28th Annual Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference (MMPC)

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PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference (MMPC) is a high-impact scientific meeting dedicated to promoting excellent research in microbial pathogenesis, fostering career development for junior faculty and student and postdoctoral trainees, and promoting a diverse and inclusive environment for scientific exchange. Established in 1994 at the University of Iowa, MMPC meetings occur annually at academic institutions in the Midwest Region of the United States. The approximately 300 attendees at each meeting include undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research staff, and faculty, who interact extensively during the two-day meeting. The 28th annual MMPC will be hosted by the University of Wisconsin– Madison in Madison, Wisconsin, from September 30-October 1, 2022. UW-Madison is host to an outstanding microbiology community and is an ASM Milestones in Microbiology Site, and this represents the third time that the prestigious meeting will be hosted by UW-Madison. MMPC strongly supports the development of scientists who are underrepresented in the biological sciences, including numerous racial and ethnic groups, disabled scientists, economically disadvantaged scientists, and women. MMPC 2022 will include an interactive career forum, building on the regional expertise in large and small colleges, biotechnology companies, intellectual property law and science policy. Through the structured career forum and informal interactions at receptions, posters, and meals with scientists across career stages, MMPC provides a unique opportunity for networking among Midwestern scientists. Regional accessibility, low cost, and strong support for travel and registration awards allows MMPC to attract a diverse group of participants. In the tradition of past conferences, 100% of speakers (excluding the keynote and opening session speakers) invited to give oral presentations will be graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, or Assistant Professors. Sixty percent (60%) of the invited junior faculty speakers are women, and the group includes speakers representing personal, geographic, and topic diversity across the field of microbial pathogenesis. The remaining five oral presentations for the meeting will be selected from among the graduate student and postdoctoral fellow abstracts. We propose to select 13 additional trainees from abstract submissions for registration waivers, focusing on merit and promoting diversity. We also plan to provide registration fee waivers to at least 20 scholars who are women and/or from underrepresented groups to promote diversity and provide opportunities for exploration of the field of microbial pathogenesis. Finally, MMPC 2022 will feature a keynote address by Dr. Victor Torres (NYU Medical School), a MacArthur Fellow and Burroughs Wellcome Fund Investigator in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease, who will present on his work on Staphylococcus aureus toxin biology, pathogenesis, and vaccine development. Dr. Torres, who has a strong track record of mentorship of junior scientists, will be present for the full meeting to ensure significant interactions with attendees.