THIS PROPOSAL IS A CONFERENCE GRANT APPLICATION IN SUPPORT OF THE PLANNED 2022 ASPEN PERINATAL BIOLOGY SYMPOSIUM ENTITLED "DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMMING - PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER" TO BE HELD IN ASPEN, COLORADO, AUGUST 28 - 31, 2022. A MAJOR GOAL OF THIS SYMPOSIUM IS TO BRING TOGETHER APPLIED AND BASIC SCIENTISTS AND ESTABLISHED SENIOR AND JUNIOR INVESTIGATORS FROM CLINICAL MEDICINE TO APPLIED LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO PROVIDE A TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO GENERATE NEW HYPOTHESES AND COLLABORATIONS RELATED TO HEALTH AND LIFELONG PRODUCTIVITY. OBJECTIVES ARE TO: 1) UNDERSTAND CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS ASSOCIATED WITH MATERNAL, FETAL AND PLACENTAL ADAPTATIONS DURING PREGNANCY, 2) DISCUSS CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF MECHANISMS IMPORTANT FOR GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, MATURATION AND FUNCTION OF FETAL ORGAN SYSTEMS, 3) UNDERSTAND THE INFLUENCE OF ADVERSE INTRAUTERINE ENVIRONMENTS ON FETAL AND POSTNATAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND 4) IDENTIFY KEY FACTORS/MECHANISMS CONTRIBUTING TO THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMMING ON POSTNATAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES TRAINEES AND EARLY CAREER INVESTIGATORS MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO NETWORK WITH ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATORS. EMPHASIS ON DIVERSITY IN TERMS OF CAREER LEVEL, GENDER, AND MINORITY INCLUSION WILL ADDRESS SEVERAL AFRI GOALS, INCLUDING: 1) SATISFY HUMAN FOOD AND FIBER NEEDS; 2) SUSTAIN THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF FARM OPERATIONS; AND 3) ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR FARMERS AND SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. THIS CONFERENCE PROPOSAL ADDRESSES FY2021 ANIMAL REPRODUCTION PROGRAM PRIORITY "EMBRYONIC AND FETAL DEVELOPMENT" AND ANIMAL NUTRITION, GROWTH AND LACTATION PROGRAM PRIORITY "METABOLIC DISORDERS AND NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES AFFECTING PRODUCTION OF MEAT, MILK, EGGS, AND ANIMAL FIBER."