Iowa Physiological Society Meeting Held at
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum

This year’s annual meeting of the Iowa Physiological Society (IPS) was held on Sunday and Monday, May 8-9, 2005. We are especially thankful to the Herbert Hover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch, IA that provided us with an outstanding venue for the meeting. More than 60 physiologists from Iowa and the neighboring states attended the meeting. A total number of 28 abstract submissions were received. These numbers were slightly higher than those for attendance and abstract submissions in the previous year and indicate that the Iowa Physiological Society gains interest and popularity among researchers and teachers in the field of physiology in Iowa and the neighboring states. The large number of abstract submissions allowed for a very exciting and stimulating scientific program that included three keynote lectures, three featured presentations, eight oral presentations, and 20 posters.

The scientific program started on Sunday afternoon with oral presentations given by the Student Trainee Award Finalists. Following the first poster session, a guided tour through the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum was offered. After an exciting tour through history and the achievements of President Hoover, the Finalists for the Postdoctoral Trainee Award gave their oral presentations. A second poster session ended the scientific program of the first meeting day.

Major goals of the annual IPS meeting are to bring together scientists and teachers in the field of physiology, to enhance scientific exchange, and to provide an opportunity to build new friendships and collaborations. The social evening on Sunday evening truly reflected this spirit. The park area of the Hoover Library allowed for a barbecue cookout and volleyball activities. Many participants enjoyed discussing research activities and teaching strategies in this informal setting.

Monday’s presentations were focused on “Cerebrovascular Function and Stroke.” Following the Welcome Address by the Director of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, Timothy Walch, the APS Keynote Lecture was presented by Richard Roman from the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI. The topic of his lecture was “Role of Eicosanoids in the Pathogenesis of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke.” Roman’s lecture was certainly one of the major highlights of the meeting as indicated by the extended discussion and stimulating comments that followed the lecture.

For the first time, the Louis E. Alley Memorial Lecture was held in conjunction with the annual IPS meeting. This lecture is made possible by a generous donation by Alley’s family through the Department of Exercise Science at The University of Iowa. Alley was the Chair of the Department of Exercise Science at The University of Iowa from 1960-1978. Alley was particularly noted for innovations in graduate education, one of the major missions of the Iowa Physiological Society. John S. Smeda from the Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s Canada delivered this year’s Louis E. Alley Memorial Lecture. The title of his presentation was “Alterations in Cerebrovascular Function Associated with Hemorrhagic Stroke.”

The third Keynote Lecture was sponsored by the Department of Exercise Science at The University of Iowa. The speaker was Nicanor I. Moldovan from the Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. His presentation was entitled “Monocytes/Macro-phages as Architects of Neovascularization.”

In addition, Featured Presentations around the theme of “Cerebrovascular Function and Stroke” were presented by William T. Talman (Department of Neurology and VAMC, The University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine), Frank M. Faraci (Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine), and Gina C. Schatteman (Department of Exercise Science, The University of Iowa).

Other highlights on Monday were the third poster session and the announcement of the Trainee Award Winners. One award each was given for the best student (undergraduate or graduate students) and the best postdoctoral presentation. The Trainee Award Committee selected the winners based on the quality of the abstracts, the oral presentations on Sunday, and the ability to answer questions from the audience. The winner for the Student Award was Elizabeth S. Aunan (Department of Exercise Science, The University of Iowa, mentor: Kevin C. Kregel). Her presentation was entitled “Reduced Tolerance to Heat Stress with Age: Are Cytokines and Endotoxin Involved?” The winner of the postdoctoral competition was Rasna Sabharwal (Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa, mentor: Mark W. Chapleau). Her abstract was entitled “Subunits of Acid-sensing Ion Channels (ASICs) Differentially Mediate Baroreceptor and Chemoreceptor Reflexes.”

At the business meeting on Sunday evening, the new President of the IPS, Scott H. Carlson (Department of Biology, Luther College, Decorah, IA) officially took over the presidency of the Society. Ulla Kopp (Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine) resigns from the position as treasurer and secretary this year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for the time and effort as our treasurer and secretary. She certainly was the driving motor of the Society for many years and the increasing success of the Society would not have been possible without her leadership.

Taken together, the meeting can be considered a great success. A high number of abstract submissions by trainees, outstanding keynote lectures, and informal scientific exchange among physiologists in the region shaped the spirit of this year’s annual meeting. I am sure that many new friendships and collaborations were initiated and that all participants are looking forward to meet again at the 2006 annual meeting of The Iowa Physiological Society.

Harald M. Stauss
Iowa Physiological Society

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