April 15–19, 2026 | Boston, MA, USA

StageBio is proud to be represented at IMMUNOLOGY2026™, the flagship annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists (AAI). This year, our Senior Pathologist and Immune Service Lead, Dr. Tracey Papenfuss, has been invited to speak at a featured AAI Expo Workshop, bringing StageBio's expertise in immunopathology and immunosafety to one of the world's most respected immunology conferences.

About IMMUNOLOGY2026™

IMMUNOLOGY2026™ is the premier annual scientific meeting of the American Association of Immunologists, drawing thousands of researchers, clinicians, and industry professionals from around the globe. The conference serves as a critical forum for advancing the understanding of immune function, disease, and therapeutic innovation, making it an ideal stage for conversations at the intersection of immunology and drug safety.

Immunosafety Science, Grounded in Experience

StageBio's Immune Services practice is built on hands-on expertise in providing immunopathology expertise in biomedical, discovery, and safety assessment of immune-impacting and novel immunotherapies. We partner with pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and academic clients to design, interpret, and contextualize immune system changes with precision, from early-stage discovery through IND-enabling and beyond.

Our scientists are deeply experienced navigating the complexities of biologic and small-molecule immunomodulators, where the line between therapeutic benefit and immunotoxic risk can be narrow. Whether interpreting immune system pathology, integrating immune and pathology data sets, supporting ICH S8-compliant study designs, or developing fit-for-purpose biomarker strategies, StageBio brings rigorous scientific thinking to every engagement.

Attending IMMUNOLOGY2026™ reflects our commitment to staying at the forefront of immunology research and to contributing meaningfully to the broader scientific community, not just as a service provider, but as thought leaders in the field.

Relevant StageBio Capabilities

• Immunopathology and immune system evaluation

• Specialized, molecular and biomarker evaluation of immune cells in tissues

• Consultation to help integrate immunopathology and immunotoxicology data endpoints 

Dr. Papenfuss Featured at AAI Expo Workshop

Friday, April 17, 2026Tuesday, March 24 | 4:30-6:00 PM
Session Title: One Target, Many Risks: Immunosafety Challenges from Mechanism to Medicine 

StageBio is honored that Dr. Tracey Papenfuss has been invited to present at a featured AAI Expos workshop during IMMUNOLOGY2026™ on One Target, Many Risks: Immunosafety Challenges from Mechanism to Medicine. Her participation reflects both her standing as a leading voice in immunosafety and StageBio's broader role as a trusted scientific partner across the drug development landscape.

About Dr. Papenfuss' Presentation:

In her workshop segment, Dr. Papenfuss will provide a cross-industry perspective of how immunology research translates to safety science in the ever-changing landscape of immune-modulating and immunotherapies.  She will provide practical information on how immunopathology, immunotoxicology, and immunosafety are practiced today, from pharmaceutical development to medical devices and beyond, and will highlight the critical importance of data integration and communication between immunologists and other safety scientists.

Attendees will leave with a clearer picture of what immunosafety is and how immunosafety decisions are made across different industry contexts.

This is a timely and important conversation, and one that StageBio is well-positioned to help lead.

Meet Dr. Tracey Papenfuss

Tracey L. Papenfuss, DVM, PhD, MS, DACVP Senior Pathologist Dr. Papenfuss is a PhD immunologist and board-certified veterinary pathologist (DACVP) experienced in biomedical research, discovery, and safety assessment centered around immune-impacting and novel immunotherapies. She has extensive experience in translational medicine and novel therapeutic modalities and provides her expertise to academic and industry colleagues working from early discovery through safety assessment. Dr. Papenfuss is an active leader in the immunosafety and pathology and communities in multiple scientific organizations and is a leader in the Health and Environmental Sciences Immunosafety Technical Committee (HESI-ITC). She is passionate about advancing scientific rigor and mentoring the next generation of pathologists, immunologists, and translational immunosafety scientists.

Connecting at IMMUNOLOGY2026™? Dr. Papenfuss welcomes conversations with colleagues and collaborators throughout the conference.

Let's Connect in Boston

Whether you're attending IMMUNOLOGY2026™ or simply want to learn more about StageBio's immunology capabilities, we'd love to hear from you.

Dr. Papenfuss and the StageBio Immune Services team are available to discuss your preclinical immunosafety needs, explore potential collaborations, or simply connect as fellow scientists invested in advancing the field.

Contact us to learn more about StageBio's Immune Services.

StageBio is a leading preclinical contract research organization specializing in pathology, toxicology, and immune safety services. We are committed to supporting the scientific community through rigorous research, expert consultation, and meaningful engagement, at conferences like IMMUNOLOGY2026™ and every day in our labs.