HPLC 2026 Heads To Indianapolis

Q: Does HPLC 2026 have a value that is distinct from that of other conferences?
Jared Anderson: HPLC 2026 offers several features that distinguish it from many other scientific conferences in the field of analytical chemistry and separation science. One particularly unique aspect is the extensive short course program, which spans approximately one and a half days and covers a broad range of topics taught by internationally recognized leaders in liquid phase separations. These courses provide attendees with a valuable opportunity to gain practical knowledge, learn emerging methodologies, and develop new technical skills that can be immediately applied in research and industrial laboratories. In addition to the educational short courses, HPLC 2026 will feature plenary and keynote presentations delivered by leading academic, government, and industrial scientists. The conference program is intentionally broad in scope, covering fundamental theory, instrumentation advances, biopharmaceutical analysis, omics applications, materials characterization, environmental analysis, and emerging trends in detection and data analysis. Another distinguishing feature of HPLC 2026 is the strong integration of both fundamental science and real-world applications. Attendees will have the opportunity to see how cutting-edge separations research is translated into practical solutions for challenges in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, environmental science, food safety, and clinical analysis. The conference also provides exceptional networking opportunities by bringing together scientists from academia, industry, government laboratories, and instrument manufacturers in a highly collaborative environment.

Q: What are you most excited about for the HPLC 2026 conference? What do you want to achieve?
Todd Maloney: We are especially excited about hosting HPLC 2026 in Indianapolis, with its strong and growing presence in the life sciences, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. The conference provides a unique opportunity to bring together scientists working across fundamental research, applied analytical science, and industrial development in an environment that encourages collaboration and innovation. One of the major goals of the conference is to highlight how advances in separation science are translated into practical solutions that impact real-world analytical challenges. Another aspect we are very excited about is the opportunity to grow interactions among scientists from academia, industry, government laboratories, and instrument manufacturers. These interactions often lead to new collaborations, new ideas, and the exchange of perspectives that help drive the field forward. Ultimately, we want HPLC 2026 to be remembered not only for its high-quality scientific content, but also for creating an engaging and collaborative atmosphere that helps shape the future direction of liquid phase separations.

Q: Is there anything new or different in the programme of HPLC 2026?
JA:One of the exciting trends reflected in the HPLC 2026 program is the growing emphasis on the separation and analysis of biopharmaceuticals. The field of biopharmaceutical analysis continues to expand rapidly, driven by advances in therapeutic proteins, monoclonal antibodies, oligonucleotides, cell and gene therapies, and related complex biomolecules. As a result, the conference will feature an increased number of presentations focused on analytical challenges associated with these materials, including characterization, impurity profiling, stability assessment, and multidimensional separation approaches. In addition to the increased emphasis on biopharmaceuticals, the program also highlights advances in high-resolution separations, novel stationary phases, rapid and ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography methods, hyphenated mass spectrometric techniques, and emerging detection technologies.

Q: What aspects of the conference will be of value to young scientists?
TM: HPLC 2026 will provide strong value for young scientists, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career professionals. One important benefit is exposure to cutting-edge technologies and newly released products from leading instrument manufacturers and technology developers. Young scientists will have the opportunity to interact directly with experts from academia and industry while learning about advances in instrumentation, stationary phase development, sample preparation strategies, detection methods, and data analysis approaches. In addition to learning about new technologies, attendees will also gain exposure to the underlying theory and fundamentals that drive modern separation science. The conference will include presentations covering theoretical studies, mechanistic investigations, and method development strategies that help scientists better understand and optimize chromatographic performance. The growing emphasis on biopharmaceutical analysis and related emerging application areas will also help young scientists better understand the future direction of the field and the types of analytical challenges that are increasingly important in industry and research laboratories. Young scientists will be able to interact with internationally recognized leaders in separation science, establish professional connections, discuss career opportunities, and build collaborations that may positively influence their future careers. Overall, the conference is designed not only to showcase the latest scientific advances, but also to equip the next generation of scientists with the knowledge, tools, and professional connections needed to solve complex analytical problems in real-world laboratories.

Q: Inn today’s digital world—particularly given the many virtual events held in recent years—do you think people need to be convinced of the value of attending an in-person scientific meeting?
JA: Virtual meetings have provided important accessibility and convenience; however, they cannot fully replicate the spontaneous interactions and networking that occur during in-person scientific conferences. Many of the most meaningful collaborations in science emerge during informal discussions in hallways, poster sessions, networking receptions, and shared meals. These conversations often lead to new research directions, collaborations, mentorship opportunities, and even career advancement. In-person meetings also provide a level of engagement and focus that is difficult to achieve in a virtual environment. Attendees are immersed in the scientific program, exposed to new ideas outside of their immediate area of expertise, and are able to interact directly with instrument vendors, industry representatives, and fellow researchers. In particular for students and early-career scientists, face-to-face networking and presenting their work in person can be important experiences that help build confidence and professional identity. At HPLC 2026, we hope to have an environment that emphasizes these unique strengths of in-person meetings by fostering strong scientific interactions, networking opportunities, and community engagement across academia, industry, and government laboratories.

Q: Putting together a large conference is a lot of work. How will you judge if it was a success?
TM: To judge the success of the conference, we will actively engage with participants throughout the meeting and gather feedback from attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, and speakers. We believe a successful conference is not defined solely by attendance numbers, but by the overall quality of the scientific interactions and the experience participants have during the event. We will evaluate factors such as the scientific quality and diversity of the presentations, attendance and engagement during sessions, participation in poster sessions and networking events, and the extent to which attendees feel the meeting facilitated meaningful discussions and collaborations.

Further information
Website: https://hplc2026-symposium.org