Code of Conduct

The Midwest DNA Repair Symposium is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all participants. We believe everyone should be treated with dignity and respect, and that discrimination, harassment, and any form of misconduct is unacceptable. 

Respect and Inclusivity

  • All individuals attending The Midwest DNA Repair Symposium are expected to treat others with respect and dignity, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other characteristic.
  • Harassment, discrimination, or any form of inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.

Reporting Incidents

  • If you experience or witness any incident of harassment, discrimination, or misconduct, please report it immediately to conference organizers or staff in person or by email to . We have systems in place to address and resolve such incidents.
  • You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Information on how to file a complaint with HHS OCR can be found on their webpage https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/filing-a-complaint/index.html. Please note filing a complaint with the conference organizer is not required before filing a complaint of discrimination with HHS OCR, and that seeking assistance from the conference organizer in no way prohibits filing complaints with HHS OCR.
  • You may also file a complaint with National Institute of Health (NIH) regarding concerns of harassment, including sexual harassment, discrimination, and other forms of inappropriate conduct at NIH-supported conferences. Information on how to file a complaint with the NIH can be found on their webpage https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/harassment/find-help.htm.

Safety Plan

  • MDRS will follow the University of Louisville Emergency Management policies and procedure for any safety issues that occur. These policies can be found on their webpage https://louisville.edu/police/safety-resources.
  • Communication regarding the Emergency Management policies and procedure for safety issues will be posted on the MDRS website, listed in the abstract booklet and communicated by email notifications throughout the symposium.

Support Resources

  • Referrals to advocacy, counseling, legal, and healthcare resources are available upon request. Please reach out to Sarah Jump  for assistance.

Onsite Security

  • University security personnel will be onsite throughout the event to ensure the safety and security of all attendees.
  • University police officers, commissioned as Louisville Metro police officers, are available to handle any situation and remove perpetrators if necessary.
  • Security, following UofL Emergency Management policies and procedures, and self reporting incidents will be used to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all attendees, free from discrimination and harassment.

Conference Satisfaction Survey

  • As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we invite attendees to provide feedback through our conference satisfaction survey at the end of the symposium.
  • The survey includes a question regarding experiences of sexual harassment and professional misconduct, and your responses will help us further enhance our policies and procedures.
  • We thank you for your cooperation in creating a respectful and inclusive environment at the 25th Anniversary of the Midwest DNA Repair Symposium.