56th Annual Meeting of the Society for Leukocyte Biology

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ABSTRACT This proposal is to request support for the 56th Annual Meeting of the Society for Leukocyte Biology entitled: “The Future of Immunology: New Solutions to Old Problems”. The meeting will be held September 27 – 30, 2023, at the University of Georgia Conference Center in Athens, GA. Funds derived from this proposal will be distributed in the form of travel awards that will provide much needed assistance to young investigators and trainees. The Organizers of the 56th annual meeting are Peter Keyel, Ph.D. (Texas Tech University) and Balázs Rada, Ph.D. (University of Georgia). SLB is the leading scientific society with a focus on leukocytes and their roles in the pathophysiology of acute and chronic diseases. No other scientific meeting regarding study of the immune system focuses on the leukocyte with the breadth and depth of SLB, so the annual meetings sponsored by SLB fill this void. Therefore, SLB is the premier society in the field of leukocyte biology, and convenes annually to promote scientific exchange among researchers and support the career development of trainees and junior investigators. Funds derived from this proposal will be distributed in the form of travel awards that will provide much needed assistance to facilitate the ability of young investigators and trainees to attend. The essential goals of the annual meeting include: 1) advancing original research and related scientific endeavors in the field of leukocyte biology and host defense, 2) promoting the career development of junior and new investigators interested in leukocyte biology, 3) disseminating information about the field to the wider scientific and lay audience, and 4) encouraging the translation of basic research in leukocyte biology to applications in the clinic. These goals will be achieved through three Aims: Aim 1: To provide an innovative and scientifically progressive program, in a collegial forum, to address the latest developments in leukocyte biology. The agenda will include a total of 4 Plenary Sessions and 8 Concurrent Sessions with a total of 19 invited speakers. Aim 2: To provide an opportunity for new investigators and trainees to interact closely with established scientists. A significant innovation for recent iterations of the annual meeting is the SLB-SCHOOL (Society for Leukocyte Biology-Symposium for Career development and Hands-On Opportunity to Learn) which offers trainees a full day instructional workshop covering topics related to leukocyte biology research. The expectation is that enrollees will gain practical insight into this topic and more actively participate with experts in the field. Aim 3: To promote diversity and inclusion in the field of leukocyte biology by cultivating the participation of women, underrepresented groups and disadvantaged individuals. The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee will sponsor workshops and awards to encourage the participation of women and scientists from underrepresented groups. In sum, the 2023 annual meeting of SLB is purposefully designed to enhance awareness of the influence of leukocyte biology in health and disease and inspire young investigators.