PISA 2018 Recap

Links of Interest

Final Registration Count: 140 registrants
- 43 Regular members
- 12 Next-Generation members
- 22 Pre-Doctoral Trainee members
- 4 Senior Post-Doctoral Trainee members
- 3 Undergraduate members
- 50 Non-members
- 6 Uncategorized
23 States Represented
3 Countries Represented
107 accepted abstracts

Hosted by the University of Michigan

Pathobiology for Investigators, Students, and Academicians (PISA) is the ASIP’s stand-alone scientific meeting. The first PISA meeting occurred in Baltimore MD in 2015, and subsequent meetings were held in Houston TX in 2016 (hosted by the Department of Pathology at Houston Methodist) and Pittsburgh PA in 2017 (hosted by the Department of Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh). The fourth installment of PISA took place from October 20-22 in Ann Arbor MI, hosted by the Department of Pathology at the University of Michigan. Special thanks to Dr. Chuck Parkos and Dr. Asma Nusrat for hosting the meeting, and for their staff (who supported the efforts of ASIP staff in planning and executing the meeting). PISA 2018 built upon the successes of previously hosted meetings from 2016 and 2017 and was enjoyed by everyone that attended. This year’s meeting was attended by 140 scientists from 23 states and 3 countries. PISA2018 featured five scientific sessions, two lunch sessions, and two poster sessions (reflecting 107 abstracts). Four of the scientific sessions included poster blitzes (short talks based on posters), which were very popular and well received. There were also three meritorious award lectures – Dr. Gabriel Nunez (University of Michigan) delivered the Rous-Whipple Award lecture, Dr. Scott Oakes (University of California at San Francisco) delivered the Outstanding Investigator Award lecture, and Dr. John Hannah (Harvard University) delivered the Cotran Early Investigator Award lecture. Two trainees received meritorious awards (Experimental Pathologist-in Graduate Training Award, and the associated Merit Award). In addition, numerous travel awards were given to young faculty (supported by the George K. Michalopoulos Junior Faculty Travel Awards) and trainees (supported by the A.D.Sobel Education Fund, etc.), and nine attendees received poster awards for their on-site poster presentations (three Gold, three Silver, and three Bronze). The major social/networking event was held at The Big House (the University of Michigan’s football stadium), with special guest Coach Jim Harbaugh greeting meeting attendees, taking pictures, and giving autographs. PISA2018 was supported by unrestricted educational grants from Tempus, Elsevier, and Genentech, and by the ASIP Stowell Fund. PISA2018 was an overwhelming success, and we look forward to our next stand-alone meeting (which will likely be held in 2020)