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.
