Newsletter – Fall 2026

ImmunoReach Newsletter

Vol. 1 . Issue 1 . 2026

Fall 2026

FROM THE TEAM

Welcome to our Fall 2026 ImmunoReach newsletter!

The past few months have been an exciting and productive time for our community. We hosted a wonderful symposium in April, completed our themed publication on immunology education in Frontiers in Education, shared our work at the AAI 2026 Annual Meeting, welcomed new working group members, and celebrated another peer-reviewed publication. Thank you for your enthusiasm, collaboration, and commitment to advancing immunology education.

As you prepare for the fall semester, we hope the ideas, resources, and connections in this issue inspire your teaching and support your work. We wish you a wonderful start to the academic year!

With gratitude,

– The ImmunoReach Leadership Team

TEACHING TOOLKIT

🎯

Backward Design for Immunology

This evidence-based immunology learning framework can help instructors align foundational immunology statements with the Vision and Change core concepts for undergraduate life sciences. Designed to support backward course design, it provides a foundation for developing measurable learning outcomes, aligning assessments, and creating coherent, concept-driven immunology curricula.

Access the resource →

🛠️

ImmunoSkills Guide

Competencies and skills are essential for preparing students to think and work like immunologists. The ImmunoSkills Guide defines six core competencies and twenty illustrative skills that provide a framework for designing competency-based undergraduate immunology curricula. Instructors can use these competencies to guide backward course design, align assessments with learning goals, and develop active learning and hands-on laboratory experiences that build the practical skills students need for future careers.

Access the resource →

📋

IDE-A Rubric for Inclusive Immunology Education

Inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDE-A) are essential components of high-quality immunology education. This resource provides a practical rubric to help instructors evaluate and select immunology textbooks and course materials through an IDE-A lens, supporting more inclusive, equitable, and accessible learning environments for all students.

Access the resource →

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Enakshi Ghosh

Assistant Professor · Virginia Tech

Eco-Immunology Working Group

Dr. Ghosh studies how herbivorous insects interact with their environment, focusing on the ecological and evolutionary forces that shape their behavior, physiology, and immune status. She is a member of our eco-immunology working group and is developing a four-session immersive laboratory course that introduces students to immunology through authentic research using caterpillars as experimental model organisms.

“”One of the most rewarding aspects of ImmunoReach has been showing students that immunology extends far beyond vertebrates. Insects are powerful model systems that reveal fundamental principles of immunity while allowing students to ask real scientific questions through authentic research. My goal is for every student to leave the course not just understanding immunology but thinking like a scientist.” “

UPCOMING EVENTS

NOV. 19–21

ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators

Seattle, WA, USA

Learn more → Connect with us →

SPR. 2027

ImmunoReach Symposia

Spring 2027 · Online via Zoom ·

Learn more → Connect with us →

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Using Dynamic Model Building and Simulation to Understand Cytokines and the Adaptive Immune Response to Pathogens

CourseSource · 2026 · Skylar Dae Loecker, Rebekah Taylor, Sumali Pandey, Louis Justement, Tomáš Helikar

Read publication →

Introducing undergraduate students to human evolution through eco-immunology

Frontiers in Education · 2026 · Meena M Balgopal, Jennifer L Neuwald, Sumali Pandey

Read publication →

Strategies for navigating primary scientific literature in undergraduate immunology courses

Frontiers in Education · 2026 · Rachel J Bergerson, Holly A Basta, Sean T Coleman, Sumali Pandey

Read publication →

Get involved this fall

Join a working group, submit a teaching activity or simply connect with peers – ImmunoReach would love to hear from you!

Contact us

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