40th National Neurotrauma Society (NNS) Annual Symposium 2023 - Celebrating the Landmarks of Neurotrauma

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract Neurotrauma, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI), affects millions of people worldwide yearly. The National Neurotrauma Society (NNS) is committed to the promotion of neurotrauma research by enhancing communication, providing a forum for scientific exchange, and increasing national and international support for neurotrauma research and clinical advances. Every year, the society holds a symposium to meet this goal and provide a forum for researchers, clinicians, and trainees from around the world to meet and discuss the latest breakthroughs to improve the lives of individuals living with TBI and SCI related disability. The 40th Annual Neurotrauma Symposium, jointly sponsored by the NNS and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons (AANS/CNS) Joint Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care will be held in Austin, TX, June 25- June 28, 2023. As the 40th anniversary of the symposium and 35th anniversary of the founding of the NNS as an independent society, this meeting will focus on showcasing the latest ground-breaking achievements in the neurotrauma field while celebrating the foundational research that established the field and continues to influence emerging knowledge and tools to improve neurotrauma research and clinical care. Broad objectives of the Symposium are to update attendees on current and timely topics in basic and clinical neurotrauma, to facilitate exchange of information among participants and to build new scientific collaborations, with a foundation in rigor, reproducibility, transparency and translation. A centerpiece of the Symposium is to foster participation and active engagement of trainees and young investigators, through our travel awards, poster competition, data blitz oral presentations, workshops and activities from the Training, Education and Mentoring (TEAM) Committee. NIH funding for previous NNS Symposiums has provided invaluable support for scientific sessions and for enhancing our ability to reach graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, residents, and young investigators. NIH support helps the NNS to provide travel awards to continue to promote attendance for trainees, including underrepresented minorities (URM), women, and persons with disabilities. This application seeks funding to support 25 pre-and-postdoctoral trainees to present their ongoing work, attend scientific sessions, and to network with peers and faculty. Of the 25 trainees, 5 will be URM and persons with disabilities as the society strives to continue to promote and retain diversity. In addition, we request support for programming for trainee and young investigator development sessions, sponsored by the TEAM Committee. Finally, we request support to continue our Local Diversity Scholars Program (LDSP), successfully initiated in 2022, which provides support for undergraduate and graduate students from local Historical Back Colleges & Universities (HBCU) in Austin to attend the NNS Symposium, be paired with a NNS faculty mentor, and receive training to promote interest in careers in neurotrauma and neuroscience research.