Funding for Renal/Urothelial trainees and junior investigators at the American Physiology Society Summit ETG Sessions

University Of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore MD

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract This application requests funding to support the travel expenses of trainees and junior investigators focusing on renal and urothelial epithelial physiology, to present their research at the Epithelial Transport Group (ETG) scientific sessions at the American Physiological Society (APS) Summit Meeting 2025. For the past two years APS has hosted a standalone annual meeting, the APS Summit, a newly formatted experience focused on innovative and collaborate research, built by physiologists and with a strong emphasis on the training and support of trainees and new investigators. The goals of ETG / Renal sections and this R13 application strongly complement APS’s mission to advance the discipline of Physiology, to benefit the community, and to train and excite the next generation of scientific thought leaders. The APS Summit, and all ETG / Renal sessions will take place April 24th – 27th, 2025, at the Baltimore Convention Center, MD. The Baltimore Convention Center is centrally located on the US East Coast and easily accessible by car, rail, and airplane. The Convention Center is also ADA-compliant with infrastructure for individuals with disabilities and special needs. The ETG has a longstanding history of promoting interactions among physiologists from diverse backgrounds who study biological processes in epithelia and encourages trainees and junior investigators to develop research careers in epithelial biology. Based on prior experience and survey data, trainees consistently view the annual ETG sessions as a valuable training experience that reinforces their interest in the field and promotes retention in renal epithelial-centric biomedical research. Thus, we strive to optimize trainee exposure to ETG-related events by providing travel award support for trainees and junior investigators with limited travel resources. This application will solely focus on supporting early career researchers focused on KUH-centric related research areas. The ETG Aims for the meeting are to provide trainees and junior investigators (1) forums to present their work; (2) excellent state-of-the-art scientific symposium and lectures; (3) opportunities to network with their peers and more senior scientists in kidney, urothelial and epithelial transport fields. The 2025 APS Summit agenda includes more than 15 renal / urothelial focused sessions developed by the ETG and Renal Section. All trainees who submit ETG-based abstracts to the Renal Section will be eligible for travel awards. The abstracts will be reviewed and scored jointly by members of both the Renal Section and ETG Steering Committees. The travel awards will be allocated based on merit. Award amounts will be contingent on the funds that are available. Regardless of the amount; however, the budget incorporates an additional supplement to awardees with child/family care needs in order to encourage meeting participation by trainees with primary child/family care responsibilities. This is extended to other non-traditional family support needs. Top scoring abstracts will be selected for oral presentations in the Hebert Lecture, the Ussing Lecture, and other Renal/ETG-based sessions. In 2025, these prestigious lectureships will recognize Drs. Edith Hummler (Hebert) and Alan Verkman (Ussing) for their important contributions to epithelial biology and transport. These mixed format symposium have proven popular among trainees, as it provides an exciting opportunity for talented early career physiologists to present their research alongside preeminent scientists in a formal, but collegial setting. We will continue our extremely popular Young Investigator Epithelial Transport Symposium, which had record breaking attendance in 2024. This “pre-meeting” will provide additional opportunities for trainees and junior investigators to orally present their work in a less formal atmosphere, with networking coffee breaks, lunches and networking sessions. An interactive area framed as “The Hub”, will serve as a meeting point for ETG-related Renal research, and provide an area for flash-talks, discussions and networking amongst prominent scientists. This will include the “Meet the Experts” sessions. Given ETG’s commitment to diversity and trainee mentoring, we believe that the support provided by this application will dovetail with the proposed meeting structure to enhance career development of early career researchers interested in renal epithelial and urothelial physiology. Together, this will serve our long-term goal of maintaining the pipeline of epithelial biologists in biomedical research careers related to the goals of KUH.