WHIP 2022 Highlights
Keynote talks: There were three outstanding keynote talks. Dr. Tania Watts (University of
Toronto) discussed myeloid cell responses to inflammation. Dr. Boris Striepen (University of
Pennsylvania) provided outstanding new data the genetics of and host response to
Cryptosporidium parasites. Dr. Keke Fairfax (University of Utah) described her work on the role
of helminth infection at the maternal-fetal interface and how type 2 immunity impacts metabolism.
Career development panel: Dr. P'ng Loke (NIH), Dr. Keke Fairfax (University of Utah), Dr. Tiffany Reese (UT Southwestern) oversaw conversations with graduate students and postdocs focused on career-stage appropriate development.
Sponsorship: Generous support for the meeting was provided by the American Association of
Immunologists (AAI), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), the
American Society for Hygeine and Tropical Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania,the
International Cytokine and Interferon Society (ICIS), and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF).
BWF
BWF sponsored 13 travel awards, 3 virtual talk awards, 3 virtual poster presentation awards, and
2 virtual poster lightning talk awards.
ICIS Travel Award
AAI
AAI generously supported 3 in-person talk awards, 3 in-person poster presentation awards, and
2 in-person poster lightning talk awards.
AAI In-person Oral Presentation Award Recipients:
First Prize: Ryan Pardy (Postdoc) – University of Pennsylvania: The role of interferon-gamma
in resistance to Cryptosporidium infection.
Second Prize: Julia Alvarez (student) – UC Merced: Sugar modifications to the GPI regulate
Toxoplasma gondii virulence.
Third Prize: Edward Vizcarra (student) – UC Riverside: Understanding the effects of glutamate
on mGluR+ CD8 T cells recruited to the T. gondii infected brain.
AAI In-person Poster Presentation Award Recipients:
First Prize: Oyebola Oyesola (postdoc) – NIH/NIAID: Effect of genetics and environment on
immune composition and responsiveness in rewilded mice
Second Prize: Zachary Lanzar (student) – University of Pennsylvania: Impact of toxoplasma
gondii-induced crash on Treg homeostasis
Third Prize: Annabel Ferguson (student) – University of Pennsylvania: Hookworm adaptation
to Type 2 immune responses
AAI In-person Poster Lightning Talk Award Recipients:
Stephanie Orchanian (student) – UC Irvine: Deficiency in astrocyte CCL2 production reduces
immune cell infiltration and host defense in the CNS during chronic, but not acute, Toxoplasma
gondii infection.
Hannah Federman (student) – Rutgers University: Investigating the role of serotonin 2C in
regulating helminth-induced inflammation.
