PCOM Researchers Join National Dialogue on Alzheimer’s at ASM Conference

June 25, 2026

Nikki Schultek, BS, and Brian Balin, PhD, of the Pathobiome Research Center (PBRC) and Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging at PCOM, joined colleagues from the Alzheimer’s Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI) to present their Alzheimer’s-infection research at the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., earlier this month.

The annual meeting, which brought together researchers across the country, included various presentations examining the growing body of evidence linking infectious processes to neurodegenerative disease, an area of increased focus in Alzheimer’s research.

The informational sessions began with Garth Ehrlich, PhD, of Drexel University College of Medicine, a pioneer in molecular diagnostics and pathobiome research and member of the AlzPI consortium. During his presentation, Ehrlich underscored the importance of interdisciplinary thinking in advancing understanding of complex chronic conditions.

Following suit was Schultek who gave an overview of the history of dementia and infection, providing a 360-degree overview of the past, present, and future, including what inspired her to co-create the AlzPI consortium and begin her research with PCOM.

“Discussions that used to sit on the margins are now entering mainstream scientific conversations, and that has given me optimism and hope for where chronic illness research is headed,” she said.

Dr. Balin then took the stage to provide a detailed timeline of his decades-long research into the role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in Alzheimer’s disease. Balin, who has been a leading figure in advancing the infection hypothesis in the United States since 1998, was able to contextualize his findings within the broader landscape of Alzheimer’s research, challenging longstanding assumptions surrounding amyloid plaques and tau tangles as primary drivers of disease.

The session concluded with a presentation from Or Shemesh, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh and Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who shared compelling data suggesting that hallmark Alzheimer’s pathologies may function as innate immune responses to infectious agents, including viruses and bacteria. Shemesh also highlighted emerging evidence of sex-based differences in immune response, pointing to important implications for both research and therapeutic development.

Reflecting on the event, Schultek said it was the audience’s reaction that stuck with her the most.

“What encouraged me most was the response from our attendees,” she said. “There were a lot of people that stayed well past the presentation to ask questions so it was great to see such genuine curiosity and engagement.”

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