FASEB SRC: The Translational Neuroimmunology Conference: From Bench to Bedside and Back

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Project Summary The purpose of this R13 proposal is to support the attendance of trainees, young investigators, and individuals historically underrepresented in science and medicine, at the 2022 FASEB Conference: Translational Neuroimmunology: From Bench to Bedside and Back. This will be the 15th biannual FASEB Neuroimmunology conference, the first having been held in 1988. The current meeting will be held August 29-September 2, 2022 at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel in Asheville, North Carolina. Neuroimmunology is one of the fastest growing fields in biomedical research. It has also been one of the most fruitful in terms of the successful translation of wet bench discoveries into impactful clinical therapies. The overall intent of this conference is to bring together the world’s leading scientists, young investigators, and trainees, who are engaged in neuroimmunology research from a broad range of perspectives, in a collegial and supportive environment. The specific goals are to: 1) provide a forum for the presentation of unpublished, cutting-edge research on immune- nervous system interactions during health and disease, by speakers from diverse backgrounds; 2) provide opportunities for both formal and informal discussions on neuroimmune pathways in health and disease, the environmental and genetic factors that influence those pathways, and efforts to translate scientific insights in neuroimmunology from “bench to bedside”; 3) support the participation of young investigators, particularly those traditionally under-represented in the field, and facilitate their integration into the broader research community in a meaningful and interactive way; (4) promote principles of rigor, transparency, and equipoise in the conduct and evaluation of research. The program is intentionally multifaceted to ensure that attendees working on different aspects of Neuroimmunology research have the opportunity to meet colleagues with complementary interests and areas of expertise, either one-on-one or in small group settings. The agenda consists of a series of sequential sessions in a single track, without competing talks, and unscheduled afternoon time to encourage informal communications. These collective features of the conference will facilitate brainstorming and mentoring in a variety of formats. A priority is to inspire women scientists, and learners and junior faculty from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in science and medicine, and to connect those individuals with role models, future mentors, and peers, thereby strengthening their commitment to Neuroimmunology research. To that end, we are introducing workshops on “How to Forge Collaborations with Clinicians and Translate Wet Bench Findings to Human Studies”; “Women and Under-represented Minorities in Neuroimmunology: Challenges and Opportunities”; and “Scientific Rigor and Transparency in Research”, as well as a career panel discussion on “Career Trajectories in Neuroimmunology”. This conference is designed to foster creative partnerships and collaborations between wet bench scientists, clinical trialists/ researchers, and clinicians who are focused on Neuroimmunology, ultimately leading to clinical advances in the field.