GI Epithelium: Interface with the Outside World - This application is seeking travel support for Early-Career investigators, students, and post-docs to travel attend a Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Scientific Research Conference focused on inspiring and energizing the gastrointestinal (GI) research community: GI Epithelium 2025: Specialization, Plasticity, and Pathways to Disease. The meeting, scheduled for the week of September 7th, 2025, at Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center in Southbridge, MA, will help prepare the next generation of independent researchers focused on GI health and disease. The organizers of the meeting are all funded by the National Institute for Digestive Disease and Kidney, and we share the goal of strengthening innovative science that will positively impact health related to the gastrointestinal tract. The FASEB Gastrointestinal Track Scientific Conferences represent a series of highly successful conferences held biennially since 1985 with the addition of a GI epithelial meeting on alternating years starting in 2023. Given the breadth, depth, and impact of research into gastrointestinal physiology and pathology, as well as the benefits of in-person interaction, it is appropriate to hold an annual meeting for exchange of ideas, new knowledge of the field, nurturing collaborations, and mentoring the next generation of GI investigators. In the last 15 years, advances in multi-omic technologies, organoid models, single-cell approaches, spatial transcriptomics, and stem cell culture methodologies have spurred major growth in impactful science studying the role of the gastrointestinal epithelium in health and disease. To reflect this progress, we have identified leaders in the field to serve as keynote and anchor speakers in sessions throughout the meeting. In addition to these well-established speakers, our goal is to intentionally invite and include early-career investigators, students, post-docs in the meeting to mix with the more established career leaders, boost their early careers, and create a dynamic meeting and exchange of ideas. Early-stage trainees will also participate in career developing and networking sessions. A workshop in “Best Practices in Research with Organoids” will also help increase rigor and reproducibility across NIDDK funded studies by filling this important need in the field. To ensure participation of early-stage investigators and trainees in this impactful meeting, we are requesting funding to offset travel costs. Our goal with this in-person meeting is to build and strengthen the GI research community and foster new collaborations. While Zoom makes it easier than ever for collaborations between institutions to flourish, in-person meetings remain an essential way to spark and initiate those collaborations and cross-institutional mentorship opportunities. As a group of organizers, we represent both MDs and PhDs, and we recognize that encouraging discussion of key clinical problems in digestive health and identifying creative research approaches takes collaboration and idea-sharing. We are excited about our upcoming meeting and hope to effectively partner with NIH to support the next generation of digestive disease researchers.
