7th International Enteric Nervous System Development Meeting: Connection, Cross-talk and Collaboration - Project Summary/Abstract In the past several decades, researchers have made extraordinary progress in our understanding of enteric nervous system (ENS) development and function. Vital scientific advances have occurred in identifying the major signaling pathways, transcription control, migratory behavior, enteric neuronal and glial subtypes, microenvironmental factors, genetics, and neurotransmitter physiology require for normal ENS development. This exponential growth in scientific contributions to the field of ENS development has greatly enhanced our understanding of Hirschsprung's disease, the most common congenital enteric neuropathy, and has informed recent studies in the generation of neuronal stem/progenitor cells for cell-based regenerative medicine therapies to treat enteric neuropathies. The first international ENS development meeting occurred in New York in 2006, supported in part by a R13 grant from the NIH. This triennial meeting was subsequently held in London (2009), Hong Kong (2012), Rotterdam (2015), Boston (2018), and Ferrara (2022). The symposium is truly bench to bedside, bringing together bench researchers such as molecular and cellular biologists, geneticists, physiologists, and stem cell investigators and bedside clinicians such as gastroenterologists and surgeons, who all share a common interest in the development and function of the ENS and improving current management for enteric neuropathies. All of the ENS development meetings have been quite successful, with a growing number of attendees from 130 to nearly 200 in recent years from over 20 different countries in 5 continents from around the world. The 7th International Enteric Nervous System Development Meeting: Connection, Cross-talk and Collaboration will be held in Philadelphia in March 2024. This will be the first meeting focused on ENS development held in the U.S. since the COVID-19 pandemic and builds upon the success of prior meetings as well as the growing significance and relevance of ENS research. The specific aims of this R13 application are 1) to encourage and inspire the participation of young investigators, especially groups under-represented in science such as women, minorities, and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals at this 7th International ENS Development Symposium by offering 20 Travel Awards to offset registration costs and travel expenses as well as 12 Scientific Merit Awards to highlight and promote accomplished young investigators; and 2) to improve the likelihood of long-term success for young investigators pursuing academic careers in the field of ENS development and function by establishing lasting mentored relationships with select faculty and members of the meeting’s International Organizing Committee. We anticipate that this unique ENS Development meeting will build meaningful mentorship and collaborations that will enhance the career development of the award recipients.
