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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) will convene the 2026 Laboratory Response Network for Biological Threats Preparedness (LRN-B) in San Antonio, TX on September 1-3, 2026. The purpose of this meeting is to provide LRN-B stakeholders with current information on preparedness collaborations and emerging technologies, share model practices, discuss solutions to ongoing challenges and explore the future of the LRN-B to stay ahead of the threat.

The central theme for this meeting is From Detection to Action: A Resilient Network in the Face of Uncertainty

General Information

1. The 2026 LRN-B Technical Meeting is an in-person event; speakers and poster presenters should plan to present in-person in San Antonio, TX.
2. All presenters must register for the technical meeting and assume responsibility for their own transportation and lodging.
3. There is no limit on the number of abstracts that registrants may submit. However, authors must be in attendance for their presentations,
4. Accepted abstracts will be posted in the meeting program. Editorial changes may be made to the accepted abstracts at the discretion of the Planning Committee.

Presentation Formats

• Plenary Session
• Roundtable Discussion
• Poster Session

Planning Committee will make the final decision on presentation format based on quality of abstract and the needs of the Meeting.

Abstract Submission Abstracts submitted for 2026 LRN-B Technical Meeting will be evaluated for acceptance by the Planning Committee. Please be sure to follow the format instructions carefully on the Abstract Submission Form; failure to do so may result in rejection. Abstracts must be received no later than June 26, 2026. All abstracts must be submitted through the abstract site. All correspondence will be made with the person who submits the abstract. Please be sure the appropriate person is selected.

Poster Award

To encourage excellence in poster presentation, a Best Poster Award for the 2026 LRN-B Technical Meeting will be selected by the Planning Committee. Certificates will be announced during the meeting’s award ceremony.

A certificate will be awarded to the top three posters. Posters will be judged equally on the following criteria:

1. Importance and Relevancy
2. Broad Interest of the Topic
3. Educational Value
4. Design and Layout

Contact Information

If you require further clarification on abstract submission requirements or to confirm receipt of abstract proposal, you may contact Rana Rahmat at 240-485-2763 or rana.rahmat@aphl.org.

Meeting Registration

Registration is $200 and completed online and is open now. All registrants must be affiliated with the LRN-B and listed to their laboratory’s profile on the CDC LRN Secure Information Hub.

Meeting Tracks and Guidance

Abstracts must accurately and briefly describe:

1. The problem studies and/or objectives
2. Methodology
3. Significant results and findings, including quantitative and qualitative analyses when applicable
4. Conclusions and/or implications and next steps

Submitted abstracts should be applicable to at least one of the following meeting tracks:

1. Regulatory Compliance and Oversight
   • Regulatory requirements
   • Inspections
   • Packaging and Shipping
   • Chain of Custody; Evidence Collection and Handling
   • Laboratory Developed Tests
2. Laboratory Operations and Management
   • Quality Management System
   • Equipment Monitoring
   • Building, renovating, and moving a laboratory
   • Biosafety and Biosecurity, Approaches to inactivation studies – BSL-3 to BSL-2, Risk Assessments
   • High Containment
3. Technical Advances and Operations
   • Testing isolates from animals
   • Sequencing
   • Speed dating session with CDC subject matter experts
4. Training, Drills and Exercises
   • Case Studies
   • Training and best practices for biothreat coordinators
   • Training and best practices for responsible officials
   • Inspections, exercises, and drills
5. Preparedness and Response
   • Outreach to Clinical Laboratories and First Responders
   • Law enforcement Partnerships
   • Civil Support Team Partnerships
   • Epidemiological Partnerships
   • Surge Planning
   • Continuity of Operations Planning
   • Incident Management
   • Electronic Laboratory Reporting
6. Emerging Challenges and Solutions
   • Software
   • Databases for contacts/sentinel labs
   • Safe handling of fentanyl
   • Dealing with surprises such as cybersecurity threats
   • Workforce Development