Dear colleagues,

I’d like to personally invite you to attend the 16th annual meeting of the Iowa Physiological Society, to be held on Saturday, September 29th at Des Moines University. The mission of the Iowa Physiological Society (IPS) is to unite physiologists in enhancing, networking and advancing physiology throughout the State of Iowa. This is at the molecular, cellular, organ and whole body levels. Both basic and applied research as well as teaching are included.

As such, the program will include a combination of oral and poster presentations on both Research and Education in Physiology. The Keynote Address in Physiological Research will be delivered by Michael Sturek, PhD, Indiana University School of Medicine. The Keynote Address in Physiological Education will be delivered by Dee Silverthorn, PhD, University of Texas at Austin.

This year there will be group activities that discuss on current challenges in physiological research and education in the many different environments. These discussions will hopefully provide the ground for further communication, and mutual learning and collaboration among participants in both research and teaching. The discussions will be facilitated by a panel of experts, but are expected to bring everyone together in meeting the challenges we face in research and teaching today.

We invite abstract submission from faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students. Abstracts can be in either physiological research or education. We are happy to announce that there will be poster competition for graduate and undergraduate students, with $200, $100, and $50 awards to first, second and third place winners in each category.

Below you will find a preliminary program and link to submit your abstracts as well as abstract judgment criteria. We look forward to your participation in the program and a successful meeting!

Yours sincerely,

Kim Tran
President, Iowa Physiological Society

Target Audience

Scientists, physician scientists, educators, undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows.

Objectives

1. Exchange the latest progresses in the field of physiological research and education.
2. Exchange best approaches to meet the current challenges in physiological education at different environments.
3. Discuss challenges to doing research at different environments in the current climate of funding and ways to meet those challenges.
4. Enhance communication, interaction and collaboration among scientists, educators and students via the above activities.

Agenda

Keynote Speakers

Michael Sturek, PhD
Professor and Chair, Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine

Dee Silverthorn, PhD
Senior Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin

Abstract Guidelines

We are excited to announce the IPS Meeting will be offering a poster session and all students and faculty attending are invited to participate.

Criteria

Faculty, students and trainees are encouraged to submit abstracts. There is no limit on the number of abstracts a person can submit. Prizes of $200, $100 and $50 will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners in both the undergraduate and graduate poster competition categories. Competing posters will be judged on the following criteria:

• Layout:  Does the overall layout of the poster facilitate comprehension of the research?
• Abstract:  Is the abstract an accurate summary of the work?
• Question:  Is there a clear statement of the question, hypothesis or purpose?
• Methods:  Are the methods presented clearly and completely?
• Results:  Is there a logical presentation of the results with clear descriptive headers for each section?
• Figures:  Are figures and tables easy to read and interpret?
• Conclusions:  Are the conclusions appropriate and distinct from the summary of results?
• Oral Presentation:  Is the verbal presentation well organized, appropriate for the target audience, complete, and concise?
• Response to Questions:  Are the answers to questions accurate and focused?
• Overall:  How well do the poster and the verbal presentation convey the project as important scientific research?
• Deadline to register your poster and submit your abstract is:  September 23, 2012.

Poster Guidelines

Posters should be no more than 5? wide and 4? high. Materials to hang your poster will be available onsite. On the day of the program, posters must be displayed in the Olson Medical Education Center by 9:00 a.m. and removed at the end of the meeting.

Registration

Registration will include continental breakfast, lunch, afternoon refreshment, and program syllabus. Registration will close on September 27, 2012.

Registration

• Students – $20.00
• Postdoctoral Research Fellows – $30.00
• IPS Professional Members – $45.00
• Non-IPS Members and other professionals – $55.00

On-Site Registration

• Students – $30.00
• Postdoctoral Research Fellows – $40.00
• IPS Professional Members – $55.00
• Non-IPS Members and other professionals – $65.00

Cancellation Policy

• All cancellations must be received in writing at cme@dmu.edu.
• A nonrefundable administrative fee of $10 will be charged for all cancellations.
• No refunds will be given three (3) business days prior to the activity start date.
• Cancelled registrations can be transferred to another individual for the same activity. 
• Individuals who fail to attend the activity (no-shows) will not receive any refund. Forfeited fees may not be applied to any other activity. 

Please note these important dates:

• Register your poster and submit abstract:  September 23, 2012
• Posters submitted to the print shop and proofs signed:  September 24, 2012
• Registration closed:  September 27, 2012