Progress 04/15/24 to 04/14/25
Outputs
Target Audience:The Swine in Biomedical Research (SBR) Conference 2024, held June 14-18 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, convened a highly interdisciplinary audience aligned with USDA's Animal Health and Production and Animal Products Program. This eighth installment of the conference series emphasized the Animal Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics priority area by bringing together academic researchers, veterinarians, clinicians, industry scientists, and trainees with a shared interest in advancing biomedical and agricultural applications of swine models. Audience Composition by Sector and Discipline: A total of 247 attendees participated. The majority were clinician-scientists and academic researchers (n = 121), including experts in genetics, developmental biology, immunology, physiology, infectious disease, metabolic disease, regenerative medicine, and translational research. Veterinarians and veterinary researchers were specifically targeted for increased engagement. While only 4.5% identified primarily as veterinarians in 2022, 2024 efforts included outreach to veterinary colleges, professional networks, and extension offices to raise DVM attendance. Trainees and early-stage researchers were well represented, with 36 student registrants and an additional 62 identifying as early-career. They were supported through professional development sessions, poster presentations, mentoring mixers, and travel awards (10 total). Industry attendees (n = 31) included representatives from biomedical and agricultural sectors working on model commercialization, pharmaceutical development, gene editing, and diagnostics. Career Stage and Mentorship Participation: Attendees identified as Mid-Career (n = 83), Early-Career (n = 62), Late-Career (n = 66), and Trainee (n = 36). Over 100 attendees volunteered to serve as mentors, supporting the conference's emphasis on professional development and cross-generational training. Dedicated events included a Speed Mentoring session, Early-Stage Investigator/DEI Plenary, and Trainee Mixer. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Racial/ethnic composition: White (185), Asian (32), Latino or Hispanic (13), Black or African American (6), Other (9), Multiple Ethnicities (1), and American Indian or Alaska Native (1). Gender composition: Male (130), Female (112), Prefer not to answer (5). A formal DEI Committee led initiatives to support underrepresented groups, and new session formats were added to promote inclusion. The venue provided accessible facilities and dedicated lactation rooms; honoraria were available to offset childcare and eldercare costs. Topical and Programmatic Focus Areas: Attendees were drawn from across 27 U.S. states and 10 countries to participate in 26 sessions and workshops focused on high-priority areas, including: Gene editing and genome annotation One Health and zoonotic disease Regenerative medicine and pediatric development Infectious disease, immunology, metabolic disorders, and neuroscience Novel tools and model validation standards Sessions newly introduced in 2024: Aging, Eye Research, and Regulatory Collaborations To meet USDA strategic goals, the conference also included a White Paper development session to identify key research gaps and resource needs in biomedical swine research. Synthesis and Scholarly Dissemination: We are synthesizing the knowledge from SBR 2024 into a comprehensive review that informs the broader translational research community about the state of biomedical swine models and their future directions. Rather than serving as a summary of the conference proceedings, our review will provide a rigorous, interdisciplinary analysis of the role of porcine models across approximately 18 biomedical fields, including Oncology, Neurology, Cardiovascular Disease, Regenerative Medicine, Immunotherapy, and Xenotransplantation, among others. It will also address overarching translational topics such as genomics, genetic engineering, and emerging research tools, emphasizing their mechanistic and translational impact. The review will concisely: Define key clinical problems and research gaps within each field. Analyze recent advancements in each field and translational limitations of existing non-porcine models. Evaluate porcine models' contributions, strengths, weaknesses, and impact on translational outcomes. Provide insights into future research priorities and requirements for next-generation porcine models. Our authorship team includes the conference chairs, session co-chairs (often clinician-researcher pairs), and additional domain experts. The manuscript is approximately 70% complete and is intended for submission to a high impact open access peer-reviewed journal (e.g., Frontiers in Translational Medicine). Outreach and Recruitment Methods: Referral by colleagues or professional networks was the most common method of recruitment (n = 161), followed by email (n = 50), other sources (n = 28), web searches (n = 7), and social media (n = 1). Targeted outreach to veterinary colleges, medical institutions, and international swine research networks helped attract attendees from 27 U.S. states and 10 countries. Sponsors and federal partners included USDA NIFA, NIH, and industry leaders. Conclusion: The target audience for SBR 2024 was intentionally broad and inclusive, spanning key stakeholders across the translational research pipeline. Attendees were unified by their interest in leveraging swine models to improve animal health, human health, and agricultural productivity. This community-oriented, interdisciplinary model of engagement is essential to building the next generation of tools, researchers, and collaborative networks to support USDA's "Genome to Phenome" and One Health goals. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?SBR 2024 offered a rich suite of training and professional development opportunities tailored for researchers across career stages: Pre-Conference Workshop (Friday, June 14): Title: Standardization of Piglet Biomedical Research Approaches: Challenges and Opportunities Purpose: Addressing the lack of standardized protocols in piglet studies, this workshop highlighted critical design considerations--such as power analyses; age of initiation; colostrum versus colostrum-deprived conditions; and variables like animal handling, housing, transport, anesthesia, and euthanasia--and explored strategies to improve reproducibility and interpretability of piglet-based research. Audience: This workshop brought together academic researchers and clinicians, regulators, food industry professionals, toxicologists, contract research organizations, and consultants. Outcomes: Participants engaged in agenda-driven discussions, including short protocol presentations and a group session to identify research gaps and propose improved standardization approaches. The workshop is expected to culminate in an additional peer-reviewed manuscript informed by these discussions. In Conference Sessions/Resources: The "Oinkology™: Techniques for Biomedical Swine Research" breakfast session and "Model Validation" track imparted hands-on methodological insights. Nearly all sessions were co-chaired by clinician-scientist pairs, promoting mentorship and interdisciplinary skill transfer. Networking events, including a Trainee Mixer and Speed Mentoring session, facilitated professional development and cross-career stage interactions. More than 100 attendees volunteered to serve as mentors. Poster sessions provided an opportunity for trainees to present their work and network with senior investigators. The agenda also included sessions on regulatory navigation and funding strategy, providing junior researchers with exposure to practical skills needed for advancing swine-focused biomedical programs. These tailored activities reinforced the conference's goals of enhancing rigor in swine-based biomedical research and supporting the pipeline of future researchers in the field. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Key outcomes from SBR 2024 are being disseminated through multiple channels. A major product in progress is a scholarly review article synthesizing findings from 26 sessions, authored by conference chairs, session co-chairs, and invited speakers. This manuscript (currently ~70% complete) will provide interdisciplinary analysis of the current state, translational potential, and future priorities for swine biomedical research across 18 biomedical fields. An additional peer-reviewed publication is expected to result from the pre-conference workshop. In addition, session co-chairs and participants were encouraged to disseminate insights through their institutional seminars, professional networks, and collaborations. The conference website (sbr2024.org) includes the full agenda, speaker list, and partner organizations, and will be updated with publication details when finalized. We also plan to add a Mentorship Database listing the contact details of senior scientists who volunteered to serve as mentors. This database would be available to all meeting attendees (requiring a sign-in to keep mentor contact details private). Conference attendees also shared selected insights on social media using #SBR2024, amplifying awareness among researchers unable to attend. Importantly, several institutions represented at the conference have committed to integrating new tools, models, and collaborative strategies discussed at SBR 2024 into their ongoing research and training programs. In a forward-looking effort to sustain and grow the community built through SBR 2024, we are actively engaged in discussions with leaders in the field about forming an official consortium or scientific society dedicated to porcine biomedical research. This initiative is intended to support continued coordination, resource sharing, and advocacy for swine-based translational research. We anticipate launching this formal organization within the next year, with plans already underway for the 9th installment of the SBR conference series in 2027. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The Swine in Biomedical Research (SBR) Conference 2024 achieved all three of its stated goals. First, we successfully engaged animal scientists, veterinarians, clinician-scientists, and biomedical researchers through a five-day conference attended by 247 individuals from 27 U.S. states and 10 countries. Sessions covered 18 biomedical fields, including underrepresented areas such as aging and eye research. Notably, we increased attendance and engagement from veterinarians and DVM-trained researchers by expanding outreach to veterinary colleges and local extension networks and through targeted session topics and speaker invitations. Second, we addressed unmet research needs by curating session content around emerging gaps in translational science. Session co-chairs (often pairs of clinicians and animal scientists) guided discussions to identify field-specific challenges and how porcine models can help address them. These insights are now being synthesized into a comprehensive, peer-reviewed review article. Rather than merely summarizing conference content, this review will analyze the state of the field and translational value of swine models across disciplines, with co-authorship from conference chairs and session leaders. Third, we advanced diversity and the development of the biomedical swine research community. A DEI Committee shaped programmatic decisions, which included an ESI/DEI Research Session, a Trainee Mixer, and Speed Mentoring. Attendees included 36 self-identified trainees and 62 early-career professionals. Demographic data showed representation across a range of ethnicities and gender identities. Over 100 attendees volunteered to serve as mentors, demonstrating strong community investment in inclusive networking and training.
Publications
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