ITC Grant Report – Hanga Kelemen

Conference Details

Conference title: International Behavioral Neuroscience Society 32nd Annual Meeting

Conference web-page: https://www.ibnsconnect.org/ibns-2023-niagara-falls-canada

Conference venue: Sheraton Fallsview Hotel, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Conference start and end date: 25/06/2023 to 30/06/2023

Poster contribution details

Title of the poster presentation: Cognitive dysfunction caused by perinatal asphyxia in inflammation-sensitized mice

Session: Poster session II

Outcome of the conference participation

The Annual Meeting of the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society has been held in Niagara Falls between 25-30 of June 2023. The Conference has created a high-quality professional atmosphere for young and senior researchers to share their newest data on a wide range of scientific topics, including the long-term neuropsychiatric effects of early life influences – one of the focus points and main interests of my work. Therefore, the Conference has been an excellent opportunity to increase my knowledge on the aspects of preclinical modelling and measuring of neurodevelopmental disorders in a top-down behaviour-based approach. My poster presentation on the topic of higher-order cognitive brain function damage following a double hit of systemic inflammation and a hypoxic-ischaemic injury has been relevant for its perspective on the highly discussed effects of early life stress on later-manifesting neuropsychiatric consequences and for its methodological design as well. The used automated behavioural testing systems (e.g., IntelliCage) represented a novel approach with only a few similar implementations throughout the Conference, giving rise to many questions from fellow researchers during my poster session. The IBNS has highly emphasized networking between PhD candidates and experienced senior researchers, with events such as “Meet the Professionals”, “IBNS Trainee Social” or “Women in learning” – in all of which I have participated, creating a friendly and open environment to discuss research topics and to get academic carrier advice as well. For instance, I have had the opportunity to discuss scientific issues and personal carrier questions with Dani Dumitriu MD, PhD from Columbia University, a preclinical researcher and paediatrician interested in the translationally relevant modelling of vulnerability to psychiatric disorders, with a focus on early life environmental factors, opening opportunities for future collaborations between our research groups.

The IBNS 32nd Annual Meeting has represented my first contribution to large-scale, internationally recognised conference in the field of behavioural neuroscience and has inspired and motivated me to try and broaden my knowledge about the theoretical and methodological possibilities within the confines of my research topic.