Translational Neuroimmunology - Project Summary
The purpose of this R13 proposal is to support the attendance of trainees, young investigators, and individuals
historically underrepresented in science and medicine, at the 2024 FASEB Conference: Translational
Neuroimmunology: From Bench to Bedside and Back. This will be the 16th biannual FASEB Neuroimmunology
conference, the first having been held in 1988. The current meeting will be held July 28-August 1, 2024 at the
Niagara Falls Conference Center. Neuroimmunology is one of the fastest growing fields in biomedical research
and has been highly successful in terms of the translation of wet bench discoveries into impactful clinical
therapies. The overall objective of this conference is to bring together diverse leading experts and trainees
engaged in neuroimmunology research from a broad range of perspectives, in a collegial and supportive
environment. The specific goals are to: 1) provide a forum for the presentation of unpublished, cutting-edge
research on the intersection of the immune and nervous systems in human health and disease, by speakers
from diverse backgrounds; 2) provide opportunities for both formal and informal discussions amongst world
experts to promote new collaborations and new efforts to translate scientific insights from “bench to bedside”;
3) support the participation of young investigators, particularly those traditionally under-represented in the field,
and facilitate their integration into the broader research community in a meaningful and interactive way; (4)
promote career development skills and principles of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in the design,
conduct and evaluation of research and the development of the neuroimmunology workforce. The program is
intentionally multifaceted in a single-track, without competing talks, to ensure that attendees working on
different aspects of neuroimmunology research have the opportunity to meet colleagues with complementary
interests and areas of expertise to inspire new ideas and collaborative projects. The agenda also consists of
poster sessions, workshops and “Meet the Expert” sessions and unscheduled afternoon time to encourage
informal communications. These collective features of the conference will facilitate brainstorming and
mentoring in a variety of formats. A priority is to inspire women scientists, and learners and junior faculty from
groups that are traditionally underrepresented in science and medicine, and to connect those individuals with
role models, future mentors, and peers, thereby strengthening their commitment to Neuroimmunology
research. To that end, we are sponsoring workshops on “Fostering Diversity and Equity in study design and
the Neuroimmunology Workforce.” and “Scientific Transparency and Rigor” as well as a career panel
discussion on ““Career pathways from academia to industry.” This conference is designed to foster new,
creative partnerships and mentorships among wet bench scientists, clinical trialists/ researchers, and clinicians
who are focused on neuroimmunology, ultimately leading to clinical advances and the long-term success of the
field.
