BMES 2023 is almost here!

Greetings everyone!

I’m happy to report that it’s almost “show time” and we hope you’re as excited as we are to convene in Seattle in a couple of weeks for what promises to be a terrific annual meeting.

Already, we have more than 4,400 registered attendees and hundreds of platform sessions, special sessions, poster sessions, luncheons, dinners, and other engagement opportunities – especially our Society reception on Friday, October 13.

Our Annual Meeting Co-Chairs Stacey Finley, Brendan Harley, and Kelly Stevens have collaborated with Track Chairs and Sessions Chairs to generate platform sessions that impressively showcase cutting-edge scientific research.

They also have spearheaded the organization of some special events that I want to highlight:

• A tour of the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB). Created in 2000, ISB is the first institute dedicated to systems biology. ISB is pursuing the mission to transform the future of health through a systems approach. 

• A special Art in Science exhibit during the Annual Meeting’s reception. This exhibit was spearheaded by Dr. Tal Danino (Columbia University) and Dr. Albert Folch (University of Washington), both of whom are scientists, BMES members, and artists. The exhibit features art from both BMES members and external community members curated by Nicole Lampl of Reeves House Visual Arts Center.

• New this year are three technical tracks designed to capture innovative research directions within our community: Immunoengineering, Data Analysis and Deep-Learning Strategies, and Social Transformation. According to the Co-Chairs, the Social Transformation track was created “with the goal to add a third pillar to the Biology & Science and Tools & Technology pillars which have guided the growth of our BMES community. This track offers sessions that center justice and equity in our research and educational efforts.”

Any conversation about the Annual Meeting must include a very strong thanks to our sponsors and exhibitors. Without their support, it would be impossible to have an Annual Meeting such as ours. Please make sure you take some time to walk the exhibit floor and thank them all!

If you haven’t ordered your special edition Seattle Inclusivity Pin, you will have the opportunity to do so onsite. Proceeds help to offset programming costs of our many special events throughout the meeting.

Unrelated to the Annual Meeting, I want to take the opportunity of this communication to share with you that the revisions to our bylaws were overwhelmingly approved by BMES voting members over the summer.

Finally, a word to those of you who will be attending the annual meeting. While COVID-19 protocols are mostly in the rearview mirror, please continue to be vigilant. The Annual Meeting is a place to celebrate the profession and our industry. Please take all the precautionary measures you deem appropriate to ensure that the upcoming meeting is one for us to remember… for all the good things.

Looking forward to seeing you in Seattle!

Cynthia Reinhart-King

BMES President