Biophysical Society Thematic Meeting | Ascona 2026

Mechanobiology of Infection

Welcome Letter

June 2026

Dear Colleagues, We are delighted to welcome you to the Biophysical Society Thematic Meeting entitled Mechanobiology of Infection, taking place in Ascona, Switzerland, from June 7–11, 2026. This meeting is the first international conference dedicated to the emerging field of the mechanobiology of infection, which lies at the interface of microbiology, biophysics, engineering, and infection biology. The goal of this meeting is to bring together researchers exploring how mechanical forces shape bacterial behavior, host responses, immune defense, and treatment outcomes, while fostering new collaborations across disciplines. Overall, the conference will feature invited lectures, contributed talks, poster sessions, and discussions bringing together scientists from a broad range of backgrounds and expertise. We hope this meeting will not only provide an exciting venue to share recent discoveries, but also stimulate new ideas, collaborations, and long term connections within this rapidly growing community. We warmly encourage all participants to actively engage in the discussions following talks, during poster sessions, and throughout the informal exchanges that will take place during coffee breaks, meals, and social events. We also hope you will enjoy the exceptional setting of Monte Verità and the beautiful region of Ascona. We would like to thank our generous sponsors and institutional supporters for making this meeting possible. The Organizing Committee Effie Bastounis, University of Tübingen, Germany

Daria Bonazzi, Institut Pasteur, France Alexandre Persat, EPFL, Switzerland