The American Academy of Sleep Medicine announces the second Young Investigator Research Forum to be held on April 14-15, 2010, at the NIH Natcher Conference Center in 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 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. 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.

APPLICATION DUE DATE:	December 1, 2009
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:	20
RESEARCH FORUM DATES AND LOCATION:	1 ½ day meeting on April 14 and 15, 2010 in Bethesda, MD
APPLICATION FORMAT:	BIOSKETCH – NIH Format Research Abstract – SLEEP Format Letter Stating Career Goals – 1 Page
APPLICATION SUBMISSION:	Email all application materials to: lwallis@aasmnet.org
CONTACT PERSON FOR INQUIRIES:	Richard Rosenberg, PhD Tel. 708 492-0930 E-mail rrosenberg@aasmnet.org

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 and did not attend the 2009 Forum. Applications must be received no later than Tuesday, December 1, 2009. Applications must be sent electronically to lwallis@aasmnet.org. Applications must include a 1-2 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 by the AASM Research Committee and 20 applicants will be selected for the forum. Applicants will be informed of the decision by the Research Committee no later than January 4, 2010.