**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE 11TH INTERNATIONAL SHIGA (VEROCYTOTOXIN) PRODUCING ESCHERICHIA COLI INFECTIONS SYMPOSIUM (INTERNATIONAL VTEC SYMPOSIUM) IS A UNIQUE SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE IN THE FOOD SAFETY SPACE. THIS ONE OF A KIND CONFERENCE BRINGS TOGETHER APPROXIMATELY 400 RESEARCHERS AND CLINICIANS FROM ALL THE DISCIPLINES IN VTEC RESEARCH, INDUSTRY, AND POLICY MAKERS TOGETHER IN A CLOISTERED ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGES CROSS-DISCIPLINARY DISCUSSIONS. THIS SUCCESSFUL MEETING HAS BEEN HELD EVERY THREE YEARS SINCE 1991, AT LOCATIONS AROUND THE WORLD: BERGAMO (ITALY), BALTIMORE, KYOTO (JAPAN), EDINBURGH (UK), MELBOURNE (AUSTRALIA), BUENOS AIRES (ARGENTINA), AMSTERDAM (NETHERLANDS), BOSTON, AND FLORENCE (ITALY). THIS IMPORTANT, TRANS-DISCIPLINARY FOOD SAFETY MEETING WILL BE HELD IN BANFF, ALBERTA ON 7-10 MAY 2023. ATTENDANCE IS EXPECTED FROM AT LEAST 15 NATIONS. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS MEETING IS TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF THE FOOD SUPPLY BY: 1) CALLING ATTENTION TO THE IMPACTS OF VTEC ON HUMAN HEALTH, AND 2) RAISING THE PROFILE OF THE HOLISTIC NATURE OF THE VTEC CLINICAL AND RESEARCH PICTURE. THESE GOALS WILL BE MET THROUGH INFORMATION PROVIDED BY A MIXTURE OF KNOWLEDGEABLE EXPERTS ON THE VARIOUS FACETS OF VTEC IN HUMANS, ANIMALS AND THE FOOD SUPPLY. GRANT SUPPORT FOR THE CONFERENCE WILL BE USED SOLELY FOR US SPEAKERS AND TO SUPPORT 10 US GRADUATE STUDENTS TO ATTEND AND NETWORK AT THIS IMPORTANT FOOD SAFETY CONFERENCE.