Support for Researchers Attending ENDO 2026 and Career Opportunities Expanded

The Endocrine Society is enhancing its support for both basic and clinical researchers as preparations are underway for the ENDO 2026 annual meeting, scheduled for June 13 – 16, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. As a long-standing member of the Society and an endocrine scientist, I am proud to showcase the myriad programs designed to support professionals in our field. Our initiatives are structured around three main areas: Presenting, Publishing, and Mentorship.

Presenting One significant update is the one-year expansion of our travel grant programs for ENDO 2026 that I announced in January. This extension provides crucial financial backing that will allow a larger number of researchers to attend the annual meeting. The Board of Directors unanimously approved the initiative, which includes:

• An increase to $1,500 in the grant amount for recipients of the Early Investigator Awards, Outstanding Abstract Awards, and the Early Career Forum.
• Up to 200 additional grants of $1,500 for award recipients of the Outstanding Abstract Awards ($1,750 for international recipients).

These grants aim to encourage more scientists to submit their work for presentation at the ENDOExpo. The Expo is a notable feature of the meeting, showcasing over 2,500 abstracts during its poster sessions.

Acknowledging the current funding challenges many researchers face, we understand how vital the Society’s support has become. We continue to strive to strengthen and expand our global endocrine research community. Additionally, members who present their abstracts may also have the chance to share insights from their research via video interviews on the Society’s social media platforms, which garnered thousands of views last year.

Publishing Another key advantage of submitting an abstract to ENDO is the opportunity for the work to be published in a supplement of the Journal of the Endocrine Society (JES), our open-access journal. Each abstract receives a digital object identifier (DOI), ensuring that the research is easily accessible and citable globally. This is just one way we facilitate the publication efforts of our members.

The Society’s esteemed journals have consistently been at the forefront of disseminating significant advancements in endocrine science since 1917. Researchers are encouraged to submit their manuscripts to our prestigious journals, where they can benefit from reduced production costs for accepted pieces. Each submission is rigorously evaluated by leaders in the field, maintaining high standards of integrity throughout the peer review process.

Mentorship The third aspect of our engagement with members is our commitment to mentorship. The Society recognizes the importance of nurturing upcoming researchers and clinicians, and we offer several vital programs for early-career professionals. One such program is the Research Experiences for Graduate and Medical Students (REGMS), which provides promising students with opportunities to engage in collaborative lab work, receive expert mentoring, build professional networks, and enhance their skills through various year-round activities. Currently, our staff is reviewing applications for this year’s cohort.

Participants in the REGMS will receive funding for a summer research project with an Endocrine Society mentor along with virtual career-development training. They will also present their research at ENDO 2027, supported by a travel grant, and will earn a $2,500 honorarium alongside a $1,500 travel grant.

Another valuable opportunity for early-career endocrine researchers is the Future Leaders Advancing Research in Endocrinology (FLARE) program. Participants, which consist of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows, and junior faculty, receive training to help them build independent research careers as well as develop leadership capacities. We are eagerly anticipating hosting this year’s FLARE participants during a workshop taking place from March 26 to 28. Witnessing the growth in confidence among participants during such events is immensely rewarding.

Knowledge Development Beyond these specific program areas, we offer a variety of educational resources for researchers. At the ENDO event, our offerings will include Basic Science Pathways with focused content tracks in critical areas such as Diabetes and Metabolism, Neuroendocrinology, Nuclear Receptors and Signaling, and Reproductive Endocrinology. Additionally, sessions such as Meet the Professor and Meet the Scientist will provide insights into managing various endocrine diseases and the latest research developments.

Moreover, a focused Basic Science Summit concentrating on Nuclear Receptors is scheduled for this fall in Chicago. We encourage members to stay tuned for further details and a call for abstracts.

Understanding the growing financial concerns in today’s funding landscape, we are dedicated to enhancing our support for researchers. I am proud of our ongoing efforts to unite and expand the global endocrine research community. Our commitment to our members and the field of endocrinology is unwavering as we strive to foster scientific discovery and advance hormone health, ultimately investing in a more promising research pipeline for future health advancements.