2024 Thalamocortical Interactions Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar

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 The speakers are at the forefront of their fields and are instructed to present unpublished work, thus ensuring that the research discussed is cutting-edge and timely.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.