British Council Workshop: Impact of gunshot wounds on muscle regeneration

This workshop will address a key humanitarian emergency in Brazil related to the soaring incidence of gunshot-related injuries that are devastating lives.

Workshop Title: Impact of gunshot wounds on muscle regeneration

UK Principal Applicant: Dr. Scott Bowen

Partner Country Principal Applicant: Prof. Anselmo Moriscot

Discipline: Muscle Biology, Trauma Medicine

Dates and venue: 26-28 June 2019, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Under the Researcher Links scheme offered within the Newton Fund, the British Council, CONFAP, and FAPESP, we will be holding a workshop on the 'Impact of gunshot wounds on muscle regeneration' at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil from the 26-28th June 2019. The workshop is being coordinated by Dr Scott Bowen (School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds) and Prof. Anselmo Moriscot (Department of Anatomy, University of Sao Paulo), and will have contributions from other leading researchers located in the UK and Brazil. We are now inviting Early Career Researchers from the UK and Brazil to apply to attend this workshop, with a total of 17 per country being selected for participation. All travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by the Newton Fund and CONFAP Researcher Links programme. The application form, with more details on the initiative, can be downloaded here and should be emailed to Rebecca Pollitt on r.e.pollitt@leeds.ac.uk before the deadline of 12 April 2019.

This workshop will address a key humanitarian emergency in Brazil related to the soaring incidence of gunshot-related injuries that are devastating lives. The workshop will combine topics of trauma and muscle regeneration by specifically addressing gunshot-induced neuromuscular impairments in relation to: 1) the immediate impact; 2) the rehabilitation; 3) the chronic impact; and 4) alternative recovery options. These topics will be addressed during keynote lectures, dedicated oral sessions, and guided poster presentations. Informal breakout sessions will also be included, in addition to informal social and cultural activities. The coordinators particularly welcome applications from basic and clinical scientists with an expertise on neuromuscular dysfunction, muscle regeneration, and/or trauma. 

One major aspect of the workshop is to promote capacity building skills of early career researchers in Brazil and UK. This will be supported by the confirmed attendance of numerous internationally-leading researchers, which includes both clinical trauma and basic science experts such as Professor Stuart Egginton (School Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, UK), Professor Antonio Belli (NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre, University of Birmingham, UK), and Professor Patricia Brum (School of Physical Education and Sport, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil). Together with presenting keynote lectures, senior experts will also act as mentors to early career attendees by hosting dedicated mentoring sessions, with the aim of fostering long-terms sustainable links. We aim to build links between truly multi-disciplinary scientists that are equipped to tackle urgent global issues such as gunshot wounds, while establishing sustainable links between the UK and Brazil. 

The workshop will be held in English. Participants will be expected to deliver a short presentation on their research area and its relationship to the workshop theme, and to take part in group-discussions over each of the four days of the workshop.