October 25–28, 2025

Call for Abstracts: Western Regional Meeting (WRM) 2025

San Jose, CA

List of Topics
Program Area— Title Type Invited Organizers Co-sponsored by

Advances in GPCR Drug Discovery and Therapeutic Applications

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent one of the largest and most versatile families of cell surface receptors, playing a critical role in cellular communication and signal transduct… Read More

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent one of the largest and most versatile families of cell surface receptors, playing a critical role in cellular communication and signal transduction. As pivotal regulators of numerous physiological processes, GPCRs have emerged as a crucial class of biological targets in drug discovery. This symposium will delve into the latest breakthroughs and innovative strategies in GPCR research. We will explore cutting-edge techniques and technologies that are accelerating the discovery of novel GPCR-targeted therapies across a spectrum of disease areas, such as oncology, neurology, and metabolic disorders.
Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Elisia Villemure

Ihab Darwish

Sponsor:

MEDI

Advances in Natural Products Chemistry - Symposium in Honor of Harry Mosher

Structure elucidation and total synthesis of natural products chemistry has an important place in organic chemistry. This symposium honors the work of Harry and Carol Mosher, founders of the… Read More

Structure elucidation and total synthesis of natural products chemistry has an important place in organic chemistry. This symposium honors the work of Harry and Carol Mosher, founders of the Silicon Valley ACS section with a lifelong interest in stereochemistry, and natural product chemistry.
Type: Oral Invited: Y Organizers:

Natalie McClure

Sponsor:

ORGN

Advantages and Problems within Technology Transfer at Academic Institutions

Speakers will include technology transfer agents from local colleges and universities with accounts of their procedures, problems, and successes.

Type: Oral Invited: Y Organizers:

Howard Peters

Sponsor:

CHAS

Analytical Chemistry General Session

Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Elnaz Jamalzade

Sponsor:

ANYL

Analytical Chemistry in Drug Development and Manufacturing

This symposium will delve into the crucial role of analytical chemistry in drug development and manufacturing. Topics will include innovative techniques, regulatory compliance, and quality c… Read More

This symposium will delve into the crucial role of analytical chemistry in drug development and manufacturing. Topics will include innovative techniques, regulatory compliance, and quality control. Attendees will gain valuable insights into modern analytical methods and their applications in ensuring the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products.
Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Elnaz Jamalzade

Tao Chen

Bingchuan Wei

Sponsor:

ANYL

Analytical Chemistry Undergraduate Session

Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Madalyn Radlauer

Veronica Wheaton

Laura Miller Conrad

Sponsor:

ANYL

Analytical Frontiers in Energy and Fuels - Symposium In Honor of Neal Byington

This symposium invites contributions at the intersection of analytical chemistry and energy-related research, with a focus on petroleum, fuels, and related materials. Topics include, but are… Read More

This symposium invites contributions at the intersection of analytical chemistry and energy-related research, with a focus on petroleum, fuels, and related materials. Topics include, but are not limited to, advancements in: analytical techniques for crude oil characterization, refined product authentication, fuel additives, combustion byproducts, and detection of illicit or non-compliant substances in energy systems. This session is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Neal Byington, a trailblazer in petroleum analysis and longtime National Petroleum Chemist in San Francisco. Dr. Byington’s legacy in advancing analytical methodology, as well as his leadership within the ACS Division of Petroleum Chemistry and California local section, continues to inspire progress in these fields. We welcome abstracts from academia, industry, and government laboratories that showcase innovative research, novel instrumentation, regulatory applications, or case studies related to energy and fuels.
Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Atefeh Taheri

Ivonne Ferrer-Lassala

Sponsor:

ANYL, ENFL

Best Practices to Inspire the Next Generation of Chemistry Students

This symposium highlights current research in chemical education and includes a broad range of topics such as innovative classroom and laboratory practices, quantitative pedagogical research… Read More

This symposium highlights current research in chemical education and includes a broad range of topics such as innovative classroom and laboratory practices, quantitative pedagogical research, novel uses of educational technology, and curricular developments.
Type: Oral Invited: Y Organizers:

Slava Bekker

Sponsor:

CHED

Bridging Chemistry and Biology: Covalent inhibition in Drug Discovery

Targeted covalent inhibitors (TCIs) have emerged as a transformative class of small-molecule therapeutics, offering the potential for highly selective and durable inhibition of disease-drivi… Read More

Targeted covalent inhibitors (TCIs) have emerged as a transformative class of small-molecule therapeutics, offering the potential for highly selective and durable inhibition of disease-driving proteins. This session will explore the latest advancements in the design, discovery, and application of TCIs. The session will cover the strategic approaches for identifying and optimizing covalent warheads, the role of chemical biology in designing TCIs with high specificity, and the integration of these compounds into drug discovery pipelines. Case studies of TCIs in oncology and/or other therapeutic areas, demonstrating the power of covalent inhibition in overcoming challenges associated with traditional reversible inhibitors will be covered.
Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Elisia Villemure

David Lapointe

Jimmy Blair

Sponsor:

MEDI

Bridging Materials, Devices and Simulation: Advances in Polymers for Electronics

Polymers are critical to the functioning of electronic devices, be it as efficient insulators in printed circuit boards or as binder materials for batteries. They have long served as key ena… Read More

Polymers are critical to the functioning of electronic devices, be it as efficient insulators in printed circuit boards or as binder materials for batteries. They have long served as key enablers of multiple innovations in the electronics industry and continue to drive development of new technologies. This symposium aims to bring together researchers that work in the interdisciplinary areas of polymer science, electrical engineering, and electronic devices. Areas of interest include novel polymer materials for electrical and electronic devices [insulators, batteries, biomedical devices, sensors, solar cells, wearables, flexible electronics, electronics packaging, display technologies and other consumer goods], methods of device fabrication, novel device architectures involving polymers, characterization techniques of polymeric materials for device applications, computer simulation and predictive modeling of polymer behavior.
Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Karan Dikshit

Sponsor:

POLY, PMSE

Building Bridges General Posters

We invite poster submissions from researchers at all career stages in chemistry, biochemistry, and materials science

Type: Poster Invited: N Organizers:

Vanessa Marx

Natalie McClure

Amanda Nelson

Sponsor:

MPPG

Building Bridges through Alliances and Advances in Technology

This symposium is being organized by the CACS-NCC (Chinese American Chemical Society - Northern California Chapter). This will be a multidisciplinary symposium featuring distinguished scient… Read More

This symposium is being organized by the CACS-NCC (Chinese American Chemical Society - Northern California Chapter). This will be a multidisciplinary symposium featuring distinguished scientists and senior leaders from academia, government labs, and industry across the Western region as well as graduate students representing the laboratories of Professor Zhenan Bao (Stanford) and Professor Peidong Yang (UC Berkeley).
Type: Oral Invited: Y Organizers:

Alex Madonik

Marinda Wu

Huping Luo

Sponsor:

MPPG

Chinese American Chemical Society (CACS), Northern California Chapter

Building Bridges Undergraduate Posters

We invite poster submissions from undergraduate researchers at all career stages in chemistry, biochemistry, and materials science

Type: Poster Invited: N Organizers:

Madalyn Radlauer

Veronica Wheaton

Laura Miller Conrad

Sponsor:

MPPG

Carbon Capture and Conversion for a Sustainable Future

The continuous increase in the global demand for energy has led to a need for sustainable solutions. The catalytic transformation of waste CO2 has potential to provide a clean source of ener… Read More

The continuous increase in the global demand for energy has led to a need for sustainable solutions. The catalytic transformation of waste CO2 has potential to provide a clean source of energy as well as the production of common feedstock chemicals such as formate, carbon monoxide, or methanol. The implementation of these technologies relies on the co-development of carbon capture and catalysis systems as well as the development of scalable electrolyzers and fuel cells. This one-day symposium will bring together researchers from diverse disciplines to discuss cutting-edge developments that bridge fundamental chemistry and scalable industrial applications in sustainable energy and fuels.
Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Atefeh Taheri

Jesus Velazquez

B. Oby Okoye

Rachel E. Siegel

Robert Kowalski

Harleen Kaur

Sponsor:

ENFL

Charting a New Course Through Project SEED

As one of the largest SEED programs in the country, the CA Section SEED program has many parts that must work smoothly together. This symposium describes these important parts and hears from… Read More

As one of the largest SEED programs in the country, the CA Section SEED program has many parts that must work smoothly together. This symposium describes these important parts and hears from the SEED students themselves.
Type: Oral Invited: Y Organizers:

Alex Madonik

Elaine Yamaguchi

Andrea Merg

Sponsor:

CPS

Chemical Biology and Biochemistry General Session

Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Elisia Villemure

Ihab Darwish

Sponsor:

BIOL

Chemical Biology and Biochemistry Undergraduate Session

Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Madalyn Radlauer

Veronica Wheaton

Laura Miller Conrad

Sponsor:

BIOL

Chemical Biology Approaches in Drug Discovery

This symposium will highlight innovative chemical biology approaches that are transforming drug discovery by expanding the druggable proteome and accelerating the development of novel therap… Read More

This symposium will highlight innovative chemical biology approaches that are transforming drug discovery by expanding the druggable proteome and accelerating the development of novel therapeutics
Type: Oral Invited: Y Organizers:

Elisia Villemure

Dan Nomura

Sponsor:

BIOL

Chemistry of Agriculture

Chemistry impacts all areas of agriculture and is key to developing best management practices for sustainability, crop production and protection to provide a steady supply of nutritious food… Read More

Chemistry impacts all areas of agriculture and is key to developing best management practices for sustainability, crop production and protection to provide a steady supply of nutritious food. Analytical methods monitor residues for food safety and pesticide registration. Agriculture provides many opportunities to use a broad range of chemistry skills as presented in this symposium.
Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Jeanette Van Emon

Spencer Walse

Sponsor:

AGFD, AGRO

Cope Scholar Symposium

The Cope Scholar Symposium will honor Professor Keary Engle, a 2024 Cope Scholar, as our keynote speaker. The symposium celebrates his contributions to catalytic reaction development and stu… Read More

The Cope Scholar Symposium will honor Professor Keary Engle, a 2024 Cope Scholar, as our keynote speaker. The symposium celebrates his contributions to catalytic reaction development and student mentoring
Type: Oral Invited: Y Organizers:

Jeffrey Gustafson

Joseph Derosa

Sponsor:

ORGN

Decarbonizing Industrial Processes: Advances in Hydrogen and Clean Fuels

This symposium will explore recent advances in hydrogen and clean fuel technologies and their role in decarbonizing industrial processes. Topics will include innovative approaches to hydroge… Read More

This symposium will explore recent advances in hydrogen and clean fuel technologies and their role in decarbonizing industrial processes. Topics will include innovative approaches to hydrogen production, storage, distribution, and real-world applications of clean fuels in industrial settings, with perspectives from both academia and industry.
Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Atefeh Taheri

Jesus Velazquez

Sponsor:

ENFL

Emerging Leaders in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry

This symposium will spotlight emerging leaders in inorganic chemistry who are shaping the future of the field through innovative research and fresh academic perspectives. Featuring early-car… Read More

This symposium will spotlight emerging leaders in inorganic chemistry who are shaping the future of the field through innovative research and fresh academic perspectives. Featuring early-career faculty from across the region the program will highlight a diverse array of topics spanning synthetic methodology, catalysis, bioinorganic chemistry, solid-state materials, and more. By bringing together the next generation of academic trailblazers, this forum aims to foster collaboration, showcase groundbreaking work, and provide a platform for rising voices in the inorganic community.
Type: Oral Invited: Y Organizers:

Alexander Spokoyny

Sponsor:

INOR

Emerging Leaders in Organic Chemistry

This symposium celebrates several the early career achievements of young investigators from academia and industry with ties to the Western region of ACS

Type: Oral Invited: Y Organizers:

Jeffrey Gustafson

Sponsor:

ORGN

Empowering Women in Organic Chemistry (EWOC) Research Symposium

This symposium will highlight research from women in organic, medicinal, and process chemistry

Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Jeffrey Gustafson

Rachel Abrams

Laura Miller Conrad

Elisia Villemure

Sponsor:

ORGN, MEDI

Empowering Women in Organic Chemistry (EWOC), Northern California Chapter

Energy and Fuels General Session

Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Atefeh Taheri

Jesus Velazquez

Sponsor:

ENFL

Extrahepatic-targeted Delivery of xRNA Therapeutics

xRNA-based therapeutics have received considerable research investment in recent years due to their potential to treat various difficult diseases. Nonetheless, delivery remains a major chall… Read More

xRNA-based therapeutics have received considerable research investment in recent years due to their potential to treat various difficult diseases. Nonetheless, delivery remains a major challenge, particularly for targeting extrahepatic tissues. This symposium will cover advancements and challenges in developing xRNA therapeutics. Discussions will include siRNA, ASO, and miRNA; their recent chemical modifications, conjugation chemistries, linker strategies and delivery methods, such as utilizing peptides/small molecule ligands, lipids and biologics. Attendees will have the chance to participate in exchange of information and engage in thought-provoking discussions on how to expedite the next waves of extrahepatic xRNA drug discovery.
Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Elisia Villemure

Leslie Ofori

Jian Cao

Sponsor:

MEDI

Induced Proximity: Unlocking New Therapeutic Avenues

The concept of induced proximity represents a paradigm shift in drug discovery, separating binding from function. Inducers of proximity utilize the cell's own mechanisms to bring target prot… Read More

The concept of induced proximity represents a paradigm shift in drug discovery, separating binding from function. Inducers of proximity utilize the cell's own mechanisms to bring target proteins into close physical proximity with functional effectors to modulate biological activities in novel ways. This session will explore key advancements in the field, from classical bivalents, engineered protein-protein interactions, molecular glues to steric blockers. These strategies offer promising opportunities for previously "undruggable" targets, expanding the scope of therapeutic interventions across a range of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, infectious diseases and inflammatory conditions
Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Elisia Villemure

Dennis Koester

Carsten Peukert

Lea Thai-Savard

Sponsor:

MEDI

Innovative Approaches in Bioanalytical Chemistry

The field of bioanalytical chemistry is rapidly evolving, driven by the need for more precise, sensitive, and high-throughput analytical techniques. This session will explore cutting-edge me… Read More

The field of bioanalytical chemistry is rapidly evolving, driven by the need for more precise, sensitive, and high-throughput analytical techniques. This session will explore cutting-edge methodologies and technologies that are revolutionizing the way we analyze biological samples. Topics will include advancements in mass spectrometry, chromatography, novel biosensors, microfluidic devices, and computational approaches for data analysis. Attendees will gain insights into how these innovative tools are being applied to address complex biological questions, improve diagnostic accuracy, and enhance drug development processes. Join us to discover the future of bioanalytical chemistry and its impact on healthcare and research.
Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Elnaz Jamalzade

Elizabeth Hecht

Sponsor:

ANYL

Inorganic and Materials Chemistry General Session

Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Alexander Spokoyny

Sponsor:

INOR

Inorganic and Materials Chemistry Undergraduate Session

Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Madalyn Radlauer

Veronica Wheaton

Laura Miller Conrad

Sponsor:

INORG

Intellectual Property Law

Intellectual Property (IP) Law is changing rapidly. This session will include speakers from universities, companies, and IP law firms about the past, current and possible future state of int… Read More

Intellectual Property (IP) Law is changing rapidly. This session will include speakers from universities, companies, and IP law firms about the past, current and possible future state of intellectual property in the US.
Type: Oral Invited: Y Organizers:

Howard Peters

Sponsor:

CHAL

Materials and Processes for Energy Storage and Conversion

Development of technologies that improve the performance and economic viability of energy production and storage is enabled by fundamental understanding and rational design of new material s… Read More

Development of technologies that improve the performance and economic viability of energy production and storage is enabled by fundamental understanding and rational design of new material systems. This symposium will address current topics in the fields of energy storage and conversion including batteries, capacitors, photovoltaics, and photocatalytic processes.
Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Alexander Spokoyny

Matthew Greaney

Sponsor:

INOR

Medicinal Chemistry General Session

Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Elisia Villemure

Ihab Darwish

Sponsor:

MEDI

Memorial Symposium in Honor of Attila E. Pavlath

This symposium will celebrate the life and contributions of Attila E. Pavlath: scientist, role model, mentor, and leader for the American Chemical Society.

Type: Oral Invited: Y Organizers:

Fanny Frausto

Sponsor:

AGFD, PROF

Memorial Symposium in Honor of John I. Brauman

This symposium will celebrate the life and many contributions of John I. Brauman, J.G. Jackson and C.J. Wood Professor of Chemistry at Stanford University, Deputy Editor for Physical Science… Read More

This symposium will celebrate the life and many contributions of John I. Brauman, J.G. Jackson and C.J. Wood Professor of Chemistry at Stanford University, Deputy Editor for Physical Sciences at Science Magazine, and recipient of the National Medal of Science (2002).
Type: Oral Invited: Y Organizers:

Alex Madonik

Natalie McClure

Sponsor:

PHYS

Memorial Symposium in Honor of Robert H. Grubbs

This symposium will celebrate the life and achievements of Robert H. Grubbs, Victor and Elizabeth Atkins Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology and co-recipient of … Read More

This symposium will celebrate the life and achievements of Robert H. Grubbs, Victor and Elizabeth Atkins Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology and co-recipient of the 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on olefin metathesis.
Type: Oral Invited: Y Organizers:

Vanessa M. Marx

F. Dean Toste

Keary Engle

Hosea Nelson

Garret Miyake

Robert B. Grubbs

Sponsor:

MPPG

Monetizing Molecules: Using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence to Bridge the Gap between Computation and Informatics

The convergence of Chemical Informatics (CINF) and Computational Chemistry (COMP) has become increasingly vital in the age of Big Data, Machine Learning (ML), and Artificial Intelligence (AI… Read More

The convergence of Chemical Informatics (CINF) and Computational Chemistry (COMP) has become increasingly vital in the age of Big Data, Machine Learning (ML), and Artificial Intelligence (AI). This interdisciplinary fusion is central to unlocking the value of molecular assets across diverse scientific sectors, including pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and materials science. This session will highlight key scientific advancements, opportunities, challenges, and real-world applications that harness the power of these emerging transformative technologies.
Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Amanda Nelson

Stephen Boyer

Sponsor:

COMP, CINF

Organic Chemistry General Session

Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Jeffrey Gustafson

Sponsor:

ORGN

Organic Chemistry Undergraduate Session

Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Madalyn Radlauer

Veronica Wheaton

Laura Miller Conrad

Sponsor:

ORGN

Physical and Computational Chemistry General Session

Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Amanda Nelson

Patrick Lee

Sponsor:

COMP, PHYS

Physical and Computational Chemistry Undergraduate Session

Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Madalyn Radlauer

Veronica Wheaton

Laura Miller Conrad

Sponsor:

COMP, PHYS

Polymer Chemistry General Session

Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Karan Dikshit

Sponsor:

POLY, PMSE

Polymer Chemistry Undergraduate Session

Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Madalyn Radlauer

Veronica Wheaton

Laura Miller Conrad

Sponsor:

POLY, PMSE

Potion to Production: The API Manufacturing Adventure

This symposium is dedicated to the field of Process Development, exploring the journey of scaling synthetic processes from the laboratory to commercial manufacture and life cycle management.… Read More

This symposium is dedicated to the field of Process Development, exploring the journey of scaling synthetic processes from the laboratory to commercial manufacture and life cycle management. The event will delve into the interdisciplinary nature of Process Development, bridging synthetic organic chemistry, process technology, and chemical engineering. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the latest research and advancements in modern synthetic organic chemistry and enabling technologies, addressing the challenges and innovations that drive this critical area of chemistry
Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Jeffrey Gustafson

Roozbeh Yousefi

Joshua Dunetz

Sponsor:

ORGN

Precision Chemistry at all Length-Scales and Dimensions

The symposium will serve as a platform for both regional and national leaders in the field to share and discuss the latest, cutting-edge advancements in this rapidly emerging area of researc… Read More

The symposium will serve as a platform for both regional and national leaders in the field to share and discuss the latest, cutting-edge advancements in this rapidly emerging area of research. Precision chemistry is gaining prominence across diverse disciplines, including inorganic nanoscience, polymer chemistry, materials science, and engineering. Speakers will be thoughtfully selected to represent this broad and interdisciplinary landscape, fostering meaningful exchange and collaboration across fields.
Type: Oral Invited: Y Organizers:

Alexander Spokoyny

Sponsor:

INOR

Promoting Safe Chemistry with RAMP: Recognize, Assess, and Minimize Hazards, then Prepare for Emergencies

A chemical professional’s work involves a plethora of hazards, whether in a lab or a plant environment. Discover how to identify and control the important hazards—the “big risks”—using the A… Read More

A chemical professional’s work involves a plethora of hazards, whether in a lab or a plant environment. Discover how to identify and control the important hazards—the “big risks”—using the ACS’s RAMP methodology (Hill & Finster, 2025). Papers will discuss aspects of RAMP’s application to chemical workplaces and the promotion of safe chemistry using RAMP.
Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Debbie Decker

Daniel Kuespert

Sponsor:

CHAL

Sustainable Materials from Biorenewable Sources

This symposium will highlight recent developments and progress in replacing conventional petroleum-derived plastics with bio-derived alternatives from both academic and industrial perspectiv… Read More

This symposium will highlight recent developments and progress in replacing conventional petroleum-derived plastics with bio-derived alternatives from both academic and industrial perspectives. It will cover biopolymer modification and processing strategies, as well as address challenges related to cost parity and scalability of bio-derived materials.
Type: Oral Invited: N Organizers:

Karan Dikshit

Victoria Piunova

Sponsor:

POLY, PMSE

Synthetically Modified Nucleosides and Nucleic Acids

This symposium will showcase recent advances in synthetic chemistry and chemical biology within the domain of nucleic acids. Chemically modified nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleic acids h… Read More

This symposium will showcase recent advances in synthetic chemistry and chemical biology within the domain of nucleic acids. Chemically modified nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleic acids have applications spanning medicinal chemistry, biotechnology, and chemical biology tools for basic research. By enabling the communication of a diverse portfolio of the latest developments in this area, this symposium seeks to foster discussion and collaboration aimed at further advancing the field.
Type: Oral Invited: Y Organizers:

Jeffrey Gustafson

Byron Purse

Sponsor:

ORGN

The Art and Science of Brewing Beer

Dr. Glen Fox of UC Davis has promised a "hands-on" symposium that will introduce attendees to the raw materials of beer (hops, malt, and yeast) combined with current research on the chemistr… Read More

Dr. Glen Fox of UC Davis has promised a "hands-on" symposium that will introduce attendees to the raw materials of beer (hops, malt, and yeast) combined with current research on the chemistry of brewing.
Type: Oral Invited: Y Organizers:

Alex Madonik

Glen Fox

Sponsor:

AGFD

True Stories of Entrepreneurs

Starting a company is filled with challenges (both anticipated and unanticipated). This symposium wll provide learnings from entrepreneurs from their experiences and highlight some ressource… Read More

Starting a company is filled with challenges (both anticipated and unanticipated). This symposium wll provide learnings from entrepreneurs from their experiences and highlight some ressources available to those starting new science-based ventures.
Type: Oral Invited: Y Organizers:

Bonnie Charpentier

Sponsor:

SCHB

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