No Brainer: Functional Mapping of the Peripheral Nervous System
This meeting will convene a diverse group of researchers spanning the somatic, autonomic, and enteric divisions of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) to explore its full functional diversity in vertebrates. By bringing together multiple disciplines, we hope to spark integrative discussions that highlight how these three major divisions interact, overlap, and inform one another. The program will feature recent scientific breakthroughs, novel methodologies, and emerging technologies that are pushing the boundaries of how we understand the PNS. A central goal is to encourage meaningful crosstalk across divisions, recognizing that many of the most exciting insights emerge at the intersections. With the field of PNS research expanding rapidly, this meeting arrives at a critical moment—one where new connections can drive the next wave of discovery. We expect this conference to serve not only as a showcase for cutting-edge research but also as a catalyst for future innovation and interdisciplinary partnerships.
The intimate nature of Janelia meetings fosters an interactive and collaborative environment, with researchers across disciplines coming together for an intense, focused, 3-day gathering to tackle some of the most outstanding questions in mammalian development.
Janelia will cover lodging and meals for all participants, and travel support is available to those in need (please indicate need in that portion of the application). Participants are expected to stay for the duration of the meeting.
The meeting will begin at 6pm ET on the first day and end by 1pm ET on the last.
Application deadline: May 14, 2026 (11:59pm ET).
Please note: Because Janelia conferences are intentionally small and selective, we may not be able to accommodate all applicants. We strive for a broad representation across labs and therefore may limit participation to one person per group. Preference is given to applicants who are active researchers in the field and intend to present their work as a poster or selected talk.
Organizers
Stephen Liberles, HHMI/Harvard Medical School
Ardem Patapoutian, Scripps Research
Marissa Scavuzzo, Case Western Reserve University
Invited Participants
Ishmail Abdus-Saboor, HHMI/Columbia University
Amber Alhadeff, Monell Chemical Senses Center
Begüm Aydin, Rockefeller University
John Campbell, University of Virginia
Rui Chang, Yale University
Alexander Chesler, National Institutes of Health/NCCIH
Isaac Chiu, Harvard Medical School
Hans Clevers, Roche
Michael Do, Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Xinzhong Dong, HHMI/Johns Hopkins University
Xin Duan, University of California, San Francisco
Isabel Espinosa Medina, HHMI/Janelia Research Campus
Faranak Fattahi, University of California, San Francisco
David Ginty, HHMI/Harvard Medical School
Jeffrey Holt, Harvard Medical School
Julia Kaltschmidt, Stanford University
Emily Liman, University of Southern California
Stavros Lomvardas, Columbia University
Lindsey Macpherson, University of Texas at San Antonio
Ulrika Marklund, Karolinska Institute
Kara Marshall, HHMI/Baylor College of Medicine
Mackenzie Mathis, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne
Ulrich Mueller, Johns Hopkins University
Vassilis Pachnis, Francis Crick Institute
Sara Prescott, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Virginia Ruetten, HHMI/Janelia Research Campus
Nikhil Sharma, Columbia University
Li Ye, HHMI/Scripps Research
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Application deadline: May 14, 2026 (11:59pm ET)