The 61st ACLPS Annual Meeting will be held Thursday-Saturday, 28-30 May 2026, in St. Louis, MO. The program will feature cutting-edge research and informative practice topics at the forefront of laboratory medicine, presented by invited leaders in the field and dynamic young investigators. The meeting offers ample opportunities for networking with colleagues and showcases the work of trainees and investigators.
The Department of Pathology and Immunology at WashU Medicine is excited and honored to host the 2026 ACLPS Annual Meeting.
The meeting organizers are planning a program with presentations in multiple areas of laboratory medicine, including:
Clinical chemistry and toxicology
Clinical hematology and hematopathology
Clinical microbiology
Blood banking, transfusion medicine, and cellular therapy
Clinical immunology and HLA
Clinical laboratory genetics and genomics
Clinical informatics and digital pathology
CME will be available for registrants. More specific program information will be posted here soon.
Call for Abstracts
Submission website opens on December 15th!
Share your important work with your colleagues! Abstract submissions from trainees, faculty members, and other investigators are encouraged. Abstracts from trainees that are accepted will be given as either an oral or poster presentation:
Oral Presentation — Presented on May 29. Limited to exactly 10 minutes of PowerPoint presentation followed by 5 minutes for discussion and questions from the floor.
Poster Presentation — Presented during the Welcome Reception on May 28. Dimensions for printed scientific posters will be announced soon. Presenters are responsible for printing their posters and mounting them on the provided presentation boards.
Company or manufacturer emblems are NOT permitted in either type of presentation.
ACLPS Junior Faculty Abstract Awards
Junior Faculty Awards are granted to two faculty who are within 5 years of their initial appointment. Awardees will be invited to give a 15-minute plenary presentation on May 28. The award includes funds for meeting registration and travel. Submissions from those who are more than 5 years after completing their training or initial faculty appointment will be evaluated for poster presentations.
Paul E. Strandjord Young Investigator Awards
Residents, fellows, and doctoral students actively training in programs in the health sciences who have participated in research with a member of ACLPS, or who are sponsored by an ACLPS member, are considered eligible for the Paul E. Strandjord Young Investigator Award (YIA) Program. The award includes funds for meeting registration and travel. Non-doctoral students in health science programs who have conducted research with an ACLPS member, or who are sponsored by an ACLPS member, may also be considered for the Young Investigator Award.
To receive an award, the young investigator is required to be the presenter and still in training at the time of presentation at the annual meeting. A sponsoring ACLPS member is required to verify the eligibility of the young investigator.
Deadline for Receipt of Abstracts
The abstract submission deadline will be February 9, 2026. Notifications will be sent by March 31, 2026 as to whether an abstract has been accepted.
Questions about Abstracts and Junior Faculty Awards:
Tiffany Thomas, tt2254@cumc.columbia.edu
Local Meeting Hosts:
Ron Jackups, rjackups@wustl.edu
Chris Farnsworth, cwfarnsworth@wustl.edu
Program Planning and Support:
Ron Jackups, rjackups@wustl.edu
Over 250 researchers and clinicians are expected to attend ACLPS 2026. Attendees include MD and PhD clinical laboratory experts from leading academic medical centers as well as trainees from those programs. Registration will include conference materials, admission to exhibits, participation in conference sessions, breakfast, lunches, refreshment breaks, the welcome reception, and one ticket to the awards banquet. Additional guest tickets will be available for purchase separately by registrants.
2026 Registration Rates:
Registration rates will be posted here soon.
Meeting Venue: Hyatt Regency at the Arch
Located steps away from the Gateway Arch National Park, the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch is located downtown with easy access to the Old Courthouse, Busch Stadium, Enterprise Center, Union Station, and Kiener Plaza Park.
Hotels
Hyatt Regency at the Arch
Hyatt Regency at the Arch
315 Chestnut Street
St. Louis, MO 63102
(314) 655-1234
Special block discounted room rates available for ACLPS attendees until 5/6/2026
The Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch is a prominent hotel located in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, near the iconic Gateway Arch. It offers modern amenities, including spacious guest rooms, a fitness center, and various dining options. Its prime location provides easy access to key attractions such as Busch Stadium, the National Blues Museum, and the Old Courthouse.
Hilton Pennywell St. Louis at the Arch
400 Olive Street
St. Louis, MO 63102
1-314-436-0002
This is an additional hotel that is a 2-minute walk from the meeting venue.
Home2 Suites By Hilton St. Louis Downtown
Home2 Suites By Hilton Reservations
1221 Locust Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
1-314-916-0314
This is an additional hotel located about 0.8 miles away from the meeting venue.
Hotel Indigo St. Louis - downtown by ihg
501 Olive Street
St. Louis, MO 63101
1-314-732-4334
This is an additional hotel located about 0.2 miles away from the meeting venue.
St. Louis, Missouri
Meet us in St. Louis — where science, history, and hospitality meet at the Gateway Arch. Our meeting takes place in the heart of downtown, surrounded by walkable restaurants, music venues, and riverfront parks. Take in panoramic views from the top of the Gateway Arch, explore the Museum of Westward Expansion, or unwind at one of the many cafés and craft breweries nearby.
St. Louis isn’t just the Gateway to the West — it’s the gateway to discovery, collaboration, and a vibrant city experience that will surprise and inspire you.
Explore nearby St. Louis attractions
Gateway Arch National Park: Ride to the top of the 630-foot monument for sweeping city and river views. The surrounding park and Museum of Westward Expansion are steps from the hotel.
Old Courthouse: A landmark of American history and the site of the Dred Scott case — next door from the hotel.
Citygarden Sculpture Park: A free downtown park featuring contemporary art, fountains, and green space.
Ballpark Village & Busch Stadium: Catch the excitement of Cardinals baseball or enjoy rooftop dining and entertainment in this lively downtown district.
National Blues Museum: Interactive exhibits celebrating the legacy and influence of blues music — a short walk from the hotel.
Union Station & St. Louis Aquarium: A renovated train station with an aquarium, light show, giant Ferris wheel, and multiple restaurants.
Soulard Neighborhood: One of St. Louis’s oldest areas, known for jazz clubs, local pubs, and the historic Soulard Farmers Market.
Forest Park: A 1,300-acre urban park home to the Zoo, Art Museum, Science Center, and History Museum — most with free admission.
Missouri Botanical Garden: A 79-acre oasis featuring world-class plant collections and the serene Japanese Garden.
Representatives from industry and academia are invited to support the meeting and provide exhibits to help attendees stay current on trends and products, services, and research opportunities. The meeting venue will provide supporters ample opportunities for productive interactions with attendees. We greatly appreciate the contributions of supporters that will help make the 61st Annual Meeting possible!
2026 Conference Organizer and Supporter
Diamond Supporters
Platinum SupporterS
Gold Supporters
Silver Supporters
Bronze Supporters
2026 Prospectus
Download the 2026 Prospectus and Sponsor Agreement to explore supporter benefits available for the 61st Annual Meeting. Supporting and exhibiting are terrific ways to demonstrate commitment to the highest standards for laboratory medicine and make a lasting impression as a go-to partner for researchers and clinicians in the field.
Supporter Interest and Logistics:
Nikki Bircher, birchern@wustl.edu
Michele Goad, michele.goad@wustl.edu
Host: WashU Medicine
Founded in 1891, WashU Medicine in St. Louis has grown into a world-renowned leader in education, research, and patient care.
The Department of Pathology & Immunology brings together over 130 faculty, 55 residents and clinical fellows, and 70 postdoctoral researchers, uniting basic, translational, and clinical science to advance diagnostics and improve health. Faculty provide laboratory leadership across five hospitals, supporting system-wide quality and innovation. In 2024, the department received $67 million in total research funding and ranked #4 nationally in NIH funding ($39 million).
Within the department, the Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine (LGM)—founded in 1969—includes 46 primary faculty and 48 residents and fellows spanning chemistry, microbiology, molecular diagnostics, transfusion medicine, and informatics. LGM scientists lead pioneering work in biomarker discovery, antimicrobial resistance, host–microbiome interactions, immunometabolism, neurodegeneration, and machine learning. Notable faculty include Dr. Jack Ladenson, developer of cardiac troponin assays that transformed heart attack diagnosis, and Dr. Jeffrey Gordon, whose groundbreaking microbiome research has reshaped global understanding of nutrition and human health.
Together, LGM’s clinical faculty provide medical direction for several BJC HealthCare Laboratories, ensuring the highest standards of clinical excellence, education, and innovation across the St. Louis region.