2012 Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference (MMPC)

描述（如申请人所提供）：中西部微生物发病机理会议（MMPC）是一项长期的科学活动，汇集了来自中西部的资深和初级研究人员，介绍和讨论微生物发病机理领域的前沿研究。第一届MMPC于1994年在爱荷华州大学召开;此后每年都举行会议，在中西部不同的学术机构之间交替举行。每年有200-300名研究生，博士后研究员，初级教师和既定的研究人员参加这个会议，与会者海陵 来自威斯康星州、密歇根州、俄亥俄州、明尼苏达州、肯塔基州、田纳西州、密苏里州、伊利诺伊州、爱荷华州、印第安纳州和宾夕法尼亚州。第19届年度MMPC将于2012年9月7日至9月9日在威斯康星州密尔沃基举行，并将由威斯康星州医学院组织。MMPC是一个主要的科学场所，支持下一代研究科学家的发展，包括那些来自代表性不足的人口。除了为研究人员提供一个互动和引人入胜的科学论坛来展示他们的工作外，MMPC还促进了有意义的合作，并促进了来自中西部的研究人员和机构之间的网络联系。区域可访问性，相对较低的会议成本，以及为选定的与会者提供的旅行和/或注册支持，使这次会议能够吸引来自中西部各地的不同群体的与会者。至少有50%的被邀请做口头报告的演讲者是初级教师（助理教授），他们经常展示自己的能力。 自建立自己的实验室以来的第一次正式研讨会。一些研究生和博士后研究员也被邀请口头介绍，为这些学员提供了一个宝贵的机会，展示他们的研究在一个合议和互动的环境。重要的是，今年的MMPC包含了几项新的举措和/或内容，目的是加强科学培训和/或职业发展。一如既往，做出了特别努力，鼓励科学界代表性不足的少数群体，包括妇女参加。因此，MMPC支持与国家卫生研究院的科学任务和一般公共卫生直接相关的各种活动。 公共卫生相关性：一年一度的中西部微生物发病机理会议（MMPC）是一个主要的场所，旨在促进位于美国中西部地区的微生物发病机理研究人员之间的相互作用。它为微生物发病机理领域研究的前沿信息交流提供了一个论坛，并为寻求了解影响微生物与人类宿主之间相互作用的机制的年轻和成熟科学家提供培训，职业发展和网络机会。MMPC的重点直接适用于美国国立卫生研究院支持的科学任务和一般公共卫生领域，包括 识别、验证和表征新的治疗靶点和对抗人类传染病的策略。

Description (as provided by the applicant): The Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference (MMPC) is a longstanding scientific event that brings together established and junior investigators from the Midwest to present and discuss cutting-edge research in the field of microbial pathogenesis. The first MMPC convened in 1994 at the University of Iowa; the meeting has been held every year since, alternating venues between different academic institutions within the Midwest. Between 200-300 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, junior faculty, and established investigators participate in this meeting annually, with attendees hailing from Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. The 19th annual MMPC is being held in Milwaukee, WI, from September 7-September 9, 2012, and will be organized by the Medical College of Wisconsin. The MMPC is a major scientific venue, supporting the development of the next generation of research scientists including those from underrepresented populations. Apart from providing an interactive and engaging scientific forum for investigators to present their work, the MMPC fosters meaningful collaborations and promotes networking between investigators and institutions from around the Midwest. The regional accessibility, relatively low meeting costs, and travel and/or registration support provided for select attendees, allows this meeting to attract a diverse group of participants from around the Midwest. At least 50% of speakers invited to give oral presentations are junior faculty (Assistant Professors) who are often presenting their first formal seminar since establishing their own laboratory. A select number of graduate student and postdoctoral fellows are also invited to present orally, providing these trainees with an invaluable opportunity to showcase their research in a collegial and interactive environment. Importantly, this year's MMPC contains several new initiatives and/or components with the goal of enhancing scientific training and/or career development. As always, special efforts have been made to encourage attendance by underrepresented minorities in science, including women. Thus, the MMPC supports a variety of activities that are directly relevant to the scientific missions of the National Institutes of Health and to public health in general. Public Health Relevance: The annual Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference (MMPC) is a major venue that seeks to promote interactions between microbial pathogenesis researchers located within the Midwest region of the United States. It provides a forum for the exchange of cutting-edge information on research in the field of microbial pathogenesis, and provides training, career development, and networking opportunities for both young and established scientists who seek to understand mechanisms influencing interactions between microbes and their human host. The focus of the MMPC is directly applicable to the scientific missions supported by the National Institutes of Health and the field of public health in general, including the identification, validation, and characterization of new therapeutic targets and strategies for combating human infectious diseases.