Project Summary/Abstract: Whooping cough, also known as Pertussis, is a respiratory disease caused by the bacterial pathogen Bordetella pertussis. Pertussis is one of the world’s leading causes of vaccine-preventable deaths and is currently the only vaccine-preventable bacterial disease that is increasing in incidence. Despite high vaccine coverage, whooping cough (pertussis) has re-emerged as a major public health concern in the US and the world. Recently, it was estimated that there were 24 million pertussis cases and 160,700 deaths in children younger than 5 years around the world per year. In addition to being added to the NIH emerging infectious pathogens list in 2015, the CDC recently listed Bordetella pertussis on its new Watch List in the 2019 Antibiotic Resistance Threats Report because of the unknown future burden of this highly contagious bacterium. Since the 1960’s, the Bordetella research community has organized an International Bordetella Symposium, the 12th symposium was hosted at Brussels University by Dr. Camille Locht, in April of 2019. In an effort to increase dissemination of new data and exchange of ideas, Dr. Ciaran Skerry hosted the 1st ever Bordetella Research Day at the University of Maryland in April, 2018. The Bordetella Research Day was meant to be a U.S-based conference for Bordetella researchers to meet during the off years of the International Bordetella Symposiums. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both the 2020 Bordetella Research Day, and the 2021 International Bordetella Symposium were postponed. To continue dissemination of important research, the International Bordetella Society hosted a zoom-based conference in August 2020 which garnered attendance from academia, the CDC, FDA, NIH, and many pharmaceutical companies. The major success of this online event resulted in the Bordetella Society creating a monthly Lab Meeting Series, where different groups around the world can showcase their latest research. In order to further support the development of the next generation of scientists, this R13 application is requesting funds to support travel associated costs for junior scientists (pre- and post-doctoral) to attend and present innovative research at the 13th International Bordetella Symposium hosted at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada (June 2022).