Events

Jul

24

Each year, the URMA Annual Conference offers members an unmatched way to learn about best practices, share your wins, and build a professional network. Are you interested in hosting this valuable event on your campus? URMA Conference Mentor Alyssa LaFaro, who hosted the conference in 2024 at UNC-Chapel Hill, will hold an information session for those considering bringing the conference to their campuses or institutions in the next couple of years.

This session will address:
• what hosting entails
• gaining buy-in from your institution’s leadership
• crafting a successful proposal
• working with the URMA board
• logistical and financial aspects of hosting

There will also be time for questions. Even if you’re a little curious about hosting but aren’t quite ready to commit for next year, please feel free to attend to get your questions answered. See you there!

Oct

13

Ongoing basic research to understand how cells decode the information present in our genes has recently made it possible to develop new types of drugs. We will discuss one of the key steps in this genetic decoding, namely how messenger RNA (mRNA) undergoes splicing. Splicing edits each mRNA to remove non-coding segments, so that the information it carries can be used to make a protein. We will also discuss how mRNA splicing can be precisely manipulated with designer drugs called antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), for example to correct defective splicing in the context of disease. One notable example we will discuss is an ASO drug that is being used to prevent or treat a deadly neurodegenerative disease.

This event is free and open to the public.

Mar

19

PIOs are often tasked with finding ways to highlight their institution’s expertise. This session is aimed at discussing ways to do this that don’t rely on traditional news releases. We’ll talk about both formats for highlighting expertise and how to generate story ideas. (Hint: it’s helpful if you know some curious kids!)

Apr

27

The University Research Magazine Association is pleased to announce the Nick Houtman Travel Grants for the annual URMA Conference. Travel grants cover half of URMA conference travel expenses – up to $1,000. This year’s conference at the University of Pennsylvania hosted by Team Penn will be amazing. Registration is online at https://urma.org/2023-conference.

Travel grant recipients are required to submit a brief synopsis of their experiences at the conference to be posted to the URMA website. Priority will be given to URMA members who have not attended the conference. Members who have received a travel grant in the past are not eligible.

The deadline to apply for a travel grant is Friday, May 5. Recipients will be notified by May 12.

The travel grant application is attached. To apply, please return it to me at lindsay.lewis@bcm.edu.