Non-Segmental Vitiligo with special emphasis on the additive value early of systemic treatment – Rania Mogawer, Cairo, Egypt |
| 14:25 | Post-Stability Maintenance Strategies and Recurrence Risk in Nonsegmental Vitiligo: A Multicenter Real-World Cohort Study – Chau Yee Ng, Taoyuan, Taiwan |
| 14:35 | Association Between Repigmentation Response and Geographic Latitude Among Patients With Vitiligo – Grace Wong, Toronto, Canada |
| 14:45 | Topical travoprost In combination with 308 nm excimer light and fractional carbon dioxide laser in the treatment of resistant vitiligo patches – Yasmin Elbadrmany, Assuit, Egypt |
| 14:55 | Efficacy of Upadacitinib in Adults and Adolescents for Treatment of Nonsegmental Vitiligo: Subgroup Analysis at 48 Weeks of Treatment From Two Phase 3 Studies (Viti-Up) – Chih-ho Hong, Vancouver, Canada |
| 15:05 | Open-Label Multi-Center Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Topical Ruxolitinib 1.5% Cream with Topical Tacrolimus 0.1% Ointment in Non-Segmental Vitiligo – Ahmed Mourad, Cairo, Egypt |
| 15:15 | Clinical pearls in the use of monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone for depigmentation in cases of extensive vitiligo: A retrospective study – Ahmed Alissa, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| 15:25 | Q&A |
| 15:30-16:00 | BREAK AND POSTER VIEWING IN EXHIBIT HALL Regency AB |
| 16:00–17:00 |
Session 4 – Artificial Intelligence in Vitiligo Chair: Sheila Wang |
| 16:00 | Introduction – Sheila Wang |
| 16:05 | Artificial Intelligence–Derived VASI and Point of Care Tracking in Vitiligo – Sheila Wang, Toronto, Canada |
| 16:25 | AI-based Semi-automatic Segmentation for Global View Vitiligo Lesion Assessment – Yuheng Wang, Vancouver, Canada |
| 16:35 | Artificial Intelligence–Assisted Cellular-Resolution Optical Coherence Tomography for In Vivo Characterization of Disease Activity in Vitiligo – Chau Yee Ng, Taoyuan, Taiwan |
| 16:45 | Implementation of AI-Driven Image Analysis for Precision Monitoring of Repigmentation in Clinical Practice – Jay Modha, Rajkot, India |
| 16:55 | Q&A |
| 17:05–17:55 |
Session 5 – Epidemiology Chair: Tashmeeta Ahad |
| 17:05 | Introduction – Tashmeeta Ahad |
| 17:10 | Presentation Title TBC – Iltefat Hamzavi, Detroit, USA |
| 17:30 | Rethinking Skin Cancer Risk in Vitiligo: Evidence from a Meta-analysis, and Clinical Observations – Sanne Uitentuis, Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| 17:40 | Alopecia Areata in Vitiligo: Prevalence and Clinical Risk Factors in a Moroccan Cohort – Laila Benzekri, Rabat, Morocco |
| 17:50 | Q&A |
| 18:15–20:15 | WELCOME RECEPTION Perspectives Level, 34 Floor |
Saturday, August 15, 2026
| 07:00-18:00 | REGISTRATION OPEN | SPEAKER CENTRE OPEN Regency Foyer | Oxford Room |
| 08:00-09:00 | BREAKFAST AND POSTER VIEWING IN EXHIBIT HALL Regency AB |
| 08:00–17:30 | EXHIBITS OPEN Regency AB |
| 09:00–10:10 |
Session 6 – Surgical Treatment Chair: Sunil Kalia |
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09:00 |
Introduction – Sunil Kalia |
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09:05 |
Vitiligo Surgery Through the Years: From Tissue Transfer to Cellular Restoration – Davinder Parsad, Chandigarh, India |
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09:25 |
Residual Cytotoxic Immune Activity Predicts Repigmentation Outcomes After Suction Blister Epidermal Grafting in Stable Vitiligo – Chau Yee Ng, Taoyuan, Taiwan |
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09:35 |
Expanding Indications of Melanocyte Keratinocyte Transplantation Procedure: Efficacy in Non-vitiligo Leukodermas – Madhulika Mhatre, Mumbai, India |
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09:45 |
Efficacy of Skin Micrograft Suspension prepared by tissue lyser versus cryolysis using liquid nitrogen in The Treatment of Stable Resistant Vitiligo – Lamia Elgarhy, Tanta, Egypt |
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09:55 |
Efficacy and Long-Term Outcomes of Noncultured Epidermal Cell Suspension Grafting using Suction Blisters as Donor Tissue – Salma Villeda-Flores, Monterrey, Mexico |
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10:05 |
Q&A |
| 10:15–11:55 |
Session 7 – Basic Science Chair: Seemal Desai |
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10:15 |
Introduction – Seemal Desai |
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10:20 |
Recent progress in vitiligo pathogenesis – Flora Xiang, Beijing, China |
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10:40 |
miR-2909 impairs Mitochondria–Melanosome crosstalk to restrict melanogenesis through the Klf4– Mfn2–NCKX5 Axis – Hitaishi Kaushik, Chandigarh, India |
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10:50 |
Circulating and Resident Memory T Cells in Different Stages and Extents of Non Segmental Vitiligo – Iman Sany, Cairo, Egypt |
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11:00 |
Immune Cell Profiling Reveals Macrophage Dysregulation as a Pathogenic Driver and Therapeutic Target for Vitiligo – Youwen Zhou, Vancouver, Canada |
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11:10 |
Unilateral Peibaldism: presentation of two cases demonstrating a new subtype – Lamia Elgarhy, Tanta, Egypt |
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11:20 |
Glucose Transporter-1 (GLUT-1) Upregulation in Vitiligo: a Possible Link to Skin Depigmentation – Noha Tawfik, Ismailia, Egypt |
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11:30 |
An Update of ILDS/GLOVA+Atlases and WHA resolution – Henry W. Lim, Detroit, USA |
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11:50 |
Q&A |
| 12:00–13:00 | Sponsored Symposium – Incyte Pharmaceuticals Regency D |
| 12:00–13:00 | LUNCH AND POSTER VIEWING IN EXHIBIT HALL Regency AB |
| 13:05–13:45 |
Session 8 – Keynote Presentation: Ahmed M. Alissa Chair: Harvey Lui |
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13:05 |
Introduction – Harvey Lui |
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13:10 |
Comprehensive Medical and Surgical Care of Vitiligo – Ahmed M. Alissa, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
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13:40 |
Q&A |
| 13:50–15:40 |
Session 9 – Assessment of Vitiligo Severity, Impact & Therapeutic Response Chair: Tashmeeta Ahad |
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13:50 |
Introduction – Tashmeeta Ahad |
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13:55 |
Presentation Title TBC – Richard Huggins, Detroit, USA |
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14:15 |
Assessing genetic, phenotypic, and polygenic risk associations of autoimmune comorbidities in FinnGen patients with vitiligo – Iltefat Hamzavi, Detroit, USA |
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14:25 |
Dopamine level in urine and serum of stable non-segmental vitiligo patients before and after excimer light therapy – Reham Abdel Gaber, Assiut, Egypt |
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14:35 |
Prospective registry evaluating narrowband UVB phototherapy in non-segmental vitiligo patients – a study protocol – Marlide Jukema, Amsterdam, Netherlands |
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14:45 |
Patient-Reported Vitiligo Journey, Management, and Stigma in the U.S.: Findings from the National Health and Wellness Survey – Seemal Desai, Dallas, USA |
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14:55 |
Occupational Impairment and Job-Searching Difficulties in Patients with Vitiligo: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study – Ju Hee Han, Seoul, Korea |
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15:05 |
Caring through Sharing: Shared Decision-Making in the Treatment of Non-Segmental Vitiligo — A Cross-Cultural Exploratory Survey Study – Sanne Oord, Amsterdam, Netherlands |
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15:15 |
Measuring vitiligo in clinical practice: an international consensus study – Marlide Jukema, Amsterdam, Netherlands |
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15:25 |
Patient-Reported Vitiligo Journey, Management, and Stigma in China: Findings from the National Health and Wellness Survey – Leihong (Flora) Xiang, Beijing, China |
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15:35 |
Q&A |
| 15:40–16:10 | BREAK AND POSTER VIEWING IN EXHIBIT HALL Regency AB |
| 16:10–17:30 |
Session 10 – Phototherapy & Case Reports Chair: Iltefat Hamzavi |
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16:10 |
Introduction – Iltefat Hamzavi |
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16:15 |
Phototherapy in Vitiligo – Tasneem F. Mohammad, Detroit, USA |
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16:35 |
308nm excimer lamp combined infrared light therapy enhances pigment improvement of vitiligo: A retrospective split-body comparative study – Xinxin Li, Hangzhou, China |
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16:45 |
Phototherapy for vitiligo in the era of novel therapies: new combinations and emerging indications – Giovanni Leone, Rome, Italy |
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17:05 |
Non-invasive multimodal volumetric imaging of vitiligo with subcellular resolution – Zhenguo Wu, Vancouver, Canada |
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17:15 |
Vitiligo: Challenging Cultural Assumptions and Shaping Identity – Hamna Khuld, Mine Hill, USA |
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17:25 |
Q&A |
| 17:30–17:45 | VIC7 Closing Comments Regency C |
| 18:30–21:00 | VIC7 CLOSING DINNER [pre-purchased ticket required] Regency D |
Sunday, August 16, 2026
| 08:00-10:00 | REGISTRATION OPEN Regency Foyer |
| 08:00-09:00 | BREAKFAST AND POSTER VIEWING IN EXHIBIT HALL Regency AB |
| 08:00-10:15 | EXHIBITS OPEN Regency AB |
| 09:00–09:50 |
Session 11 – Late Breaking Abstracts Chair: Youwen Zhou |
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09:00 |
Introduction – Youwen Zhou |
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09:05 |
Using Artificial Intelligence to Develop Multilingual Children’s Educational Books for Vitiligo Awareness and Stigma Reduction – Noufal Raboobee, Durban, South Africa |
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09:15 |
Artificial Intelligence-Derived VASI for Point-of-Care Vitiligo Assessment: A Proof-of-Concept Validation Study – Tahirih Nasseri, Toronto, Canada |
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09:25 |
Evaluation of Clinical and Dermoscopic Features of Vitiligo Stability with Correlation to Serum Level of CXCL10 in Vitiligo Patient – Lamia Elgarhy, Tanta, Egypt |
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09:35 |
Efficacy Of Topical 2% Tofacitinib Versus 0.1% Tacrolimus In Patients Of Non-mucosal Vitiligo – A Hospital Based Double Blinded Randomised Controlled Trial – Kavita Swami, Gorakhpur, India |
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09:45 |
Q&A |
| 09:50-10:15 | BREAK AND POSTER VIEWING IN EXHIBIT HALL Regency AB |
| 10:15–12:00 |
Session 12 – TBC Chair: TBC |
| 12:45–15:45 | Pfizer Canada Advisory Board [by invitation] Balmoral |
Invited Speakers
Megan K. Levings, PhD
Professor, Department of Surgery and School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia
Canada Research Chair in Engineered Immune Tolerance
Director, Advanced Therapeutics Manufacturing Facility
Megan K. Levings, PhD
Session 2: Keynote Presentation
Regulatory T cells to induce immune tolerance
Professor, Department of Surgery and School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia
Canada Research Chair in Engineered Immune Tolerance
Director, Advanced Therapeutics Manufacturing Facility
Dr. Megan Levings is a Professor in the Department of Surgery and School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute.
Dr. Levings started her career through summer research projects with Dr. James Price, who was studying signalling pathways in drosophila. This experience sparked her interest in genetics and she subsequently pursued graduate training with Dr. John Schrader, in the genetics program at the University of British Columbia. Here she studied cytokine receptors and signalling pathways. After obtaining her PhD in 1998, she joined Dr. Maria Grazia Roncarolo’s lab in Milan, undertaking postdoctoral training in the area of immune regulation. During this time, she conducted pioneering work to define what we now know as regulatory T cells (Tregs), and showed their potential to be isolated and expanded for use as cellular therapy to stop harmful immune responses. Dr. Levings was recruited back to UBC in 2003, joining the Department of Surgery as a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Transplantation. Her lab has continued to advance research into Tregs, most recently using gene editing to re-direct cell specificity and enhance their function. Dr. Levings is also a leader in human immunology more generally, with work to define and optimize biomarkers in autoimmunity leading to mechanistic insight into disease pathogenesis and response to therapy. Dr. Levings is currently President Elect of the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies and has won numerous awards, including the 2020 YWCA Woman of Distinction, Science, Research & Technology, 2022 Simon Fraser University Outstanding Alumni award, 2022 UBC Faculty of Medicine Distinguished Researcher in the Basic/Foundational Science Category, and the 2025 Canadian Society for Immunology Cinader Award.
Dr. Joe Speaker #2, MD, FRCPC
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Dr. Joe Speaker #3, MD, FRCPC
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Dr. Joe Speaker #4, MD, FRCPC
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August 14 - 16, 2026
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Contact
For more information, please contact the Congress Secretariat, Simply Eventful Management
