European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

The 14th annual meeting of the Rocky Mountain Virology Association was held October 3–5, 2014 at the Colorado State University Mountain Campus in Pingree Park, Colorado. We had classic mountain weather with clear cold starry skies at night and bright warm days. Approximately 80 students, post-docs, and early-stage and established investigators, who perform basic and clinical research, were in attendance. The aims of the program are to bring together regional and national virologists and prion biologists to share and discuss their scientific data and ideas, to foster graduate student education and postdoctoral training, and to help early stage investigators in their career development. This year we instituted a peer review program for student and post-doc presentations in order to provide constructive, written feedback. Poster presenters also had an opportunity to provide 3- minute, single-slide, oral introductions to their work. Our guest speakers, Rich Condit from the University of Florida, Lee Fortunato from the University of Idaho, Cathy Miller from Iowa State University, and Nicole Garneau from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, all provided inspirational presentations of their research efforts and raised the bar on critical participation in all aspects of the meeting.