The Family Caregiving Collaborative at the University of Utah College of Nursing will host the 4th Biennial National Conference on Caregiving Research from September 23–25, 2026, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The conference, Reaching New Heights: Elevating Caregiving Research, Policy, and Practice, will bring together leaders in caregiving research, policy, and practice to examine pressing challenges and advance evidence that informs care across settings.
Alison Barkoff, J.D., has been announced as one of the conference's keynote speakers. A nationally recognized leader in aging, disability, and family caregiving policy, Barkoff brings more than 25 years of experience shaping policy at the national level, including leading the development of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. Her keynote address will focus on how aligning aging and disability priorities can strengthen caregiving research, inform policy, and improve support for families nationwide.
"Alison Barkoff's leadership reflects the type of forward-looking thinking this conference is designed to foster," said Lee Ellington, PhD, director of the Family Caregiving Collaborative. "Her work highlights how rigorous research can directly influence policy and lead to better outcomes for caregivers and the people who rely on them. This conference is about elevating caregiving research and ensuring it informs both policy and practice. By bringing U.S. researchers, policymakers, and practitioners together, we create opportunities to move the field forward in a more coordinated and impactful way."
Family caregiving plays a critical role across health care, long-term services, and community-based support systems. As care needs grow more complex, the Biennial Conference on Caregiving Research serves as a national forum for advancing knowledge, strengthening connections between disciplines, and translating research into meaningful action.
The conference theme, Reaching New Heights, reflects a commitment to innovative approaches that address real-world challenges. Programming will include scholarly presentations, policy discussions, and practical applications aimed at strengthening support for caregivers and care recipients across the lifespan.
Members of the Scientific Planning Committee for the conference will offer a Secondary Data Analysis Training Workshop for accepted applicants. The immersive, half-day, in-person workshop takes place September 22, 2026, in Salt Lake City, and is designed to build research capacity through hands-on mentoring with national dataset experts working with established caregiving datasets such as NHATS/NSOC and BRFSS. Participants will have dedicated time to develop a practical, actionable secondary data analysis and dissemination plan and connect with research leaders shaping the future of caregiving science. Accepted applicants receive hotel accommodations, conference registration, and airfare reimbursement. Applications are being accepted through May 1, 2026, with decisions announced in June.
Early abstract submissions for the conference closed March 31, 2026, with acceptance notifications scheduled for May. A late breaker abstract submission period will be open June 1–15, 2026, with notifications sent in July, allowing for inclusion of timely and emerging research. Conference registration opens May 1, 2026, with early registration available through July 14. Full-price registration begins July 15, and the hotel reservation hub opens May 1 to assist with attendee planning.
Additional keynote speakers and program details will be announced in the coming months. More information about the conference is available via the conference website.