Neurobiology of Stress Workshop - Project Summary Exposure to stress at any age is a principal risk factor for the development of mental illnesses like Major Depressive Disorder or Post-traumatic stress disorder, and the mechanisms by which stress can lead to the cognitive and emotional symptoms that characterize these conditions are a major subject of research in neuroscience laboratories across the world. To facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing, and translational efforts among stress neuroscientists, the Stress Neurobiology Workshop was founded in 2010 and has met biennially since then. The meeting features talks from leaders in the field as well as up-and-coming early career scientists, in addition to daily poster sessions and networking opportunities for trainees. The upcoming Stress Neurobiology Workshop will take place June 4-7, 2024 in Boston, MA. We have developed a rigorous scientific program that reflects the diversity within our field, with session topics ranging from the critical window of adolescence to state-of-the-art dissections of neural circuits and ensembles that mediate the stress response. One session will be dedicated to the scientific legacy of Dr. Bruce McEwen, a titan in the field of stress neurobiology. To shine a direct spotlight on the unique stressors experienced by people in minoritized communities, one session will focus on research that has identified discrete markers of stress in racial, gender, and sexual minorities, as well as a workshop on the trauma of racism. Finally, we are fully committed to promoting career development for trainees and early stage investigators in our field. Their work will be showcased not just through the poster sessions, but also through data blitz presentations by travel award winners, and the selection of one postdoc talk for each of the five scientific sessions. In addition, trainees can choose to be matched with a senior mentor who will meet with them one-on-one throughout the meeting and provide feedback on their posters and/or CVs. Funds received through this grant will be dedicated exclusively to support of trainees.
