Name: Beyond the Biomarker: Harnessing the Complexity of Functional Mushrooms
Start: 2026-08-13T11:00:00-0600
End: 2026-08-13T12:00:00-0600

SCHEDULE LAUNCH IS JUNE 21st, 2026

Welcome to the largest wild mushroom happening in North America, the 46th Annual Telluride Mushroom Festival! This program of the Telluride Institute, a 501c3 non-profit, offers a plethora of events ranging from foray and mushroom ID sessions, to hands-on demonstrations and lectures—all led by regionally, nationally, and internationally-known experts, (and we cannot forget the wide variety of social and cultural events offered, along with the famous Mushroom Parade!) there is plenty for everyone, every day.

On this website, you can filter your search by events, venues, presenters, etc. Each year the Mushroom Festival features many wonderful presentations on “all things fungi.” Presentations on similar topics are grouped together at the same venue so that attendees interested will be able to spend more time learning and interacting, and less time walking between venues. See who else is interested in each event and interact with our extended Mushroom Family.

See you soon!

Beyond the Biomarker: Harnessing the Complexity of Functional Mushrooms

Thursday August 13, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Ah Haa School - Transformation Studio @ 155 W Pacific Ave, Telluride, CO 81435

As the functional mushroom industry grows, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: mushrooms from the same species are not necessarily the same in function or chemistry. Across lion’s mane, agarikon, and turkey tail, factors such as strain, substrate, tissue type, and extraction method can meaningfully shape biological activity and functional outcomes.

Drawing from fungal genomics, metabolomics, preclinical transcriptomics, and emerging clinical evidence, this presentation explores how fungal diversity functions not as inconsistency to be eliminated, but as a blueprint for discovery and product innovation. Highlighting the first annotated genome of agarikon alongside a strain library of more than 125 agarikon isolates, the talk examines how strain-level variation drives measurable differences in bioactive composition and downstream functional activity.

In both agarikon and turkey tail, mycelial preparations demonstrate context-dependent activity supported by two placebo-controlled human clinical trials reporting concordant immune-supportive outcomes. Lion’s mane further serves as a model system for understanding how tissue type and extraction approach influence both immune and neuroactive properties.

But as mushroom chemistry becomes more deeply mapped, a larger question emerges: when biomarkers don’t fully explain bioefficacy, we may need to rethink what “functional” actually means for mushrooms. Rather than reducing fungi to single compounds or species-level assumptions, this talk explores a systems-level view of mushrooms where biological complexity becomes a resource for discovery, innovation, and the rewilding of functional mushroom science.

All presentation in Transformation Studio are first come first serve. A line will be formed outside of Ah Haa for this presentation. There will be limited seats so please plan for a different event if this is full.

Speakers

Chase Beathard

Fungi Perfecti

Chase Beathard is the Associate Director of R&D, leading the cell and molecular biology team at Fungi Perfecti, LLC. His research explores the impact of fungi on human health, spanning immunology, neurobiology, virology, longevity, and general wellness. Prior to his time at Fungi... Read More →

Thursday August 13, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Ah Haa School - Transformation Studio

Passholder Event (included in Festival Pass), entheogen

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46th Telluride Mushroom Festival

Chase Beathard

Attendees (17)

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46th Telluride Mushroom Festival

Chase Beathard

Attendees (17)

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