Strategic Conference of Zebrafish Investigators

PROJECT SUMMARY We propose a continuation of the annual Strategic Conference of Zebrafish Investigators (SCZI), the main meeting of principal investigators using the zebrafish model. Previously, this was a biannual conference held in Asilomar, USA. In 2019, the International Zebrafish Society collaborated with the European Zebrafish Society to adopt a 3-year rotation schedule for both their larger International Zebrafish Conference (IZFC) gathering zebrafish researchers at all career stages and the SCZI so that the locations will rotate between US/Canada, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. This new, focused meeting structure aims to promote greater international collaboration by reducing the total number of international conferences, supporting the goals of both societies to increase inclusivity and to reduce the travel-associated carbon footprint. The SCZI is a prime venue for zebrafish principal investigators to discuss current research and promote coordinated advancement of research using zebrafish as a model system (as well as connections to related, emerging aquatic models). The meeting will accommodate up to 200 principal investigators. The proposed 10th SCZI meeting will take place in 2024 in Asilomar, CA; continuation of the series will follow in Europe 2025, Asia-Pacific in 2026, and so on. The zebrafish has become a powerful model organism for the genetic analysis of vertebrate development. Moreover, the zebrafish has emerged as a versatile vertebrate system to model human diseases and discover underlying mechanisms, especially when used in conjunction with other vertebrate models, and to screen for therapeutics and toxins. Advances in forward and in particular, reverse genetics, imaging techniques, transgenesis, and chemical screening are rapidly and widely disseminated throughout an active, collaborative community that has grown in coherence and connectivity through international meetings. The proposed SCZI meeting will continue to foster the critical development of resources, establishment of collaborations, and expansion of interdisciplinary interactions. Importantly, one third of past participants have been new investigators: in addition to the open access to new findings in the field and to establish collaborations, new investigators will have the opportunity to attend discussion sessions on topics such as grant writing and balancing professional development and personal growth chaired by senior investigators. Past meetings have had a solid record of inclusion of women and minority participants, and we will continue to provide inclusive meeting environment. This grant will provide financial assistance for up to 30 US-based junior laboratory heads to attend the conference. Recipients of financial support will be chosen based on the impact and originality of their abstracts as well as considering gender, race, career stage, and need.