The American Academy of Sleep Medicine announces a Young Investigator Research Forum to be held at the National Institutes of Health on April 15-16, 2009 at the NIH Natcher Conference Center, Bethesda, Maryland. The Forum is designed to aid the career development and shape the career plans of promising young investigators in clinical and translational sleep research. Successful applicants will be selected based on research productivity and promise, and career goals. Travel and lodging expenses will be paid up to a maximum of $1,200 dollars per selected attendee.

The Forum will provide an opportunity for collegial interaction with senior faculty members having successful careers across the broad spectrum of clinical and translational sleep research. The ratio of faculty to students will be approximately one to three. The Forum will consist of didactic presentations, workshops and small group sessions, covering study design, grantsmanship, a mock grant review, manuscript preparation and review and the mentor-mentee relationship. Young investigators will have the opportunity to listen to Program Officers from the NIH regarding areas of research emphasis, learn about team science, and core competencies in sleep disorders clinical research. The Young Investigator attendees will also make a presentation of their research.

There is a projected future shortage of clinical sleep researchers, and research funding is difficult to obtain. This retreat is aimed at providing guidance, tactics and strategies to help improve the chances of achieving a successful career in clinical sleep research. The aims are:

1. To foster the pursuit of clinical research in sleep medicine by junior faculty and fellows training in sleep medicine.
2. To disseminate vital information required for pursuing a career in research.
3. To serve as a primer for designing research studies, presenting research findings, and scientific writing.
4. An opportunity to network and establish extramural research mentorship.

The Forum is open to young investigators (clinical fellows, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty) who are actively engaged and planning to continue a career in clinical or translational sleep research. Applicants must have an advanced degree (MD, DO, PhD or equivalent) and be a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Applications must be received no later than October 1, 2008. Applications must be sent electronically to bshearer@aasmnet.org. Applications must include a one or two page Biosketch using NIH style, a one-page research abstract in SLEEP format and a one page letter outlining the applicant’s goals for a career in clinical sleep research. Applications will be reviewed and 20 applicants selected for the forum by a panel including members of the AASM Research Committee. Appl