We’re thrilled to welcome you to the world’s largest gathering dedicated to pulmonary fibrosis!
Whether this is your first Summit or you’ve joined us before, we’re so grateful to have you here with us in the vibrant city of Chicago this fall. This event brings together patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and advocates from across the country—and beyond—to learn, connect, and inspire one another. Your presence here helps drive our shared mission forward, and we can’t wait to spend the next few days together.
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Dine & Delight Networking Night 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (Friday night only!)
Exhibit Hall Hours
Visit the Exhibit Hall to meet with industry representatives, medical centers, and patient advocacy organizations.
Thursday 12:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The Program
You are welcome to attend any session you’d like, unless it’s noted as a closed session. If you’re not sure what to attend, we’ve made color-coded reccommendations on each session. Use the legend below to help you plan your Summit experience!
Patients Caregivers Lung transplant recipient
Lost a loved one
Healthcare professionals & researchers
Thursday sessions x
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
ILD in Practice: An Immersive Day for Community Pulmonologists and Fellows
Earn CME, CE, and MOC credit at PFF Summit!
This is a closed session designed for healthcare providers only. A separate registration is required in order to attend.
View the program here!
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Nurse and Allied Health Network (NAHN)
EARN CE credit at PFF Summit! This is a closed session designed for healthcare providers only. A separate registration is required in order to attend.
View the program here!
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Beyond the Scars & PFF
Summit Lunchtime Program
Location: Chicago X
Speakers: Boehringer Ingelheim’s Lungs&You Patient Mentors; Bernie Williams; Jennifer M. Dixon-Johnson, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-BC
Join us on Thursday, November 13 for a special educational session featuring New York Yankees legend and Latin Grammy nominee, Bernie Williams. Williams, who lost his father to interstitial lung disease (ILD), will be joined by Boehringer Ingelheim’s Lungs&You Patient Mentors who are living with ILD, to share stories, speak to the emotional burden of ILD, and share how they’ve learned to embrace life beyond the scars of their diagnosis.
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Seasoned nurse and nurse practitioner who brings a vast amount of personal and professional experience in dealing with chronic illnesses and the aftermath of receiving life-changing diagnoses, Jennifer M. Dixon-Johnson, will moderate the conversation. With over 20 years of experience, she looks forward to facilitating the discussion.
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Welcome to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation and pulmonary fibrosis 101
Location: Chicago IX
Session Chair: Tejaswini Kulkarni, MD, MPH
Speakers: Scott Staszak; Amy Hajari Case, MD; Carla Copeland, MD
• Who we are: An introduction to the PFF
• Pulmonary fibrosis 101: A beginner’s guide
• Alphabet soup: Understanding ILD terminology and abbreviations
For information on all of the PFF’s resources, please visit the Resources Desk located on the promenade on the main conference level.
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Driving research and improving care: The PFF Registry and Care Center
• R – Reliable resources: The dos and don’ts in navigating information and resources
WelcomeReception
Thursday | 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Kick off the Summit in style at our Welcome Reception & Poster Presentation where science, community, and conversation come together! Enjoy hearty hors d’oeuvres and cocktails as you mingle with friends and colleagues and connect with some of the brightest minds in PF research. and Poster Presentation
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The exhibit hall will be lined with cuttingedge scientific posters, each staffed by the researcher who helped to create it. This is your chance to walk right up, ask questions, and hear the science explained directly from the experts themselves — no lectures, no barriers, just open conversation.
As the evening unfolds, we’ll celebrate discovery with the Poster Awards Ceremony. Ten outstanding posters will receive special recognition—and the winning poster’s researcher will present their work in a dedicated conference session on Saturday. It’s more than an opening reception. It’s your front-row seat to the future of PF research, paired with a warm welcome to the PF community. Come curious, leave inspired.
Friday sessions
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Plenary Session
25 Years in Clinical Trials: Celebrating achievements, key learnings, and advancing care
• Interpreting the numbers: Understanding pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and their results
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Research in the pipeline: What might the next 25 years hold? Location: Chicago IX
Session Chair: Murali Ramaswamy, MD
Speakers: Cathryn T. Lee, MD, MS; Imre Noth, MD
• The next chapter: Emerging research in ILD
• Decoding disease: The role of biomarkers in ILD and pulmonary fibrosis
• Your role in discovery: What to know about clinical trial participation
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
In it together: Conversations and resources for caregivers, advocates, and family
Location: Chicago VIII
Session Chair: Lanier O’Hare, PhD, CRNP
Speakers: Bridget A. Graney, MD; Julie Rossignol; Rick Tidwell; Brandi Ellis
• The evolution of caregiving: Key advancements over the last 25 years
◊ Community resources to help care for your loved one: Respite care, Meals on Wheels, and more
◊ Social acceptance of counseling and support groups
◊ Technological advancements: smartphones and apps
• Perspectives from the caregivers: Three personal stories of dedication and compassion
• Conversations and connections: Audience interactive discussion about caregiving facilitated by the panel
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Genetics and genetic testing: A new standard of care
Location: Sheraton IV-V
Session Chairs: Joyce Lee, MD; Chad A. Newton, MD
Speakers: Chad A. Newton, MD; Jeremy Katzen, MD; Janet Talbert, MS, CGC
• The cutting edge of precision medicine in ILD: What’s hot, what’s new
• Exploring the evidence: Genetic testing in ILD – friend or foe?
• Navigating the conversation: How to counsel patients during the genetic testing process
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Differentiating PPF from IPF: Lessons learned from the last 25 years and what we hope to learn in the next quarter century
Location: Chicago VI-VII
Session Chair: Justin Oldham, MD, PhD
Speakers: Kevin Flaherty, MD; Justin Oldham, MD, PhD; John S. Kim, MD, MS
• From IPF to PPF: The evolution of how we define and distinguish IPF from PPF
◊ How we began
◊ Where we are now
◊ What we need to know for the future of fibrosis care
12:15 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Clinical Trial Innovation Series
Lunch included!
Location: Chicago VI-VII
Featuring: Boehringer Ingelheim; Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.; MAVRIC-IPF; United Therapeutics
The popular Clinical Trial Innovation Series returns! In this session, enjoy lunch while learning about the latest developments in clinical trials for those living with pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease.
The PFF does not endorse the companies or its trials, and views expressed during the event may notreflect the views of the PFF.
• Fueling fragile lungs: The critical role of nutrition in advanced lung disease
• Pulmonary rehab in practice: Evidencebased gains in function and quality of life
• Mental health matters: Strategies for management and care
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The power of many: Leveraging multi-omics for next-gen personalized medicine
Location: Sheraton IV-V
Session Chair: Aparna Swaminathan, MD, MHS
Speakers: Sonye K. Danoff, MD, PhD; Manoj Maddali, MD, MS; Jonathan A. Kropski, MD; Stephen Humphries, PhD
• From patients to people: The rise of personomics in personalized healthcare
• The power of proteins: Driving precision medicine with proteomic insight
• Clinicalomics uncovered: Making sense of multidimensional patient data
• The image speaks: Harnessing radiomics for precision diagnostics
Dine and Delight NetworkingNight
Friday: 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Hosted by Broadway star and PFF Board member, Julie Halston!
Before you head out to explore Chicago’s nightlife scene, join your PFF Summit community for an evening designed just for you. The Dine & Delight Networking Night is your chance to relax, connect, and celebrate with fellow attendees in a warm, welcoming setting. The evening is hosted by Broadway star and PFF Board member, Julie Halston!
Enjoy a complimentary dinner featuring a variety of flavors, paired with live entertainment that sets the perfect tone for community. The evening brings together speakers, guests, and members of the PF community to share stories, laughter, and inspiration.
This isn’t just a meal; it’s a moment. A chance to build meaningful connections, continue important conversations, and create memories with people who understand the journey. Whether you’re here to network, to unwind, or to simply enjoy the company, Dine & Delight offers the perfect close to your conference day.
Saturday sessions
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Plenary Session
HOPE for tomorrow: Emerging from the past and heading into the future
Location: Sheraton-Chicago IV-VII
Ballroom
Session Chair: Mary E. Strek, MD
Keynote speaker: James Fraser, PhD
Speakers: Jessica E. Shore, PhD, RN; Kevin Flaherty, MD; Nicholas Banovich, PhD; Susan Jacobs, MS, RN; Harold Collard, MD, MS
• Welcome! Daily remarks and announcements
• PFF Registry: Past lessons, present impact, future promise
• KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Unlocking the future: How Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming pre-clinical drug discovery
• Harnessing multi-omics: How molecular diagnostics is shaping the future of medicine
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• Legislative advocacy in a changing climate: Challenges, progress, and hope for the future
• Live panel discussion and audience Q&A
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Exposed! Understanding the hidden triggers and management of exposurerelated ILDs
Location: Chicago VIII
Session Chair: Jennifer Wescoe Singley, M.Ed., NCC
Speakers: Bhavika Kaul, MD, MAS; Mary Porteous, MD; Cathryn T. Lee, MD, MS
• What are exposure-related ILDs? Causes and key consideration
• Resources for Veterans: What is out there and how to obtain
• Am I at risk? How to recognize if you have exposure-related ILD and taking steps to limit further exposure
• Science in motion: Innovations in symptom management in ILD
• Innovations in advanced therapeutics and what lies ahead
• Transforming ILD care: Innovations in precision medicine and the road ahead
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Research in the pipeline: Paving the way for tomorrow’s breakthroughs
Local: Chicago VI-VII
Session Chair: Mitchell Olman, MD, MA
Speakers: Ksenija Bernau, PhD; Rebecca Anna Gersten, MD; Peter H. Schafer, PhD;
Poster presentation winner
• Shaping the future: PFF Scholars making an impact
• Collaborative breakthroughs: The latest updates from the PROLIFIC Research Consortium
• Spotlight on Excellence: Presenting the winning poster’s research
12:15 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Clinical Trial Innovation Series
Lunch included!
Location: Chicago VI-VII
Featuring: Avalyn Pharma; Insmed; Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
The popular Clinical Trial Innovation Series returns! In this session, enjoy lunch while learning about the latest developments in clinical trials for those living with pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease.
The PFF does not endorse the companies or its trials, and views expressed during the event may not reflect the views of the PFF.
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Comprehensive medical care: Managing common medical conditions that often occur with
PF
Location: Chicago X
Session Chair: Harold Collard, MD, MS
Speakers: Lori Reed, NP-C; Paul Wolters, MD; Margaret Salisbury, MD
• Understanding symptoms: Identifying and managing them effectively
• The evaluation process for conditions related to PF: Why it matters and how it guides treatment
• Medical conditions in focus:
◊ Pulmonary hypertension (PH)
◊ Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
◊ Sleep apnea (OSA)
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Stronger together: Benefits of a comprehensive support system
