2026 Conference on Intervention Optimization

What to Expect

Receptions, Sessions, and Other Events

See full conference agenda for details →

Opening Plenary

Day 1 - 8:oo am

Linda Collins, Billie Nahum-Shani, and Bonnie Spring look back on key moments in the evolution of intervention optimization.

Opening Reception

Day 1 - 5:30 pm

Connect with colleagues and expand your professional network at an evening reception. All conference attendees welcome.

Early Career Networking Reception

Day 2 - 6:00 pm

Early-career attendees are invited to a dedicated reception to network with each other. By invitation.

Lightning Round Poster Session Previews

Days 1 & 2

One minute previews of presenters' posters.

Poster Sessions

Days 1 & 2 during lunch

Explore new research from conference attendees.

Panel Discussion With Funders

Day 3 - 8:00 am

NIH POs discuss funding opportunities and strategies for intervention optimization research.

Round Table Discussions With Individual Funders

Day 3 - 8:30 am

Hear directly from NIH POs about funding opportunities and strategies for intervention optimization research.

Plenary Sessions

New Experimental Designs

Implementation Science and Intervention Optimization I

Innovative Applications

Implementation Science and Intervention Optimization II

Decision-Making And Economic Considerations

Ideas from Computer Science And Engineering

Community Engaged Research And Intervention Optimization

Spotlight on Early Career Investigators

Answers to Questions

Conference FAQs

Registration & Pricing



When does registration open?

General registration opens November 17. Speakers, poster presenters, and other invited groups will receive direct email communication with instructions for early registration before that date.

What's included in my registration?

All plenary sessions (May 18-20) and poster sessions (May 18-19)
Catered lunches on the full conference days (May 18-19)
Opening-night reception (May 18)
Coffee / tea breaks each day
Digital program, abstracts, and slide decks (as released by speakers)
Certificate of attendance (by request)

Are there one-day passes?

No. We are not offering single-day registration for this conference.

What is the refund and transfer policy?

All registrations are final. Refunds and transfers of conference registrations are not permitted.

How will I know my registration went through?

You will receive an automated email from gph.events@nyu.edu with the subject line “Payment Confirmation” (#ordernumber).”

Learn More & Register →

Posters & Lightning Talks



What are the poster dimensions and orientation?

Posters may be up to 36" x 48", in either vertical or horizontal orientation.

When are the poster sessions scheduled?

Poster sessions are scheduled during lunch on the first two days of the conference:

May 18: 12:00–1:30 p.m.
May 19: 12:30–2:00 p.m.

How should I print or ship my poster?

Please arrive with your poster printed in advance. We suggest printing on fabric for ease of travel, but this is not required.

What are the lightning talk requirements?

Lightning talks are 90 seconds maximum per person. Each presenter may use two slides:

Title slide – name, presentation title, affiliation, funding sources, and poster number‍
Research slide – main content slide, also displaying the poster number

See full details.

What is the submission deadline for lightning talk slides?

Lightning talk slides are due by May 1, 2026. You'll receive instructions for uploading your slides in a future email.

Will AV or tech support be available for presenters?

Yes. Conference organizers will combine all lightning talk slides into a single deck and display them during the session. Presenters will not need to manage AV or their own devices; they will simply speak into the microphone. Slides will advance automatically.

Presenter Information Page →

Travel & Lodging



Where is the conference held?

Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Rd, Rockville, MD 20852.

What are the conference dates and hotel block nights?

Conference: May 18–20, 2026.

What is the hotel reservation deadline?

Friday, April 24, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Why should I stay at the conference hotel?

Booking within the official room block helps keep overall meeting costs down and makes networking easier when everyone’s on-site.

How do I book a room in the conference block?

Use the “Reserve a Hotel Room” link on the Travel + Lodging page (it opens the Passkey booking portal for the conference block).

What are the parking options?

Conference Garage: $3/hour, capped at $30/day. See the Parking Flyer and Map linked on the page.

Is the hotel near public transit?

Yes, directly adjacent to North Bethesda Station (Metro Red Line), with step-free access.

Which airports are most convenient?

DCA (~22 miles/≈50 min), IAD (~27 miles/≈60 min), BWI (~40 miles/≈60 min).

Will there be a shuttle service?

No, there will be no shuttle service to or from the hotel for any given airport.

Travel & Lodging Info Page →

Accessibility & Inclusion



How do I request accessibility accomodations?

You can request accessibility accommodations on the registration form. If we need more information to support your request, a member of the conference team will follow up with you. You can also email additional details or questions to info@interventionoptimization.org at any time.

Is the venue wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The hotel lists multiple ADA features, including:

Wheelchair-accessible paths of travel and parking
Accessible public restrooms
Accessible routes to elevators, the registration desk, fitness center, and business center
Accessible guestrooms (with roll-in shower and/or adapted tub options)

Are there quiet, lactation, or prayer spaces available?

The venue advertises a private maternity/nursing (lactation) room and an all-gender restroom. A dedicated quiet or prayer/meditation room is not specifically listed; however, if you need a quiet or prayer space, please let us know and the hotel or conference organizers will work to arrange one.

How can I indicate dietary restrictions?

You will be able to indicate dietary restrictions and preferences on the registration form so we can plan appropriately for catered meals and breaks.

Learn More & Register →

Sponsorship & Exhibitors



How do I become a sponsor or exhibitor?

Review the sponsorship prospectus. If you had something specific in mind and it is not on the prospectus, feel free to ask about it. Reach out to cholma@umich.edu to discuss the available opportunities.

What is the expected audience profile?

The audience will be made up of scientists working in development, optimization, and evaluation of interventions across all areas of public health and education. We expect that the majority of attendees will be working in digital interventions, because intervention optimization is particularly useful in this space.

What are the benefits for industry participants?

The majority of conference attendees will be scientists who use—in fact, need—your products. Attendance at the conference will give you an opportunity to interact with them, make them aware of what you do, and assess how your company can best serve them. Sponsorship will give you increased visibility in this influential group and will help establish that your products are useful in supporting research that uses the intervention optimization paradigm. This is the first-ever conference in this burgeoning area. Sponsorship at this inaugural conference will make a big impression on the attendees.

What is included with an exhibit table?

Each exhibit table setup includes:

One long table
A spandex table cover over the top
Two chairs
A wastebasket

How can sponsors send payment?

We can accept checks, wire transfers, or ACH deposits. Please reach out to cholma@umich.edu to confirm details.

See Sponsor Prospectus →

2026

Conference On Intervention Optimization:

Science and practice, present and future

🗓️ When

📍Where

Registration is Open

Support researchers developing tomorrow's most effective interventions.

Conference Objectives

Science And Practice, Present and Future

Establish intervention optimization as a distinct multidisciplinary field.

Highlight the breadth and variety of ideas in the field of intervention optimization.

Facilitate networking, collaboration, and innovation among intervention optimization scholars.

Encourage and support early-career scholars pursuing intervention optimization research.

Gague interest in establishing an ongoing, regular conference on intervention optimization.

Envision a future where intervention optimization is standard operating procedure.

Who will be there

Conference Presenters

Daniel Almirall

Dror Ben-Zeev

Linda M. Collins

David Conroy

Walter Dempsey

E. Jennifer Edelman

Simon Goldberg

Kate Guastaferro

Elizabeth Lockhart

Kate Merrill

Susan A. Murphy

Inbal Billie Nahum-Shani

Danielle Ostendorf

Angela Pfammatter

Megan E. Piper

Lindsey Potter

Tianchen Qian

Daniel Rivera

Kelly Rulison

Donna Shelley

Bonnie Spring

Jillian C. Strayhorn

Devin Tomlinson

David J. Vanness

Maureen Walton

David Wetter