The Sex Differences in Immunity GRS provides a unique forum for young doctoral and post-doctoral researchers to present their work, discuss new methods, cutting edge ideas, and pre-published data, as well as to build collaborative relationships with their peers. Experienced mentors and trainee moderators will facilitate active participation in scientific discussion to allow all attendees to be engaged participants rather than spectators.
Biological sex (i.e., differences that arise between males and females based on sex chromosome complement [XX vs. XY in mammals], gonadal tissues (ovaries vs. testes), and circulating sex steroid concentrations) impacts the function of the innate and adaptive immune system. The results are sex differential outcomes in the prevalence and severity of diseases such as autoimmune disease, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious disease. These sex differences in immune responses also impact the efficacy of and adverse reactions associated with vaccines and therapeutics. Although sex differences are widely reported in epidemiological and clinical studies, the inclusion of sex as a biological variable and disaggregation of data by biological sex remains low in biomedical research and clinical trials. Understanding how men, women, and gender minorities are deferentially impacted by their immune responses will allow us to inform better health care practices, vaccine strategies, and therapeutic interventions and is the goal of this Gordon Research Conference series.
As we embark on our second Gordon Research Conference and our first Gordon Research Seminar on Sex Differences in Immunity, our goal is to leverage this opportunity to embrace, celebrate, and learn from the diversity that exists across the fields in which our trainee members are exploring how sex differences in immune responses impact disease outcomes. Our goal is to include trainees studying diseases ranging from autoimmune disorders, metabolic disease, neurological disorders, cancers, and infectious disease. Through sharing of our current research findings, constructive discussion, and networking among peers during and in between our sessions we aim to foster an environment in which we can compare and discuss similarities and differences in our research models that move us towards a broader understanding of the biology of sex differences and how that understanding can improve health outcomes. Beyond highlighting the diversity of our research areas, we also aim to celebrate the diversity of the trainees at the forefront of sex differences in immunology research by enhancing the visibility and inclusion of underrepresented minority trainees at our 2025 meeting. The keynote speaker and mentorship panel portion of the seminar are also designed to give trainees the opportunity to interface with the breadth of career paths available to researchers interested in continuing to shape the field of sex-based immunology.
Application Instructions
The seminar will feature approximately 10 talks and 2 poster sessions. All attendees are expected to actively participate in the GRS, either by giving an oral presentation or presenting a poster. Therefore, all applications must include an abstract.
The seminar chair will select speakers from abstracts submitted by December 22, 2024. Those applicants who are not chosen for talks and those who apply after the deadline to be considered for an oral presentation will be expected to present a poster. In order to participate, you must submit an application by the date indicated in the Application Information section above.
Program Format
Gordon Research Seminars are 2-day meetings which take place on the Saturday and Sunday just prior to the start of the associated GRC. The GRS opens with a 1-hour introductory session on Saturday afternoon, followed by a poster session, dinner and a 2-hour session in the evening. Sunday morning begins with breakfast and is followed by another 2-hour session, a second poster session, and lunch. A final 1-hour session takes place just after lunch, and the associated GRC begins later that evening.
