Team Telomere Scientific Summit 2026: A River Runs Through Advocacy and Research
Team Telomere invites you to the Team Telomere Scientific Summit 2026: A River Runs Through Advocacy and Research, taking place July 7 to 10, 2026, in Missoula, Montana.
This dynamic convening brings together clinicians, researchers, advocates, and community leaders from around the world to explore the evolving landscape of Telomere Biology Disorders (TBDs). Like the rivers that shape the Missoula Valley, this Summit centers on the interconnected flow between discovery, clinical care, advocacy, and lived experience – all moving us toward improved diagnosis, management, and treatments.
Our mission is rooted in accelerating the medical and scientific community’s research in finding causes, effective treatments, and a path towards a cure. This is an exciting and opportunistic time in the research of Telomere Biology Disorders. The medical and research advancements in this field over the past decade have been exponential, directly impacting the management and treatment of patients. In tandem, advocacy has paved the way for heightened awareness, education, patient-driven research, and collaboration.
The Team Telomere Scientific Summit 2026 will build on this momentum by addressing emerging priorities, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and uniting an international community committed to advancing TBD care. We are excited to welcome you to Missoula.
Scientific Summit Highlights include:
- An international scientific convening open to TBD researchers and clinicians, bringing together experts across disciplines, career stages, and geographic regions
- Over 25 hours of dynamic sessions, panels, and collaborative discussions
- Intentional integration of patient and family perspectives, with crossover opportunities with the Community Summit
- Poster Session featuring both standard scientific posters and lay-summary posters for patient families
- Keynote speaker (to be announced)
- Thursday evening Community Celebration & Award Ceremony
- Opportunities to extend your stay and explore the scenic beauty and recreation Montana has to offer
Agenda
Each session at the Scientific Summit is uniquely designed to reflect the needs of our community and provide a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration and learning. Sessions will be tailored to encompass a broad spectrum of topics and will actively work to facilitate insightful discussions.
Areas of focus for the Scientific Summit are as follows:
- Pulmonary & Lung Transplantation
- Hematologic & Cancer
- Hepatology & Gastroenterology
- Overlooked Manifestations: Reproductive Health & Bone
- Overlooked Manifestations: Vascular & Mucocutaneous
- Family Planning & Genetic Counseling
- Emerging Field Innovations and Advancements
- Advocacy as the Current
The complete agenda for each session will be available upon finalization of speakers and topics.
Organizers
Dr. Kasiani Myers + Dr. Chris Reilly + Dr. Mary Beth Scholand + Katie Barrett Stevens
Submit Your Abstract Today!
Team Telomere is delighted to invite attendees to submit abstracts for consideration at the Scientific Summit. This summit serves as a premier platform for the exchange of cutting-edge research and advancements in the field of Telomere Biology Disorder.
All selected abstracts will be presented as a poster presentation. For the poster presentation session, there will be two versions of the poster presented by the first author: 1) Standard poster to be presented to the summit scientific audience and 2) Lay summary poster to be presented to patient families. Additional details regarding the format of the posters will be provided following notification of abstract acceptance.
A select number of abstracts will be invited to speak at the summit.
Abstract submissions are now open and close April 7, 2026 at 5:00 pm ET.
Questions regarding abstracts should be directed to meetings@teamtelomere.org.
Registration
The cost of registration includes:
- Access to all educational sessions and poster session and recordings post meeting
- Meals for opening session, breakfast, lunch, and dinner* (*Dinner Wednesday night is on your own to enjoy downtown Missoula)
- Activity programming opportunities, including interfacing with the community
- Conference swag
- Digital and printed conference material
- Ticket to Team Telomere’s annual Community Celebration & Award Ceremony held on Thursday
Registration closes May 8th, 2026 at 5pm ET or when capacity is reached.
Questions regarding registration should be directed to meetings@teamtelomere.org.
Lodging Information
The Scientific Summit will be held in Missoula, Montana. Attendees should fly into Missoula Montana Airport (MSO). Shuttles to and from the airport and hotel will be provided by Team Telomere. More details will be provided to registered attendees.
A room block is available at: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Missoula – Edgewater. Registered attendees will receive booking details and the room block code upon registration. Once the room block is filled, additional lodging options with partner hotels will be provided.
Join us!
Here is what participants in Team Telomere’s previous scientific convenings have said:
“All my prior contact with [TBD] families had been through their samples, genomic data, or stories shared by the physicians who see them in the clinic. This was the first time that I had the chance to talk with them in person, get to know how this condition really impacts their lives, and get a perspective that you do not get from a lab.It was also a great opportunity to touch base with a lot of the big names in the field, and we have already organized several follow up zoom calls to discuss collaborations and share resources.”
“[I] was very impressed … by the sense of community and genuine care and intellectual curiosity that everyone projected. I really hope that together we can find better treatments and can reach to all the patients/providers and caregivers that need us.”
We look forward to seeing you at the Team Telomere Scientific Summit 2026: A River Runs Through Advocacy and Research!