2023 Chemical and Biological Defense GRC & GRS

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Project Summary/Abstract: This application solicits 20k from NIAID to support the registration of 20 early career scientists to attend the 2023 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Chemical and Biological Defense: Novel Applications of Science and Technology to Address Emerging Threats, scheduled for March 18-24, 2023 at Four Points Sheraton / Holiday Inn Express, Ventura, CA. This conference will address current topics of interest relevant to chemical and biological defense including the opportunities and risks posed by converging advances in synthetic biology, systems biology, genomics, informatics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. A main focus of this conference will be on research and technology aimed at understanding and mitigating the risks to human health posed by chemical and biological threats, such as emerging infectious disease, consistent with the mission of NIAID to understand, treat and ultimately prevent infectious disease. In light of the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and associated COVID-19 disease outbreak, we plan to have rich discussions around what we have learned as a community and society, and how we can work together to move forward to benefit human health, increase trust in science, and to ensure we are better prepared for the next pandemic. The GRS extends for a day and a half, and will include a keynote speaker, a discussion on red teaming, a career panel, and two scientific sessions. Each of these two sessions will be moderated by a distinguished member of the scientific community and include four graduate students talks selected from submitted abstracts. The GRC extends for four and a half days, and will include three keynote speakers, and eight key topic sessions, each moderated by a distinguished member of the scientific community and including 4 invited talks. In addition, there will be four poster sessions based on submitted abstracts, a power hour discussion to address challenges women face in science and issues of diversity and inclusion, a brainstorming session on promoting the Bioeconomy, a business meeting, a group photo, and plenty of time for socializing and networking. The GRC and GRS on Chemical and Biological Defense is a unique venue for researchers at all stages of their careers, from academia, military, government, and industry to present and discuss their research, and is a wonderful conference for trainees to build confidence in presenting their work, build networks, and meet lifelong mentors.