< Conference
Research Organisms in Flight: Revealing the Roots of Vertebrate Form and Function
Organized by Tatjana Sauka-Spengler, Ph.D., and Ruth Williams, Ph.D.
Sep 29- Oct 012025
Kansas City, MO
The XII Avian Model Systems Meeting will showcase the integrative power of avian models to advance scientific research across multiple disciplines including developmental biology, neuroscience, genomics, medicine and evolution. We look forward welcoming newcomers to the community and reuniting established members for a vibrant and highly interactive conference.
Registration and abstract submission is now open. Click here.
Keynote Speakers
Additional Speakers
Chairs
Registration is open!
Register for the conference and submit your abstract by September 15, 2025. Early Bird Pricing ends August 1.
Click here to register and submit your abstractKey Dates and Deadlines
Key Dates:
- Conference Dates: September 29 - October 1, 2025
- Abstract Submission Deadline: August 1, 2025
- Early Bird Registration Price ends: August 1, 2025
- Hotel Group-Rate Deadline: book by September 3, 2025
- Registration Deadline: September 15, 2025
Registration prices:
Early bird pricing: available June 1 - August 1:
Undergraduate Student - $75 USD
Graduate Student / Technician - $225 USD
Postdoc / Staff Scientist - $275 USD
Faculty / Other - $400 USD
Regular Pricing: available August 2 – September 15:
Undergraduate Student - $75 USD
Graduate Student / Technician - $300 USD
Postdoc / Staff Scientist - $350 USD
Faculty / Other - $475 USD
Registration fee covers:
- Welcome party
- Reception at Linda Hall Library
- Attendance at all scientific talks and poster sessions
- Coffee/snacks during all breaks
- Continental breakfast each day
- Lunch each day
Please note that travel and lodging are not included.
Register here.
Conference Venue
Stowers Institute
Our 10-acre campus is situated in the heart of Kansas City. Located next to the University of Missouri-Kansas City and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, our members are part of an academic neighborhood. You can immerse yourself in the arts, visit landmarks such as the Linda Hall Scientific Research Library, and find inspiration to fuel creative thinking.
At the Stowers Institute you are also within walking distance to Loose Park, the Trolley Trail, the Brookside Neighborhood, and the Country Club Plaza. You have convenient access to some of the best coffee shops, restaurants, and shopping the city has to offer.
Kansas City, Missouri
Beyond the science, registration for this event allows you to experience all that Kansas City has to offer. Kansas City may be located in the heart of the country, but it’s certainly not flyover country. Known fondly as the “City of Fountains” and “The Paris of the Plains,” you’ll fall in love with Kansas City’s unique architecture, stunning beauty, and dynamic culture. Thanks to explosive growth in the past decade and a strong sense of Midwest pride, more than 2 million people call Greater Kansas City home, making it one of the top 30 most populated metros in the U.S., situated conveniently between both coasts.
Lodging Options
Book at the Courtyard Marriott on the Country Club Plaza by September 7, 2025 to receive a special group rate.
A complimentary shuttle service will run between the Kansas City Marriott – Country Club Plaza and the Stowers Institute for Medical Research each morning and evening of the conference. Check back soon for schedule of shuttle departure times.
Essential Meeting Information
Conference details
Location: Stowers Institute for Medical Research – 1000 E. 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110
For turn-by-turn directions to the Institute from where you are, click here.
Arrival: Check-in & Poster set up will start on Monday, September 29th.
Nearest Airport: Kansas City International Airport
Lodging: Book at the Courtyard Marriott on the Country Club Plaza by September 7, 2025, to receive a special group rate.
- Book your group rate for Stowers Institute Room Block
- There are several other nearby hotels located within 2 miles of the institute.
Parking: Visitor parking is available in the parking structure located between the Administration Building (to your right as you enter the campus) and the Research Building (to your left). Please, park on the 5th floor of the parking garage and take the elevator down to the 1st floor to enter the Research Building.
Speakers and Sessions: A full list of speakers is available above
Agenda: The conference will be a 3-day meeting starting the morning of Monday, September 29 and ending in the evening on Wednesday, October 1. A more detailed agenda will be posted as the meeting approaches.
International Attendees: Send requests for Visa letters to swallace@stowers.org. Registration is required prior to issuing the Visa letter.
Departure: The meeting will conclude on the evening of Wednesday, October 1. We welcome you to stay and explore Kansas City, or arrive early to do so!
Questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to swallace@stowers.org.
Registration details
Registration prices:
Early bird pricing: available June 1 - August 1:
Undergraduate Student - $75 USD
Graduate Student / Technician - $225 USD
Postdoc / Staff Scientist - $275 USD
Faculty / Other - $400 USD
Regular Pricing: available August 2 – September 15:
Undergraduate Student - $75 USD
Graduate Student / Technician - $300 USD
Postdoc / Staff Scientist - $350 USD
Faculty / Other - $475 USD
Registration fee covers:
- Welcome party
- Reception at Linda Hall Library
- Attendance at all scientific talks and poster sessions
- Coffee/snacks during all breaks
- Continental breakfast each day
- Lunch each day
Please note that travel and lodging are not included.
Abstract submission details
Abstract Submission: Everyone is welcome to submit an abstract. On the submission form, you may choose to be considered for a short talk. There will be 14 talks chosen from abstracts. The remaining abstract submitters will be invited to present a poster at one of two poster sessions.
Abstract Deadline: August 1, 2025.
Poster Dimensions: All posters should be horizontal in orientation.
Maximum poster dimensions: Width – 6 ft. (182 cm), Height – 4 ft. (121 cm)
Shipping and Printing: Local FedEx Office – 554 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111 US
