International Neurotoxicology Association (INA) Conference

Abstract The purpose of the International Neurotoxicity Association (INA) is to foster the science of determining the neural mechanisms and behavioral consequences of toxicant exposure and to encourage international collaborations in neurotoxicology research. The INA bi-annual meeting (this will be the 18th INA convention) is held for the global neurotoxicology community to communicate their latest research findings to their colleagues for critical evaluation and continuing education, and to provide a forum for discussion of future directions for the field of neurotoxicology. Building on the INA meetings of the last decade in Israel (2009), China (2011), The Netherlands (2013), Canada (2015), Brazil (2017) and Germany (2019) we will meet in 2023 in Durham, North Carolina, USA. Durham is located in the Research Triangle Park (RTP) Area, home to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) as well as major research universities, Duke University, the University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University and North Carolina Central University. This venue provides a great opportunity for INA to engage a range of neurotoxicology scientists from government, academic and industry centers, as well as students, including under-represented students. The theme of the meeting is "Integration from high throughput to complex organisms to protect humans from neurotoxicity." Dr. Edward Levin is a past-president of INA and chair of the Local Organizing Committee for the 2023 convention. Dr. Pamela Lein, INA President-elect, is chair of the Scientific Program Committee. Dr. Timothy Shafer is President of INA. Symposia at the INA convention will include: "Mechanisms of chlorpyrifos neurotoxicity and potential relevance to neurodegenerative diseases," "The landscape for regulatory neurotoxicity in the future," "Bridging across experimental model systems to advance neurotoxicology screening with meaning well into the 21st century," "Analyzing multi-dimensional developmental neurotoxicity new approach methodologies: computational approaches to translated outcomes" as well as a special symposium for post-doctoral trainees. Other symposia concerning thyroid hormone disruption, the neurotoxic effects of COVID-19, and neurotoxicity in the peripheral nervous system are under development. Dr. Theodore Slotkin as the inaugural Pioneer in Neurotoxicology awardee will present a keynote talk. Funding is needed for travel and accommodations for non-government speakers. Importantly, to increase diversity in the field, we ask for support of students and post-doctoral trainees from under-represented minorities to participate in the meeting. A write-up of the proceedings of the meeting will be submitted to the peer reviewed journal Neurotoxicology, a leading journal in the field.