The Research Committee of the United States Bone and Joint Decade (USBJD) has launched a series of workshops to provide early-career clinical investigators with an opportunity to work with experienced researchers in rheumatology, and to assist them in securing funding and learning other survival skills required for pursuing an academic career.
USBJD instituted the workshops to address concerns that clinical research in the musculoskeletal diseases being performed by young investigators is not keeping pace with the increasing burden of these diseases in the United States.
This workshop series is open to promising junior faculty, senior fellows, or post-doctoral researchers nominated by their department or division chairs. It is also open to senior fellows or residents who are doing research and have a faculty appointment in place or confirmed. Investigators selected to take part in the program will attend two workshops, six or 12 months apart, and work with faculty between workshops to develop their grant applications. The timing of the second workshop, which reviews completed applications and summary statements, depends on the status of investigators and their applications.
Workshops are scheduled for the spring and fall. The next workshop will be held in spring 2007; dates and locations will be announced soon. The unique aspect of this program is the opportunity for attendees to maintain a relationship with a mentor until their application is funded. Interested applicants can visit www.usbjd.org/research/research_op.cfm?dirID=197 to learn more about the application process. The next application deadline is January 15, 2007.