Joint UCLA SCORE Symposium

Invited Speakers

Stephanie Correa, PhD

Assistant Professor, Integrative Biology
and Physiology, UCLA

Franck Mauvais-Jarvis, MD, PhD 

Price-Goldsmith Professor of Nutrition; Professor, Medicine Endocrinology Metabolism, Tulane University School of Medicine

Eldin Jasarevic PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh

Sonia Sharma, PhD

Associate Professor, Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Center for Sex-based Differences in the Immune System, La Jolla Institute for Immunology

Anja Karlstaedt, MD

Assistant Professor, Cardiology and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai; Research Scientist, Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai

Rhonda Voskuhl, MD

Professor, Department of Neurology, UCLA; Jack H. Skirball Chair; Director, UCLA Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Program; Faculty Neurologist, UCLA Comprehensive Menopause Care Program

View agenda

This meeting is free. Registration is required to receive zoom link. Complimentary breakfast and lunch will be provided for in-person registered attendees.

Register for the Symposium

Call for Abstracts

UCLA SCORE on Sex Related Differences in Brain Gut Microbiome Interactions in Irritable Bowel Syndrome and UCLA SCORE on Sex Related Differences in Metabolism invite you to submit your abstracts for their 2024 Annual Symposium.

• DEADLINE: FRIDAY, March 8, 2024
• Students and Early Career Investigators are eligible for the poster competition
  • $500 first prize* in Student category (undergraduate/graduate students)
  • $500 first prize* in Early Career Investigator category (post-graduate/trainee/junior faculty)

• Any clinical, basic science or translational research where gender/sex as a biological variable is factored into research designs, analyses and in reporting are welcome. 
• Poster session is in-person only at CNSI on Friday, April 5, 2024 from 12:20 PM – 2:00 PM.
• Abstracts presented at or submitted to local, regional or national meetings during the past year are acceptable.
• Abstract preparation and submission instructions are described below

*In accordance with university policy, awards are in the form of travel vouchers which can be used for work-related travel reimbursement. The competition is open only to UCLA students and personnel.

Abstract Preparation Instructions

• Format abstract using a word processing program such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs with 3,500 character limit.
• For special characters such as Greek or algebraic, use a standard font such as 'Arial' or 'Times New Roman'. Do not use the 'Symbol' font. Otherwise, please spell it out.
• Use standard abbreviations. When using abbreviations for chemical compounds, spell out in full the first mention, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. Do not abbreviate compounds in the title of the abstract.
• Up to 2 figures/tables are permitted
• Include abstract title, names of all authors and the institutional affiliations for all authors (not counted toward character limit)
• You may present your abstract/poster on both days if your research involves both the microbiome AND gender/sex differences.
• Please indicate your interest and eligibility to be entered into the poster competition. You must be present during the poster session so judges can speak with you.
• Submit abstracts to Cathy Liu at cathyliu@mednet.ucla.edu

About the UCLA Specialized Centers of Research Excellence (SCORE) on Sex Differences

UCLA SCORE on Sex Related Differences in Brain Gut Microbiome Interactions in Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The aims are to gain a better understanding of the role of the gut microbiome and female sex hormones in the modulation of brain gut microbiome interactions in two of the most common disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic functional constipation. These studies will provide valuable insights on the pathophysiology and treatment of these conditions.

UCLA SCORE on Sex Related Differences in Metabolism. The objective is to elucidate sex differences in risk factors and treatments for Metabolic Syndrome (MetSyn) components such as obesity, insulin resistance/diabetes, dyslipidemia, and fatty liver. Differences between men and women in susceptibility to cardio-metabolic disease are well known, but the underlying genetic and physiological mechanisms remain poorly defined. Our goal is to identify factors that determine sex-specific MetSyn risk, which may lead to better diagnosis and treatment for both sexes.