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Program

Fungal Dx 26

December 2-4, 2026 Bethesda, MD, USA & Online

A Hybrid Event

Fungal Dx 26: Bring together clinical, public health, and translational researchers to advance fungal diagnostics, address antifungal resistance, and drive innovation in diagnostic technologies.

Fungal Dx 26 | Dec 2–4, 2026 | Bethesda, MD, USA & Online

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Program – Day 1 (December 2, 2026)

 07:00 - 8.00 AM 

Registration

  08 - 8:30 AM 

Welcome and Opening Ceremony

Dr. Amir Seyedmousavi, Dr. Malcolm Richardson

08:30 - 10:00 AM 

Session 1: Epidemiology and Global Burden of Fungal Diseases. Chairs: Dr. John Bennett, Dr. Vania Vicente

  • Lecture 1. Epidemiology of fungal infections in normal and abnormal hosts, ICU patients, and children, underlying risk factors. Dr. Jennifer Cuellar-Rodriguez
  • Lecture 2. Global burden of fungal diseases (updates on Americas, African countries, Europe, and Asia). Dr. Malcolm Richardson
  • Lecture 3. Updates on Fungal nomenclature (medically important fungi)-WHO fungal priority list, emerging fungal pathogens. Dr. Shawn Lockhart
  • Selected Abstract & Case Discussion.

10:00 - 10:30 AM 

Comfort Break, Cookies, Coffee & Connect

10:00 AM - 12.00 PM 

  • Session 2: Superficial and Cutaneous Mycoses: Clinical Spectrum and Diagnostics. Chairs: Dr. June Kwon-Chung , Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum
  • Lecture 4. Dermatophyte Infections of the Skin, Hair, and Nails and Malassezia Infections. Dr. Amir Seyedmousavi
  • Lecture 5. Cutaneous Infections Caused by Zoonotic Dimorphics: Sporothrix brasiliensis. Dr. Flávio Queiroz Telles
  • Lecture 6. Diagnostic Workup for Mucocutaneous, Superficial, and Cutaneous Mycoses. Dr. Riina Richardson
  • Selected Abstract & Case Discussion

12:00 - 1:30 PM 

Lunch & Networking Break

Industry Exhibition Visits

Poster session


01:30 - 3.30 PM 

Session 3: Aspergillus Diseases: Clinical, Laboratory, and Radiologic Perspectives. Chairs: Dr. Henry Masur, Dr. Riina Richardson

  • Lecture 7. Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis vs. Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis, (CPA) & Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis. Dr. Darius Armstrong
  • Lecture 8. Diagnosing Aspergillosis in the Clinical Laboratory. Dr. Paul Verweij
  • Lecture 9. Radiologic Approaches to Diagnosing Aspergillosis and Other IFI. Dr. Dima Hammoud
  • Selected Abstract & Case Discussion

 0:30 -03:30 PM 

Comfort Break, Cookies, Coffee & Connect

03:30 - 5.00 PM 

Session 4: Cryptococcosis, Mucormycosis, and Rare Mold Infections. Chairs: Dr. Peter Williamson, Dr. Jennifer Cuellar-Rodriguez

  • Lecture 10. Cryptococcus and Cryptococcosis Antigen Tests and Multiplex PCRs. Dr. Cornelia Lass-Flörl
  • Lecture 11. Mucormycosis: Significance of Proper Specimen Processing for Direct Microscopic Evaluation. Dr. Arunaloke Chakrabarti
  • Lecture 12. Diagnostic Strategies for Rare Mold Infections—Fusarium, Scedosporium, and Lomentospora. Dr. Sharon Chen
  • Selected Abstract & Case Discussion

Global Health & Funding Agencies Symposium

Chairs: Dr. Amir Seyedmousavi, Dr. Malcolm Richardson

5.30 - 5.50 PM - Dr. Dona Love: National Institutes of Health (NIH) Support for Medical Mycology: Research Portfolio and Funding Opportunities

5.50 - 6.10 PM - Dr. Pilar Ramon-Pardo: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Program at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

6.10 - 6.30 PM - Q & A

7.0 - 8.30 PM - Welcome Reception (Open to All Participants)

Program – Day 2 (December 3, 2026)

 07:00 - 8.00 AM 

Registration

  08 - 8:30 AM 

Lecture 13. Diagnosis of histoplasmosis, blastomycosis and Coccidioides infection. Dr. Nathan Wiederhold

08:30 - 10:00 AM 

Session 5: Candida and Candidiasis: Diagnostic Strategies, Emerging Challenges, and Surveillance. Chairs: Dr. Paul Verweij, Dr. David Andes

  • Lecture 14. Diagnostic Approaches for Candida and Invasive Candidiasis in ICU and Other Clinical Settings. Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum
  • Lecture 15. Testing for Candida auris colonization screening. Dr. Sudha Chaturvedi
  • Lecture 16. MALDI-TOF in Fungal Identification – Benefits and Limitations. Dr. Darius Armstrong
  • Selected Abstract & Case Discussion

10:00 - 10:30 AM 

Comfort Break, Cookies, Coffee & Connect

10:00 AM - 12.00 PM 

Session 6: Fungal immunodiagnostics, Antifungal Therapies, Antifungal Resistance. Chairs: Dr. Christa Zerbe, Dr. Amir Seyedmousavi

  • Lecture 17. Antifungal Host Defenses and diagnostics — host stratification based on deficiency or genetic factors. Dr. Mihalis Lionakis
  • Lecture 18. Antifungals and their mechanisms of action: currently available and new antifungal drugs. Dr. Martin Hönigl
  • Lecture 19. Antifungal Susceptibility/Resistance Testing, Phenotypic and Genotypic Methods, EUCAST vs. CLSI. Dr. Nathan Wiederhold
  • Selected Abstract & Case Discussion

12:00 - 1:30 PM 

Lunch & Networking Break

Industry Exhibition Visits

Poster session


01:30 - 3.30 PM 

Session 7: Diagnostic Stewardship, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, and Resource-Limited Approaches. Chairs: Dr. Hooman Azmi, Dr. Mihalis Lionakis

  • Lecture 20. Stewardship in Fungal Diagnostics—Pre-Test Probabilities and Selecting Appropriate Situations for Testing. Dr. Lewis White
  • Lecture 21. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Antifungals: Assessing Drug Levels. Dr. David Andes
  • Lecture 22. Case Studies and Practical Diagnostic Approaches in Resource-Limited Settings. Dr. Rita Oladale
  • Selected Abstract & Case Discussion

 0:30 -03:30 PM 

Comfort Break, Cookies, Coffee & Connect

03:30 - 5.00 PM 

Session 8: Fungal Molecular Testing and Novel Diagnostic Assays in Development. Chairs: Dr. Juan Banacloche. Dr. Vania Vicente

  • Lecture 23. Fungal molecular testing, and how to use next-generation sequencing in diagnostic laboratories. Dr. Niaz Banaei
  • Lecture 24. Next-Generation Sequencing in Detecting Nosocomial Infections, Antifungal Resistance, and Novel Taxonomic Designations. Dr. Amir Seyedmousavi
  • Lecture 25. A Living Yeast Biosensor for Rapid Diagnosis of Pathogenic Fungi. Dr. Virginia Cornish
  • Selected Abstract & Case Discussion

Industry Symposium: Clinically Available Fungal Diagnostics and Novel Antifungals in Development.

Chairs: Dr. Amir Seyedmousavi, Dr. Malcolm Richardson

5.30 - 5.50 PM - IMMY Diagnostics. Dr. Tom Chiller

5.50 - 6.10 PM - MiraVista Diagnostics. Dr. Nicolas Barros

6.10 - 6.30 PM - Zepto Life Technology. Dr. Tiffany Huwe

6.30 - 6.50 PM -Basilea Pharmaceutica. Dr. William Stubbings.

6.50 - 7.00 PM - Q & A

7.30 - 9.30 PM - Faculty Dinner (Invitation Only)

Program – Day 3 (December 4, 2026)

 07:00 - 8.00 AM 

Registration

  08 - 8:30 AM 

Fungal Diagnostics Award Ceremony

  1. Basic Science Award
  2. Clinical Diagnostics Award

08:30 - 10:00 AM 

Session 9: Histopathology of Fungal Disease and Laboratory Identification of Molds and Yeasts. Chair. Dr. Lewis White, Dr. Saman Hosseini

  • Lecture 26. Histopathology of Fungal Diseases. Dr. Henrik Jensen
  • Lecture 27. Routine mycology laboratory workups (Yeast vs. Molds, Diagnostics vs. Surveillance). Hein van der Lee
  • Selected Abstract & Case Discussion

10:00 - 10:30 AM 

Comfort Break, Cookies, Coffee & Connect

10:00 AM - 12.00 PM 

Session 10: Fungal Surveillance, Outbreak Investigations, and Environmental Health. Chair: Dr. Malcolm Richardson, Dr. Flavio Queiroz Telles   

  • Lecture 28. Fungal Surveillance for Hospital and Environmental Health. Dr. Malcolm Richardson
  • Lecture 29. Role of diagnostic laboratories in outbreak investigation- Aspergillus flavus. Dr. Maiken Arendrup
  • Lecture 30. Hospital outbreaks with fluconazole-resistant Candida parapsilosis. Dr. Jesús Guinea
  • Selected Abstract & Case Discussion

12:00 - 1:30 PM 

Lunch & Networking Break

Industry Exhibition Visits

Poster Session

Post Congress Workshop (A Hybrid Event)

Workshop: Diagnostic Mycology in Veterinary Practice & One Health

December 4, 2026, 1:00–5:30 PM

This Post-Congress workshop is organized in collaboration with the ISHAM-Veterinary Mycology & One Health Working Group (www.vetmyco.com).

What to expect: 

This half-day, lecture-based scientific and educational workshop is designed for PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, veterinarians, veterinary and medical mycologists/microbiologists, veterinary pathologists, and scientists from academia or industry who are working—or wish to work—in the field of Veterinary Mycology. The program aims to enhance participants’ knowledge and understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of fungal infections in animals.

Workshop objectives: 

The workshop will provide a comprehensive and detail-oriented primer or refresher on current approaches, challenges, and solutions in the diagnosis and management of fungal diseases in animals. Topics will include antifungal susceptibility testing and resistance mechanisms. In addition, participants will gain insight into the epidemiology of mycoses in domestic and wild animals, as well as the importance of laboratory screening and infection prevention from a One Health perspective.

Workshop Director: Dr. Amir Seyedmousavi

01:00 - 3:00 PM 

Workshop Session 1: Fungal Diseases in Animals - Clinical Spectrum, Emerging Threats, and One Health Implications. Chairs: Dr. Amir Seyedmousavi, Dr. Vania Vicente

  • Lecture 31. Overview of fungal infections in animals. Classification of mycoses, relative importance, clinical manifestations. Dr. Amir Seyedmousavi
  • Lecture 32. White-nose Syndrome in bats & amphibian chytridiomycosis. Dr. Jacques Guillot
  • Lecture 33. Dermatophytoses & Melanized Fungi in animals. Dr. Jane Sykes
  • Lecture 34. Aspergillosis and Cryptococcosis in animals. Dr. Melissa Xavier

3:00 - 3:30 PM 

Comfort Break, Cookies, Coffee & Connect

3:30 - 5.30 PM 

Workshop Session 2: Zoonotic and Endemic Fungal Infections in Animals - From Clinical Recognition to Laboratory Diagnosis. Chair: Dr. Henrik Jensen, Dr. Jane Sykes     

  • Lecture 35. Feline sporotrichosis, an emerging zoonotic threat. Dr. Flavio Queiroz Telles
  • Lecture 36. Endemic Dimorphs, and Paracoccidioidomycosis ceti in animals. Dr. Eduardo Bagagli
  • Lecture 37. Fungal serodiagnostics in animals. Dr. Andrew Hanzlicek
  • Lecture 38. Diagnostic Mycology in Veterinary Practice (Laboratory identification of veterinary relevant yeasts and moulds). Hein Van Der Lee

5:30 - 6:00 PM 

Conclusion of Event