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PNIRS Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion 

November 2023

The primary mission of the PNIRS is to foster advancements in the field of psychoneuroimmunology by providing a forum for communication, education, training, and collaboration among a diverse community of scientists from around the globe. We recognize that this goal is impossible without a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). EDI is vital to the success of psychoneuroimmunology and of the PNIRS. Our society has contributed to decades of scientific advancement, and a great deal of this research has been aimed at understanding the biological underpinnings of health disparities in under-represented and minority populations. Furthermore, psychoneuroimmunology is an immensely complex field that cannot be understood from only one viewpoint. The impact of our efforts increases exponentially by the inclusion of a diverse array of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Therefore, we continue to take deliberate action towards a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive field.

PNIRS is committed to make EDI part of everything we do through:

  • Placing value on participation in the society by academics and researchers from all career stages, backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, races, ethnicities, nationalities, neuro-diversities, abilities, religious beliefs, and age groups;
  • Ensuring equity amongst speakers, panels, session chairs, awardees, and committee members;
  • Facilitating attendance by trainee members at the PNIRS annual meeting through the award of PNIRS Trainee Scholar Travel Awards;
  • Increasing the number of academics and researchers from underrepresented groups through supporting research excellence dedicated to issues of EDI through Michael Irwin EDI Awards;
  • Promoting the integration of EDI-related considerations in research design and practice;
  • Collecting the data and conducting the analyses needed to consider EDI in PNIRS decision-making;
  • Maintaining an EDI standing committee to manage and execute these commitments and ensure that all members of PNIRS are treated in a fair and ethical manner.