PROJECT SUMMARY
The Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on “Thalamocortical Interactions: Thalamic Architecture, Dynamics,
and Function in Health and Disease” will be held from February 18-23, 2024 at the Ventura Beach Marriott Hotel,
in Ventura (California, US). A diverse group of 150-200 participants representing varied areas of expertise,
academic ranks and locales will come together to discuss and debate new findings related to thalamus and its
interactions with cortical and subcortical networks. The meeting will be preceded by a 2-day Gordon Research
Seminar (GRS) organized by and for trainees to promote science communication and mentorship, and to build
community. The Aims are: 1) To highlight recent developments and new areas of thalamic research, from the
molecular level to whole brain function in health and disease; 2) To foster collaborations among investigators at
all career stages who have diverse areas of expertise and are otherwise unlikely to have the opportunity meet,
discuss, and generate new ideas; and 3) To provide scientific and career development for trainees that promotes
gender balance and diversity. Questions to be addressed at this meeting include the role of thalamus in sleep
and arousal, sensory perception, decision-making, changes in behavioral state (e.g. from sleep to arousal to
engagement), global brain dynamics and how recent insights from the laboratory translate to therapeutic
practice. The speakers are at the forefront of their fields and are instructed to present unpublished work, thus
ensuring that the research discussed is cutting-edge and timely. The roster of speakers is fully balanced by
gender, including the keynote session, ~30% of speakers are junior faculty and include Black, Native American,
and LGBTQ+ individuals. Additional events include a “Power Hour”, an interactive exercise designed to help
members of the community identify and dismantle career barriers that women and underrepresented groups still
face, and a Blue Sky discussion, where a panel of the most forward thinking researchers and the audience will
debate future opportunities for the field. Throughout the GRC, trainees will have the opportunity to engage in
pre-arranged one-on-one mentoring sessions with the speakers to get feedback on their scientific projects and
career goals. Each day will also offer opportunities for informal interactions at poster sessions, meals, and other
events. The overall structure of the GRC creates a collegial atmosphere that is intellectually open and energizing,
thus facilitating the exchange of knowledge and ideas. To promote an inclusive environment, the GRC
administrators have identified options for childcare, and the site is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
compliant. Thus, the conference is fine-tuned to foster new insights and collaborations and provide a wide variety
of mentorship opportunities. Our expected outcomes are that participants will leave the conference with fresh
ideas and new collaborations that will advance the field, and that junior colleagues will have established
relationships with other investigators to promote their scientific and career development. Moreover, this
conference will provide an indelible example of how diversity and excellence in science go hand-in-hand.