Project description:The 13th International Podocyte Conference was held in Manchester, UK, and online from July 28 to 30, 2021. Originally planned for 2020, this biannual meeting was postponed by a year because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and proceeded as an innovative hybrid meeting. In addition to in-person attendance, online registration was offered, and this attracted 490 conference registrations in total. As a Podocyte Conference first, a day for early-career researchers was introduced. This premeeting included talks from graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. It gave early career researchers the opportunity to ask a panel, comprising academic leaders and journal editors, about career pathways and the future for podocyte research. The main meeting over 3 days included a keynote talk and 4 focused sessions each day incorporating invited talks, followed by selected abstract presentations, and an open panel discussion. The conference concluded with a Patient Day, which brought together patients, clinicians, researchers, and industry representatives. The Patient Day was an interactive and diverse day. As well as updates on improving diagnosis and potential new therapies, the Patient Day included a PodoArt competition, exercise and cooking classes with practical nutrition advice, and inspirational stories from patients and family members. This review summarizes the exciting science presented during the 13th International Podocyte Conference and demonstrates the resilience of researchers during a global pandemic.
Project description:The 2019 Addiction Health Services Research (AHSR) Conference was held from October 16 to 18, 2019 in Park City, Utah. The conference was hosted by the Program for Addiction, Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy within the Division of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine. AHSR is an annual conference to share discoveries, network with colleagues, and learn the most up-to-date research regarding how to identify, assess, and treat persons with addictions. This commentary contains 2019 AHSR specific goals and descriptions of content shared at this year's conference. Descriptions include information regarding pre-conference activities and conference plenaries, mentorship opportunities, and investigator awardees. Commentary also includes acknowledgments of those who assisted in making the 2019 AHSR Conference possible. Additionally, abstracts of the scientific research presented at the conference are included.