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ForwardAIM 2026 Physician and Investigator Conference
The American Initiative in Mast Cell Diseases (AIM) invites physicians, researchers, and allied healthcare providers specializing in mastocytosis and related mast cell diseases to attend the 2026 AIM Physician and Investigator Conference, scheduled for May 16–17, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with an option for virtual participation. This two-day educational activity will highlight the latest scientific and clinical discoveries in mast cell diseases, including advancements in diagnosis, treatment, and care, as well as cutting-edge research and emerging therapies. The program will feature a distinguished roster of world-renowned experts presenting on topics such as:
- Updated classification and diagnostic criteria • Mast cell activation and molecular biology
- Clinical heterogeneity and symptom presentation across specialties
- Novel therapeutic approaches and clinical trials • Integration of artificial intelligence in mast cell disease research
- Patient-centered care and quality of life considerations
Given the rare and complex nature of mast cell diseases, this conference aims to address educational and professional practice gaps. These include limited provider awareness, diagnostic challenges, fragmented care delivery, and insufficient interdisciplinary collaboration. The 2026 AIM Physician and Investigator Conference is designed to foster a multidisciplinary network of healthcare professionals and researchers, promoting shared learning and collaboration across fields such as allergy/immunology, hematology, pathology, dermatology, gastroenterology, and psychology. Participants will leave the conference better equipped to recognize, diagnose, and manage mast cell diseases, apply updated guidelines, engage in collaborative research, and improve patient outcomes through evidence-based and innovative approaches.
Target Audience
- Physicians
- Researchers
- Healthcare Providers
- Patient Advocacy Organizations
- Nurses
- Physician Assistants
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Recognize the clinical heterogeneity of mast cell diseases and identify key signs and symptoms across multiple specialties to improve early detection and diagnosis
- Apply updated diagnostic criteria and classification systems to more accurately diagnose and categorize mast cell disorders
- Integrate emerging research and therapeutic strategies into clinical practice, including novel treatments, clinical trial data, and translational science developments
- Collaborate across multiple disciplines such as allergy/immunology, hematology, pathology, dermatology, gastroenterology, and psychology to enhance patient care and research outcomes
- Address patient-centered challenges including quality of life, access to care, and psychosocial impacts, using evidence based and empathetic approaches
- Utilize advanced tools and technologies, including artificial intelligence, to support diagnostic decision-making and research in mast cell disease
- Increase their ability to advocate for patients with mast cell disease by promoting awareness, education, and multidisciplinary collaboration within healthcare systems and professional communities
The information disclosed by the speakers and planning committee was reviewed in accordance with the AAAAI Disclosure Policy. All potential conflicts of interest were resolved by the planners, faculty, and reviewers prior to their participation in the development of this activity.
Planning Committee
Cem Akin, MD PhD FAAAAI
University of Michigan
Relevant Relationships: tbd
Melody C. Carter, MD FAAAAI
National Institutes of Health/NIAID/LAD
Relevant Relationships: None
Mariana C. Castells, MD PhD FAAAAI
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Relevant Relationships: None
Shona L. Darin
Steppe Solutions
Relevant Relationships: None
Tracy I. George, MD
University of Utah School of Medicine
Relevant Relationships: Blueprint Medicines, Cogent Biosciences (Consultant)
Jason Gotlib
Stanford University School of Medicine
Relevant Relationships: tbd
Laura Olech
Steppe Solutions
Relevant Relationships: None
Melanie G. Mitchell, NA
ARUP Laboratories
Relevant Relationships: None
Faculty
Hussein Abbas
Relevant Relationships: tbd
Manar Mohammad Abdalgani, MD
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Relevant Relationships: None
Cem Akin, MD PhD FAAAAI
University of Michigan
Relevant Relationships: None
Cecilia Arana Yi, MD, MSHS, FACP
Mayo Clinic
Relevant Relationships: tbd
Michel Arock, PharmD PhD
AP-HP
Relevant Relationships: Thermo Fisher (Advisory Board); AB Sciences, Blueprint Medicines (Consultant)
Nathan A. Boggs, MD
Uniformed Services University
Relevant Relationships: Blueprint Medicines, Cogent Biosciences, Trio Health (Consultant)
Sigurd Broesby-Olsen, MD
Department of Dermatology and Allergy Centre, Odense University Hospital
Relevant Relationships: None
Melody C. Carter, MD FAAAAI
National Institutes of Health/NIAID/LAD
Relevant Relationships: None
Nana Adjoa Dankyi, MBChB, PhD
H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
Relevant Relationships: None
Melanie C. Dispenza, MD PhD FAAAAI
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Relevant Relationships: Blueprint Medicines (Advisory Board); Novartis, Nurix Therapeutics (Consultant)
Melanie K. Donahue, MD
University of Michigan
Relevant Relationships: None
Matthew P. Giannetti, MD
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Relevant Relationships: None
Jason Gotlib
Stanford University School of Medicine
Relevant Relationships: tbd
Theo Gulen, MD
Karolinska University Hospital
Relevant Relationships: None
Karin Hartmann, MD
University of Luebeck; University Hospital Basel
Relevant Relationships: tbd
Simon P. Hogan, PhD
University of Michigan
Relevant Relationships: None
Laura R. Hoyt, PhD
Yale University
Relevant Relationships: None
Anthony M. Hunter, MD
Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
Relevant Relationships: None
Chris L. Kepley, PhD
University of North Carolina Greensboro; Liberty University
Relevant Relationships: None
Stephanie Lee
Relevant Relationships: tbd
Peng Li, CME
University of Utah
Relevant Relationships: None
Johannes Lübke, MD
University Hospital Mannheim
Relevant Relationships: None
Jonathan Lyons, MD
UCSD Allergy & Immunology
Relevant Relationships: None
Luke Maese, DO
University of Utah
Relevant Relationships: Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Servier Pharmaceuticals (Consultant)
Tornike Mamuladze
Wustl
Relevant Relationships: None
Irina Maric, MD
National Institutes of Health
Relevant Relationships: None
Jeremy C. McMurray, MD
U.S. Army
Relevant Relationships: Cogent Biosciences (Advisory Board)
Alberto Orfao, MD PhD
University of Salamanca
Relevant Relationships: BluePrint Medicines (Advisory Board); BluePrint Medicines (Research Grant)
Thanai Pongdee, MD FAAAAI
Mayo Clinic
Relevant Relationships: None
Deepti Radia
Relevant Relationships: tbd
Elisabeth Rebboah
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Relevant Relationships: None
Lindsay Rein, MD
Duke
Relevant Relationships: None
Andreas Reiter
Relevant Relationships: tbd
Anton Rets, Physician
University of Utah
Relevant Relationships: Biosciences (Speaker)
Gigia Roizen
Clinica Alemana De Santiago
Relevant Relationships: None
Brandon Schornack, DO
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Relevant Relationships: None
Nadine Serhan
Mount Sinai
Relevant Relationships: None
Frank Siebenhaar, PD MD
Institute of Allergology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Relevant Relationships: None
Benjamin D. Solomon, MD PhD
Stanford University
Relevant Relationships: None
Brent Tan, MD
Stanford
Relevant Relationships: None
Tsewang Tashi, MD
Relevant Relationships: tbd
Peter Valent, MD
University of Vienna
Relevant Relationships: tbd
Katherine Walsh
Relevant Relationships: tbd
Content Review
TBD
AAAAI DISCLOSURE POLICY
Pursuant to the Code of Ethics for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) and the Standards for Commercial Support of Continuing Medical Education of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the AAAAI requires disclosure of certain information from faculty members of educational activities designated for CME credit by the AAAAI. Prior to the activity, authors and reviewers are required to disclose all relationships that meet the following parameters
- Employment: Name of employer and job title.
- Financial interests: All organizations, other than the employer, from which the faculty member or a member of his/her immediate family or household receives annual remuneration in any amount (including grants, honoraria and consulting fees).
- Research interests: All organizations which support research projects for which the faculty member or member of his/her immediate family or household serves as an investigator.
- Legal Consultation Services/Expert Witness Testimony: All topics on which the faculty member provided legal consultation and/or expert witness testimony during the previous calendar year.
- Organizational interests: All organizations, other than the AAAAI, for which the faculty member holds volunteer positions.
- Gifts: All organizations from which the faculty member or a member of his/her immediate family or household have received a gift of any amount in the last year.
- Other interests: All interests of the faculty member or a member of his/her immediate family or household that would be judged by a majority of his/her peers to be more than casual and/or likely to impact his/her ability to exercise independent judgment. This includes any financial interest in or relationship with any manufacturer of a commercial product, and any financial interest or relationship with any organization that provides commercial support to AAAAI-sponsored educational activities.
Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of AAAAI and the American Initiative in Mast Cell Diseases. The AAAAI is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Designation Statement
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology designates this live activity for a maximum of 11.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Credit Claiming Period
Credit claiming for this activity will expire at 11:59 pm on May 15, 2027. Requests to claim credit on or after May 16, 2027 will be subject to an administrative fee.
Medium and Method of Physician Participation for a Live Activity
Follow these steps to complete the activity:
- Register for the activity.
- Review the CME and Disclosure information.
- Attend the meeting. Be sure to get the 'attendance code' from the meeting organizers.
- Log onto the event page and enter the attendance code.
- Complete the Conference Evaluation
- Claim your credits. Enter only the number of credits earned based on your participation in the activity.
- Print or save your certificate.
Credit claiming questions should be directed to [email protected]
Available Credit
- 11.00 AttendanceAttendance credit.
- 11.00 CMECME credit.
Price
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