Vestibular Oriented Research Meeting - Project Summary/Abstract We propose that the 2027 Vestibular Oriented Research (VOR) Meeting will be held at the University of Nevada, Reno in Reno, Nevada from June 7-9, 2027. Similar follow-up meetings will be held in 2029 and 2031. The overall goal of these meetings is to advance collaborative, interdisciplinary research aimed at improving understanding of vestibular function in health and disease. The VOR Meeting series has been held successfully every two years since 2019 (2019, 2021 [virtual], 2023, and 2025), establishing a highly interactive forum that brings together a diverse community of vestibular researchers. The meetings fill a gap by bringing together investigators from many vestibular disciplines across academia and medicine including audiologists, cellular and systems neuroscientists, neuroengineers, neurologists, otologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists. No other meeting is designed to attract such a multidisciplinary array of vestibular researchers. Scientific content will span all major aspects of vestibular research, including but not limited to: (a) structure and function in the vestibular inner ear , (b) central vestibular information processing, (c) visual-vestibular integration, (d) behavioral and systems-level studies of vestibulo-ocular reflexes and balance, (e) aging and vestibular dysfunction, and (f) computational modeling and vestibular neuroengineering. Core objectives of the VOR Meeting are to: (i) promote a strong scientific community, (ii) foster rigorous scientific discussion and interdisciplinary interaction, (iii) support the professional development of trainees and early-career investigators from a variety of disciplines, and (iv) stimulate collaborative research efforts, including the sharing of unique resources and methodologies. As in prior meetings, the 2027 VOR Meeting will prioritize trainee engagement by providing financial support to offset conference-related costs for students and postdoctoral fellows. This support will enable trainees to present their work, develop new ideas, and establish professional networks. The 2027 meeting is being organized by Multi-PI Dr. P MacNeilage (University of Nevada, Reno) and Multi-PI Dr. D Chari (Mass Eye and Ear/ Harvard Medical School), together with Co-Is Dr. T. Clark (University of Colorado-Boulder), Dr. RA Eatock (University of Chicago), Dr. D Merfeld (Ohio State University), Dr. W Yates (University of Pittsburgh), Dr. M Schubert (Johns Hopkins University), and Dr. R Rabbitt (University of Utah). This leadership team reflects broad expertise across vestibular physiology, systems neuroscience, neuroengineering, and clinical neurootology. The University of Nevada, Reno, the proposed 2027 venue, provides a stimulating environment with space and amenities well suited to focused scientific exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration. The sites of the 2029 and 2031 meetings will be determined at the business meetings for the 2027 and 2029 conferences, respectively.
