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Zebra Summit
Date/Time: Nov 17, 2026, 08:00 AM to Nov 18, 2026, 05:00 PM
Location: Children's Mercy Research Institute, Big Slick Auditorium
The Zebra Summit is a two-day conference bringing together patients, families, researchers, and clinicians who understand the rare disease journey firsthand.
This inaugural event is more than a conference, it's the start of a community. Connect with other rare patients and families, hear directly from leading rare disease researchers and clinicians, and be part of building a center of gravity for rare disease care and innovation right here in our region.
Join 200+ attendees for two days of connection, awareness, and collaboration, because rare is stronger together.
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Aug
28
02:00 PM • Hybrid
Children's Mercy's Responsible Conduct of Research Workshop Series Presents: Beyond the Petri Dish: The Human Story Behind HeLa Cells
Explore the life and legacy of Henrietta Lacks, a tobacco farmer whose cells were taken without consent in 1951 and became the first immortal human cell line and a cornerstone of modern medical research. The Lacks family will discuss the ethical and historical issues raised by her story, such as informed consent, racial injustice in medical research, ownership of biological materials, informed‑consent standards, institutional review boards and federal research protections.
Presented By:
Victoria Baptiste is Henrietta Lacks’s great-granddaughter. She travels regularly to talk about the Lacks family’s story. Inspired by Henrietta’s life, she is a travel nurse. As a patient’s advocate, Victoria prides herself on treating patients with respect and dignity and—most importantly—making sure they understand their care. She finds her career fulfilling because it gives her the opportunity to educate patients.
Shirley Lacks is Henrietta Lacks’s daughter-in-law and Deborah’s childhood best friend. Since retiring from the banking industry, Shirley has dedicated much of her time to traveling around the country, keeping Henrietta’s legacy alive as a promise to her sister-in-law, Deborah Lacks. Henrietta’s enormous contribution to science has afforded Shirley the opportunity to be a voice for patient rights. Shirley is a board member of the Henrietta Lacks Legacy Group which promotes and preserve the history of Turner Station, Maryland and the legacy of Henrietta Lacks who resided in Turner Station. Shirley will continue to walk the path in telling Henrietta’s story and the family’s journey while promoting social justice and health equity.
In-person: Children's Mercy Research Institute, Big Slick auditorium
Click HERE to join the event via TEAMS
Continuing Education credits available through Children's Mercy.
Sep
10
03:00 PM • Hybrid
Moving the Needle in Maternal Care and Outcomes
Location: (virtual option available)
Kauffman Foundation Conference Center
4801 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110
Register for Virtual Attendance.
Register for In-Person Attendance.
Oct
02
11:30 AM • University of Kansas Medical Center's Beller Conference Center
Bi-Campus Neuroscience Symposium presented by the Society for Neuroscience-Kansas City
Keynote Speaker: Dr. David Dietz; The Neurobiology of Substance Use Disorder: From Molecules to Behavior
Oct
09
09:00 AM • KU Edwards Campus - BEST Conference Room
Heartland Association of Research Professionals Annual Conference (2026)
Research Resiliency: Challenges and Adaptations in Healthcare Research
The goal of the HARP conference is to provide networking and educational opportunities for research professionals across the heartland region. Past attendees have consisted of research coordinators, data scientists, principal investigators, and other research professionals from a variety of disciplines.
Nov
17
08:00 AM • Children's Mercy Research Institute, Big Slick Auditorium
Zebra Summit
The Zebra Summit is a two-day conference bringing together patients, families, researchers, and clinicians who understand the rare disease journey firsthand.
This inaugural event is more than a conference, it's the start of a community. Connect with other rare patients and families, hear directly from leading rare disease researchers and clinicians, and be part of building a center of gravity for rare disease care and innovation right here in our region.
Join 200+ attendees for two days of connection, awareness, and collaboration, because rare is stronger together.
More information.
Dec
07
08:00 AM • TBD
Fall 2026 Mock Study Section
Visit the Frontiers CTSI Education and Training page for more Mock Study details.
Dec
07
12:00 PM • Virtual
KCIS/Frontiers Implementation Science Lecture Series: Talk with Dr. Elva Arrendondo
More information to be announced.
May
21
12:00 PM • Big Cedar Lodge, Ridgedale, Mo.
2027 Midwest Research Skills Development Workshop
Beyond clinical training, successful investigators need a broad array of research and career development skills.To address this gap, and build on an international series with over 600 past participants now in its 24th year, we offer this workshop in the Midwest for the third year.
Target Audience: Trainees & Early Career Faculty
Topics include: Mentoring, Grantsmanship, Time Management,
Work-Life Balance (including sessions for partners), Negotiation
Panels feature successful early and advanced faculty on career development, and optional breakout sessions offer the opportunity to dive in depth into actual K awards and Phase 1 and 2 protocols.
Cost: $1,500 for faculty / $750 for trainees
Includes 1 room for 2 nights, all meals for participants and meeting materials. Ground transportation and/or airfare are not included.
Partners and children welcome, meals included.
Registration and Agenda available Janurary 2027.
