Collaborative Workshop in Advancing Research on Plant Biotic Interactions

一个跨学科的国际研究小组将于2016年9月19日至21日在华盛顿召开会议，以确定与植物健康相关的研究中的关键挑战。研讨会的目标是确定美国和英国科学家之间合作和协同的领域，研究重点是了解植物与病原体或害虫的生物相互作用，或与植物相关的共生体或其他有益生物，即所谓的植物生物群。大约40名科学家将聚集在华盛顿特区，讨论研究和技术前沿，以推动该学科向前发展，并确定实现应用成果的途径。研讨会的参与者旨在确定能够在全球范围内解决新的和新出现的植物疾病的伙伴关系。研讨会最后将编写一份白皮书或路线图，供广泛分享，旨在指导未来几年的协作互动和研究。合作研讨会旨在确定植物与各种害虫和病原体相互作用的生物学方面的差距，包括昆虫、真菌、微生物和其他植物。与会者将包括不同职业阶段和背景的研究人员，讨论研究进展中的瓶颈，并确定美国和英国科学家之间的协同作用和合作努力。特别强调利用植物基因组学和生物信息学的最新进展，并将这些信息与生物化学、结构和细胞生物学、生理学和流行病学等不同学科相结合。一个目标将是增加量化、理论和系统方法的使用，使人们能够将对生物相互作用的见解从基础研究转化为实际结果。研讨会将建立对英国和美国当前植物健康研究格局的清楚了解，并将确定合作的优势领域和未来前景，以共同解决这一全球问题。

An interdisciplinary and international group of researchers will convene on September 19-21, 2016 in Washington DC to identify key challenges in research related to plant health. The goal of the workshop is to identify areas for collaboration and synergy among US and UK scientists in research focused on the understanding of biotic interactions of plants with pathogens or pests, or with symbionts or other beneficial organisms that associate with plants, the so-called phytobiome. Approximately 40 scientists will convene in Washington DC to discuss research and technology frontiers to move the discipline forward and identify pathways for applied outcomes. The workshop participants aim to identify partnerships that can address new and emerging plant diseases on a global scale. The workshop will conclude with the preparation of a whitepaper, or roadmap, to be shared broadly and designed to guide collaborative interactions and research over the coming years. The collaborative workshop is designed to identify gaps in understanding of the biology of plant interactions with various pests and pathogens, including insects, fungi, microbiomes and other plants. Participation will include a diverse group of researchers of all career stages and backgrounds to discuss bottlenecks in research progress and to identify synergies and collaborative efforts among US and UK scientists. A particular emphasis is placed on leveraging recent advances in plant genomics and bioinformatics and integrating this information with diverse disciplines such as biochemistry, structural and cell biology, physiology and epidemiology. A goal will be to increase the use of quantitative, theoretical and systems approaches that will permit translating insights about biotic interactions from basic research to practical outcomes. The workshop will establish a clear understanding of current plant health research landscape in UK and US and will identify of areas of strengths and future prospects for collaboration to solve together a global problem.