2024 Biology of Acute Respiratory Infection Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar

Project Summary Despite the public health impact of acute respiratory infections (e.g. the COVID pandemic), conferences focused on lung infections are remarkably scant, making this Gordon Research Conference (GRC) titled Biology of Acute Respiratory Infection which meets every 2-years particularly impactful. The theme for 2024 is Microbial and Host

Mechanisms Regulating Infection and Outcomes. This conference is designed to facilitate interaction and collaboration between microbiologists, immunologists, pulmonologists, infectious disease physicians, veterinarians, epidemiologists, public health officials, and others in related biomedical fields and at different

stages of their career, who do not usually attend the same meetings. It is purposely designed with speakers working on bacterial, viral and fungal pathogen-induced pneumonia to allow for cross-disciplinary insights. Important in the design of the conference is the integration of basic and applied scientists from academia,

industry and the government from around the world. The GRC is preceded by the Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), a unique forum for trainees and early career scientists with comparable levels of experience to present and exchange new data and cutting-edge ideas. The primary goals of the Biology of Respiratory Infections

GRC/GRS are to 1) to promote an interdisciplinary, coordinated approach to understanding and controlling acute respiratory infections by integrating the scientific input from clinicians, public health, and basic scientists; 2) To afford early career scientists multiple opportunities to present their work to leading world experts; and 3) provide

a forum to facilitate collaborations. A secondary goal is to provide training and career development opportunities for both new faculty and trainees at the associated GRS and throughout the meeting. Interwoven in this goal is opportunity for women and others from underrepresented groups to interact and develop relationships (e.g.,

mentors) with successful scientists from these same groups. These goals will be accomplished by organizing a format where basic scientists meet and interact with physicians, public health officials, scientists from industry and the government. The speaking program will include a diverse mixture of invited Senior and Junior Scientists

as well as speakers selected from submitted abstracts. In addition, there will be poster sessions where all attendees will be encouraged to present. The venue and program are designed to encourage social interaction and discussion outside of presentations to provide the opportunity for fruitful exchange of ideas and to enable

development of collaborations and future training opportunities. The GRC Power Hour™ remains an integral part of the conference and is designed to address challenges women and others from underrepresented groups face in science and issues of diversity and inclusion. It is an open forum for discussion and mentoring in a safe

environment that is open to all attendees. This meeting provides the single-most comprehensive venue for discussing the latest advances in pneumonia biology. We have chosen presentations specifically to increase the likelihood that attendees think differently and more creatively about their research endeavors.