IBANGS 2026

Dr. Karla Kaun and Dr. Lewis Sherer attended the 2026 International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society Genes, Brains & Behavior meeting in Pittsburgh, PA June 8-11. Lewis Chaired a symposium entitled Functional Implications of co-transmission in Regulating Neuroplasticity and Behavior in which he gave a talk entitled 'A Co-Transmitting Neuron Regulates Aggression Through Pre- and Postsynaptic Mechanisms' based on his work with lab collaborators Dr. Sarah Certel and Dr. Steve Stowers. Karla presented a poster entitled 'A Drosophila Model for Nicotine Reward' where she shared our new odor-nicotine memory assay and some of the multiomic sequencing of mushroom body neurons. Lewis celebrated his birthday with Karla, Dr. Annika Barber from Rutgers University and Dr. Leslie Griffith from Brandeis University, who was the recipient of the 2026 IBANGS Distinguished Investigator Award. Pittsburgh had lots of fun sites to see including the impressive Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh and the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical gardens, which Karla visited with Dr. Lisha Shao from the University of Delaware.