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National PFAS Conference Registration and Program

National PFAS Conference 2026

June 8-10 | Tucson, Arizona
University of Arizona

Join us for the National 2026 PFAS Conference in the hidden gem in the desert. This conference series is uniquely designed to exchange information, provide support to PFAS-affected communities, and facilitate engagement across diverse sectors involved with PFAS to accelerate the protection of health and the environment. 

National PFAS Conference Registration

Registration to the PFAS National Conference is now open!

If you are paying with funds from the University of Arizona OR funds from a PO, please email PFAS2026@arizona.edu for instructions.

Full Registration Here

Limited number of reduced registration tickets are available for students, trainees, and community members. To request a reduced registration fee, please complete the form below.

Reduced Registration Fee Request Form

Please don't forget to check out and register for the pre-conference tours

If you applied for a travel award, please do not register yet. You will receive instructions shortly.

Conference Program

We are working to finalize parts of this program. Please be aware that parts of it may change and check back regularly for updates.

Day 1 - Monday, June 8, 2026
8:00-8:10Welcome and Tribal Blessing:
8:10-8:30Opening Keynote: TBD
8:30-10:00Session 1 - The PFAS Story in Arizona: Speakers will provide community perspectives, overview of PFAS scientific discovery and response in Arizona
Chairs: Paloma Beamer, University of Arizona College of Public Health; Linda Robles, Mothers for Safe Air & Safe Water Force
Speakers: Linda Robles, Mothers for Safe Air & Safe Water Force; Chris Avery, Tucson Water; Robin Lucky, Calabasas Alliance; Matt Narter, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
10:00-10:30Coffee Break
10:30-12:00Session 2 - Tools to Address Cumulative Impacts and Mixtures: Speakers will highlight community needs as well as scientific and policy perspectives in relation to common co-exposures and social stressors
Chairs: Mónica Ramírez-Andreotta, University of Arizona; Max Aung, University of Southern California
Speakers: Yolanda Herrera, Tucson International Airport Area Superfund Site Unified Community Advisory Board; Mónica Ramírez-Andreotta, University of Arizona; Max Aung, University of Southern California; Julia Varshavsky, Northeastern University
12:00-1:00Lunch and Learn
Topics
Equitable Research Partnerships in the Participatory Sciences, Communication, and Support with Mónica Ramírez-Andreotta, Linda Robles, and God's Gift Chukwuonye
PFAS and chill: let's talk refrigerant with Katie Pelch, NRDC
Movement in Storytelling with Devavani Chatterjea 
NSF: PFAS Certifications and Claims with Terra Vincent-Hall, Harold Chase, Ahmad Sleiman, and Carmen Grindatti of NSF International
1:00-1:30Afternoon Keynote: Toxic Substance Control Act Updates - Avi Kar, NRDC
1:30-3:00Session 3 - PFAS Policy Initiatives: Federal and State Responses
Chairs: Erica Bloom, Ecology Center; Emily Donovan, Clean Cape Fear; Gemma Smith, University of Arizona
Speakers: Jose L. Villegas, Sr., La Cieneguilla Land Grant/Pueblo, Santa Fe County, NM; Melanie Benesh, Environmental Working Group; Suzanne Novak, EarthJustice; Gretchen Salter, Safer States
3:00-3:30Coffee Break
3:30-5:00Session 4 - Updates on Sewage Sludge and Implications for Exposure: Speakers will review the recent research on sewage sludge, how it impacts the environment including wildlife and implications for dietary exposure.
Chair: Laura Orlando, Just Zero
Speakers: Tony Coleman, Iron Cross Land and Cattle Company LLC; Steven Lasee, Lasee Research and Consulting; Courtney Carignan, Michigan State University; Abby Fleisch, MaineHealth Institute for Research; Lisa Rokoff, MaineHealth Institute for Research
5:00 – 6:00Poster Session
Day 2 - Tuesday June 9, 2026
8:00-8:30Morning Keynote: Legal Perspective on Medical Monitoring - Rob Bilott, Partner at Taft Law
8:30-10:00Session 5 - Health Effects Updates: Scientific speakers sharing most cutting-edge findings and community perspectives on needs. Efforts will be made to focus on mixtures, short chain PFAS and precursors
Chairs: Melissa Furlong, University of Arizona; Sue Fenton, NC State University
Speakers: Ayesha Khan, Nantucket PFAS Action Group; Melissa Furlong, University of Arizona; Sue Fenton, NC State University; Jane Hoppin, NC State University 
10:00-10:30Coffee Break
10:30-12:00Session 6 - Children’s Health and PFAS: Scientific speakers sharing most cutting-edge findings and community perspectives on needs. Efforts will be made to focus on epigenetics, PFAS mixtures, and cohort studies
Chairs: Paloma Beamer, University of Arizona; Sue Fenton, NC State University;  Katy May, NC State University
Speakers: Andrea Amico, Testing for Pease and National PFAS Contamination Coalition; Aimen Chen, MD PhD, University of Pennsylvania; Lida Chatzi, MD PHD, University of Southern California; Ashley Langer, PhD, University of Arizona
12:00-1:00Lunch and Learn
Topics:
Dupont Settlement with David Reap/Kelly Drye 
Podcasting with Jordan Gass
 
1:00-1:30Afternoon Keynote: The PFAS Multi-Site Study: Laurel Schaider, Silent Spring Institute
1:30-3:00Session 7 - Toxics and Indigenous Perspectives: Scientific and policy speakers on impacts and advances and community and Indigenous perspectives on needs. Efforts will be made to focus on unique challenges facing Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities
Chair: Otakuye Conroy-Ben, Arizona State University
Speakers: Jani Ingram, NAU regents professor and NIEHS council; Heather Whiteman Runs Him, Director, Tribal Justice Clinic; Elaine Wilson, Tribal PFAS working group
3:00-3:30Coffee Break
3:30-5:00Session 8 - Removal of PFAS from the Human Body: Scientific and clinician speakers will discuss state of the science on reducing PFAS levels and implications for health outcomes. Efforts will be made to include differences in approaches for short chain and long chain PFAS as well as integrative medicine perspectives
Chairs: Melissa Furlong, University of Arizona; Courtney Carignan, Michigan State University
Speakers: Orion Godfrey, Professional Firefighters of Arizona and Goodyear Fire Department; Jeff Burgess, University of Arizona; Rachel Criswell, Redington-Fairview General Hospital; Angie Slitt, University of Rhode Island
5:00 – 6:00Poster Session
6:00 – 8:00Dinner and Achievement Awards
Day 3 - Wednesday June 10, 2026
8:00-8:30Morning Keynote: Lauren Hood, Senior sustainability manager at KEEN
8:30-10:00Session 9 - PFAS Sources and Transport through the Environment: Speakers will provide groundbreaking research on PFAS environmental exposure pathways, including drinking water, atmospheric transport, and aqueous film forming foams. Talks will emphasize a broad range of PFAS beyond PFOS and PFOA, including replacement and ultra short chain compounds.
Chairs: Bridger Ruyle, New York University Tandon School of Engineering; Kimberly Garrett, CUNY School of Public Health
Speakers: John Hancock, West Plains Water Coalition (Washington); Cora Young, York University; Bo Guo, University of Arizona; Lindsey Tallon, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 
10:00-10:30Coffee Break
10:30-12:00Session 10 - PFAS Remediation in the Environment: Speakers will discuss the latest in remediation progress and current challenges. Efforts will be made to include short chain PFAS, agricultural considerations, One Water challenges, and bioremediation, chemical and physical approaches
Chairs: Detlef Knapp, NC State University
Speakers: Speakers: Kristen Mello, Westfield Residents Advocating For Themselves, Inc; Jessica Lafonde, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Ali Ling, University of St. Thomas; Kyle Doudrick, University of Notre Dame
12:00-1:00Lunch
1:00-1:30Afternoon Keynote: Vincent Martin, Community Advocate, Arcadia Initiative, Detroit, Michigan
1:30-3:00Breakout Workshops (4) and Networking
Topics:
TSCA and PFAS regulations with Liora Fiksel and Lindsey McCormick from EDF
Overview of current legal landscape with Sabrina Morelli/David Reap 
PFAS Clinic Appointment Walkthrough with Rachel Criswell
3:00-3:30Coffee Break
3:30-5:00Breakout Group Reports
Closing Remarks

Support for the 2026 National PFAS Conference was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the view of the Foundation.

The 2026 National PFAS Conference is planned in collaboration between multiple centers funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, including the University of Arizona Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center (P30ES006694), University of Arizona Superfund Research Center  (P42ES004940), North Carolina State University Center for Human Health and the Environment (P30ES025128), Northeastern University  PROTECT Center (P42ES017198), North Carolina State University Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS (P42ES031009), University of Southern California Superfund Research and Trading Program for PFAS Assessment, Remediation, and Prevention (P42ES036506), and University of Rhode Island STEEP Center (P42ES027706). The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the NIH; nor does mention by trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Funded by the Provost Investment Fund.

Acknowledgement
We extend our sincere appreciation to Linda Robles and Mothers for Safe Air & Safe Water Force for their leadership and partnership in coordinating with the University of Arizona Office of Research Partnerships and the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. Their collaboration and commitment made it possible to bring the 2026 National PFAS Conference to Arizona.

We are committed to fostering a culture of diverse and inclusive excellence in which persons of all identities and from all backgrounds feel welcomed, supported, and encouraged to engage in the free and open exchange of ideas. Our dedication to excellence means that attendees at this events can expect to experience a safe environment free of discrimination and harassment. Behaviors that do not uphold the highest standards of integrity and professional ethics are contrary to our mission and values. Sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, or sexual assault will not be tolerated. Individuals violating this policy are subject to immediate removal from the event.