2022 Thalamocortical Interactions GRC and GRS

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PROJECT SUMMARY The Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on “Thalamocortical Interactions: Thalamic Architecture, Dynamics, and Function in Health and Disease” will be held from February 6-11, 2022 at the Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Hotel, in Lucca (Barga), Italy. Participants from diverse backgrounds, areas of expertise, academic rank and locales will come together at this conference to discuss and debate new findings related to thalamus and its connections to cortical and subcortical networks; 150-200 attendees are expected. The meeting will be preceded by a 2-day Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) organized by and for trainees to promote science communication and mentorship, and to build community. The Aims are 1) To highlight recent developments and new areas of thalamic research from the molecular level to whole brain function in health and disease; 2) To foster collaborations among investigators at all career stages and in different countries, who have diverse areas of expertise and are otherwise unlikely to have the opportunity meet, discuss, and generate new ideas; and 3) To provide scientific and career development for trainees that promotes gender balance and diversity. Questions addressed at this meeting include the role of thalamus in perception, initiating movement, determining behavioral state (e.g. from sleep to arousal to engagement), global brain dynamics and how recent insights from the laboratory translate to therapeutic practice. The speakers are at the forefront of their fields in science and/or medicine and are instructed to present unpublished work, thus ensuring that the research discussed is cutting- edge and timely. The program is tailored to demonstrate that scientific excellence and diversity can easily coexist and to create mentorship opportunities for all trainees. The roster of speakers is fully balanced by gender and includes ~12% participation of Black and/or Latinx speakers. Additional events include “Power Hour”, an interactive venue designed to help all members of the community identify and dismantle career barriers that women and underrepresented groups still face, and a memorial for a pioneer of thalamus research, Ray Guillery, during which his life story (from refugee to Oxford professor) and contributions to the field are discussed. Each day will also offer opportunities for informal interactions at poster sessions, meals, and other events. The overall structure of the GRC creates a collegial atmosphere that is intellectually open and energizing, thus facilitating the exchange of knowledge and ideas. To promote an inclusive environment, the GRC administrators identify options for childcare and the site is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant. Thus, the conference is fine-tuned to foster new insights and collaborations and provide a wide variety of mentorship opportunities. Expected outcomes are that participants will leave the conference with fresh ideas for their own and/or new collaborative research that will advance the field, and that junior colleagues will forge lasting relationships with investigators at all career stages to promote scientific and career development. Moreover, this conference will provide an indelible example of how diversity, in its varied facets, and excellence in science go hand in hand.