THE LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES FROM ABRCMS 2022

ABRCMS 2022 Features Diverse Lineup of Keynote Topics, Presenters

One of the main attractions of ABRCMS 2022 is the diverse lineup of distinguished leaders who will deliver the conference’s keynote addresses. The speakers and topics for this year’s keynote presentations were specifically selected to engage, educate, inspire and broaden participation in STEM education and careers, and to provide a forum for attendees to explore the diverse spectrum of STEM research and connect with experts.

“Drawing from speakers who attended ABRCMS in previous years and those who are first-time speakers adds to the uniqueness of the celebration,” said Irene Hulede, director of education for the American Society for Microbiology and project director of ABRCMS.

All keynote presentations will be held in ACC North 100 at the Anaheim Convention Center.


Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Ph.D.

Renowned chemist and Nobel Laureate Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Ph.D., professor of chemistry at Stanford University, will deliver the Opening Keynote at 8:45 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10. Bertozzi’s lecture is titled “The Bioorthogonal Chemistry Journey, From Bench to Bedside,” and she first attended ABRCMS in 2010.

Bertozzi won the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for founding the field of bioorthogonal chemistry, a set of chemical reactions that allow researchers to study molecules and their interactions in living things without interfering with natural biological processes. Bertozzi’s research interests span the disciplines of chemistry and biology, with an emphasis on studies of cell-surface sugars important to human health and disease. Her organization, The Bertozzi Group, develops chemical tools to study the glycobiology of diseases such as cancer, tuberculosis and COVID-19.


Maria Elena Bottazzi, Ph.D., FASTMH

At 1:10 p.m. Thursday, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Ph.D., FASTMH, will deliver a keynote address titled “Academic Creativity, Strategic Alliances and Diplomacy to Catalyze the Vaccine Sciences in Tropical Medicine.” This will be her first appearance at ABRCMS.

Bottazzi is an internationally recognized tropical and emerging disease vaccinologist, global health advocate and co-creator of a patent-free, open science COVID-19 vaccine technology that led to the development of the COVID vaccine Corbevax. Bottazzi is associate dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, division chief of pediatric tropical medicine, co-director of Texas Children’s Center for Vaccine Development at Baylor College of Medicine, and distinguished professor in biology at Baylor University.


Olajide Williams, M.D., M.S.

Olajide Williams, M.D., M.S., a global leader in stroke disparities intervention research, will deliver the first keynote address on Friday, Nov. 10, beginning at 10:15 a.m. His lecture is titled “Addressing Health Equity Through Health Literacy: The Powerful Role of Hip Hop,” and he previously attended ABRCMS in 2019.  

Williams is co-chair of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center Anti-Racism Task Force, co-director of the Columbia Wellness Center and principal investigator of multiple health disparities-focused research awards. He is also co-founder and president of Hip Hop Public Health, an award-winning, internationally recognized nonprofit organization that utilizes music, art and science to promote health literacy in communities of color.


Mae C. Jemison, M.D.

At 4:45 p.m. Friday, Mae C. Jemison, M.D., will present a keynote lecture titled “STEM: The Importance of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math.” Jemison, who first attended ABRCMS in 2009, was the first woman of color to enter space, serving six years as a NASA astronaut. In September 1992 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, she performed experiments in material science, life sciences and human adaptation to weightlessness. Her company, The Jemison Group, is a technology consulting firm focused on integrating critical sociocultural issues into the design of engineering and science projects. She is currently leading the 100 Year Starship initiative, a bold, far-reaching nonprofit working to assure the possibility of human travel beyond our solar system within the next 100 years.


This year’s Closing Keynote will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, and will feature three ABRCMS alumni: Patricia Salgado Pirbhoy, Ph.D., Kennita Johnson, Ph.D. and Robert Drummond, M.D, Ph.D. The three will provide insight into how they have navigated their research fields to build successful careers during the presentation “Conversations with ABRCMS Alumni: Where Are They Now?”

Patricia Salgado Pirbhoy,
Ph.D.
Kennita Johnson, Ph.D.
Kennita Johnson,
Ph.D.
Robert Drummond,
M.D., Ph.D.

Register for ABRCMS 2022

It’s not too late to register for the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS), the go-to conference for underrepresented scientists at various stages of their professional and educational journeys. ABRCMS includes programming for undergraduate students, graduate and postdoctoral scientists, faculty, program directors, administrators and more.

ABRCMS 2022 is being held Nov. 9-12 in Anaheim, Calif. Can’t make it in-person? The meeting features a virtual component so you can still participate in this dynamic event.