Transcriptional regulation by chromatin and RNA polymerase
Oct. 29 – Nov. 1, 2026
Westin Alexandria Old Town, Alexandria, Va.
The fields of transcription biochemistry, chromatin biology and epigenetics have become deeply interconnected, with extensive cross-talk shaping our understanding of gene regulation. RNA polymerase II and its transcription machinery play an essential role in modifying and remodeling chromatin, while chromatin itself governs gene expression in both normal and pathological conditions.
Recent technological advances in clinical and preclinical research are accelerating progress toward personalized medicine, driven in part by advances in our understanding of RNA polymerase II. As a result, investigators have taken on the challenge of elucidating the molecular mechanisms of gene expression by RNA polymerase II in the context of chromatin.
This dynamic, multidisciplinary community continues to redefine the field, generating new paradigms and approaches to the topic. Even after decades of study, this research area continues to advance, revealing new concepts and bolstering almost every other area of biology.
We invite both established and early-career scientists to join us in Alexandria to share discoveries, exchange ideas and help shape the next generation of breakthroughs in the field.
Important dates
| Aug. 10 | Oral abstract deadline |
|---|---|
| Sept. 4 | Poster abstract deadline |
| Sept. 4 | Early registration deadline |
| Oct. 5 | Regular registration deadline |
Organizers
Kai Ge
National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases
Christopher Vakoc
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Y. Jessie Zhang
University of Texas at Austin
Sponsorship opportunities
Targeted sponsorship opportunities that put your brand in front of highly engaged researchers and decision-makers in BMB.
Tentative program
Program will include short talks from submitted abstracts.
Session 1｜Transcription Initiation & Core Machinery
Session chair: Dong Wang
- Keynote: Bob Roeder, Rockefeller University
- Steve Buratowski, Harvard Medical School
- Gerd Blobel, University of Pennsylvania
- Dong Wang, University of California, San Diego
- Lucas Farnung, Harvard Medical School
Session 2｜Promoters, Nucleosomes & Chromatin Architecture
Session chair: James Kadonaga
- James Kadonaga, University of California, San Diego
- Frank Pugh, Cornell University
- Carl Wu, Johns Hopkins University
- Ken Zaret, University of Pennsylvania
- Xiong Ji, Peking University
Session 3｜Transcription Elongation, Pausing & Dynamics
Session chair: Lu “Lucy” Bai
- John Lis, Cornell University
- Karen Arndt, University of Pittsburgh
- Craig Kaplan, University of Pittsburgh
- Dan Larson, National Cancer Institute
- Lu “Lucy” Bai, Pennsylvania State University
Session 4｜Epigenetic Regulation & Chromatin States
Session chair: Danesh Moazed
- Geeta Narlikar, University of California, San Francisco
- Danesh Moazed, Harvard Medical School
- Wei Yang, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Yael David, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Keji Zhao, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Session 5｜Enhancers, 3D Genome & Phase Separation
Session chair: Joanna Wysocka
- Keynote: Bing Ren, New York Genome Center
- Joanna Wysocka, Stanford University
- Kai Ge, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Ben Sabari, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- Julia Zeitlinger, Stowers Institute
Session 6｜Mediator, Co-factors & Transcription Coupling
Session chair: Dylan Taatjes
- Dylan Taatjes, University of Colorado
- Jesper Svejstrup, University of Copenhagen
- Aseem Ansari, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Todd Mcfarlan, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Paul Wade, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Session 7｜RNA Processing & Transcriptional Output
Session chair: Xiangdong Fu
- Xiangdong Fu, Westlake University
- Liling Wan, University of Pennsylvania
- Jason Watts, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- Francois Robert, University of Montreal
- Zhe James Liu, HHMI Janelia Campus
Session 8｜Development, Cell Identity & Gene Regulation
Session chair: Jessica Tollkuhn
- Wei Xie, Tsinghua University
- Jessica Tollkuhn, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Kate Alexander, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Gang Wang, Fudan University
- Yan Jessie Zhang, University of Texas at Austin
Session 9｜Transcription in Disease & Cancer
Session chair: Seychelle Vos
- Chris Vakoc, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Charlie Roberts, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Seychelle Vos, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Lee Kraus, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- Greg Wang, Duke University
Abstracts
Abstracts submitted before Sept. 4 may be considered for an oral or poster presentation. Posters submitted after Sept. 4 will only be considered for a poster presentation.
Submission guidelines
- Title: 300 character maximum
- Body: 800–3000 characters
- Text may be typed or pasted into the submission fields
All speakers and poster presenters must present in person at their assigned time. Abstract submission does not guarantee registration.
Registration
What’s included (full registration)
- Lodging at the Westin (check in Oct. 29, check out Nov. 2)
- Single or double occupancy options
- Access to all sessions and poster sessions
- Meeting materials
- Meals:
- Friday, Oct. 30: Breakfast & Lunch
- Saturday, Oct. 31: Breakfast
- Sunday, Nov. 1: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Commuter registration includes all meeting access, sessions, materials and included meals; lodging is not included.
There is no onsite registration. All attendees must register in advance.
ASBMB members receive a $50 discount (applied at checkout). Not a member? Join today!
Registration is first-come, first-served and may close early if capacity is reached.
| Early registration (by Sept. 4) |
Regular registration (by Oct. 5) |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate student, postdoc or equivalent | Single occupancy | $1,625 | $1,675 |
| Double occupancy | $1,275 | $1,325 | |
| Commuter | $775 | $825 | |
| PI/professional or equivalent | Single occupancy | $2,600 | $2,650 |
| Double occupancy | $2,250 | $2,300 | |
| Commuter | $1,750 | $1,800 | |
Cancellation policy
Cancellations received in writing by Oct. 5, 2026, are subject to a $100 processing fee. No refunds will be issued after this date.
Getting to the Westin Alexandria Old Town
Airports
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) — 4.4 miles
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) — 32.5 miles
- Baltimore–Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) — 45.2 miles
Airport Transportation
- Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services are available from all three airports.
- DCA and IAD are accessible via Metro.
- BWI is not directly accessible by Metro.
Metro
- King St–Old Town (Blue & Yellow Lines) — 0.4 miles from the hotel.
Parking
- Valet parking is available at the Westin Alexandria Old Town for $45 a night.