1st ANNUAL NEUROFIBROMATOSIS YOUNG INVESTIGATORS’ FORUM

September 23, 2021 to September 24, 2021

Click here to view the 2021 NFYIF Newsletter

 

The Neurofibromatosis Young Investigators’ Forum (NFYIF) is a highly competitive research and professional development forum which strives to encourage, promote, and empower Young Investigators to forge collegial connections and acquire the necessary skills and relationships to increase their research productivity and catalyze their career trajectory in neurofibromatosis. The 2021 Forum will be our inaugural installment, and though we continue to closely monitor the ever-evolving conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are planning to provision a live, in-person format. We will, of course, employ diligent precautionary measures, including open-air sessions, social distancing, and asynchronous utilization of indoor meeting space, to ensure the utmost safety and health of all attendees.

We understand that certain academic institutions have various travel restrictions that may or may not be lifted by September, and as such, we will remain flexible and take responsive steps to leverage technology for any Young Investigators impacted by travel limitations; it is, however, our hope and goal to gather all Young Investigators and Expert Faculty Judges together in Houston to commence the 1st Annual NFYIF.


Presented by Creative Educational Concepts, Inc. in collaboration with the Children’s Tumor Foundation.

                             

Supported through an independent educational grant from AstraZeneca.

Target Audience

  • North American-based Junior Faculty, Fellows, and Postdoctoral Researchers (MDs, DOs, and PhDs) involved in neurofibromatosis research.
    • Junior Faculty (Instructors or Assistant Professors not more than 5 years from first faculty appointment)
      • Clinician Scientist (MD/DO +/- PhD in active patient care and conducting any lab-based or clinical research in neurofibromatosis)
      • Research Scientist (MD/DO and/or PhD conducting full time lab-based research in neurofibromatosis)
    • Fellows and Postdoctoral Researchers (Must be enrolled in an ACGME-accredited fellowship program or have completed a PhD program within the past 5 years)
      • Clinical Fellow (MD/DO +/- PhD conducting any clinical or lab-based research in neurofibromatosis)
      • PhD Postdoctoral Researcher (PhD conducting lab-based research in neurofibromatosis)
  • Candidates must be based in North America and training must be completed at a North American-based institution.
  • All work must be unpublished original research in an area related to neurofibromatosis. Please note: publication of research as an abstract alone does not preclude eligibility; however, an abstract will not be accepted if it has been published as a full manuscript before June 23, 2021.
  • Abstracts to be presented at future medical meetings are eligible for submission.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify high-quality neurofibromatosis (NF) research study designs and methods, with an emphasis on NF1 and NF1-related tumors but also including NF2 and Schwannomatosis, that may improve on current approaches.
  • Examine the impact of scholarly activity and clinical research on continuing professional development.
  • Evaluate strengths and weaknesses of NF research presented by Young Investigator peers.
  • Improve public speaking and presentation skills to effectively communicate research findings to the larger scientific community.
  • Recognize the crucial need for community-building amongst Young Investigators, especially in rare disease research, and analyze the mechanisms by which networking and collegiality enhance productivity and catalyze career trajectory in NF.
  • Explore “what it takes” to become an NF researcher by discussing key career challenges such as grant writing, research funding, networking, and academic appointments, among others, with leading expert investigators and peers.    
     
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 8.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 8.25 Participation
Course opens: 
05/03/2021
Course expires: 
09/24/2021
Event starts: 
09/23/2021 - 12:00pm EDT
Event ends: 
09/24/2021 - 5:00pm EDT
Rating: 
0

Abstract Policies and Procedures:

  • Only one abstract submission per Young Investigator will be accepted.
  • Abstracts must conform to the abstract preparation instructions. Those that do not may be rejected.
  • Only original work completed by the Young Investigator will be accepted.
  • All accepted abstracts will be published in an electronic program to be provided to all attendees. The publication of electronic handout materials will not preclude publication or presentation elsewhere.
     

Selection Process:

Submission deadline is Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 11:59 PM ET

  • Expert Faculty Judges will review and score all submissions.
  • Authors of the abstracts selected for presentation at the Forum will be expected to present their research according to their status at the time the research was completed (i.e., if research was conducted during fellowship training, it will be presented in the Fellows category).
  • All presentations will be podium format and will consist of an 8-minute formal presentation with PowerPoint slides and  a 7-minute question-answer period (15 minutes total).
     

Awards:

An awards ceremony will be held on Friday evening, September 24, 2021, at which time financial grants will be awarded to top performers in each of the categories. Grant payments will be made directly to the affiliated institution of each winning Young Investigator after the live program date.
 

Finalists:

The finalists (authors of accepted abstracts) must attend the meeting in it’s entirety and will be provided with the following:

  • One round-trip, non-refundable, economy-class airline ticket, if  outside the Houston area.
  • A ground transportation stipend, or mileage reimbursement, for transfers to and from the program hotel in Houston.
  • 2 nights lodging (Thursday and Friday) at The Houstonian Hotel.
  • All group buffet meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) for the duration of the meeting.
    • Or meals of commensurate value if pandemic precautions preclude buffet-style
  • Individualized presentation skills coaching.

Items that will not be covered include:

  • Ground transportation to and from your home airport
  • Meals en route
  • Baggage fees

Please note: Expenses for accompanying travelers will not be provided. Guests are not permitted to attend any portion of the meeting, including buffet meals. All travel arrangements will be made through a travel coordinator with Creative Educational Concepts.
 

Instructions for Abstract Preparation and Submission:

Identification: Upon entering the abstract submission website, you will be required to submit the following information:

  • Full name, degree(s), credential(s)
  • Mailing address
  • Daytime telephone, fax, and e-mail
  • Current institution
  • Previous institution (where research was conducted, if applicable)
  • Submitting author and study type: (Clinician Scientist, Research Scientist, Clinical Fellow, or Postdoctoral Research Fellow)

Format: Abstracts should be uploaded as a Microsoft Word document with your last name in the document name.

Abstracts should consist of a brief title (bolded) descriptive of the research. Include first and last names and degrees of the authors. Underline the presenting author’s name and list the name and location of the institution where research was completed. Do not identify authors or institutions in the body of the abstract. Sans serif font (such as Arial or Helvetica) is preferred. Do not use font sizes smaller than 10 point.

Abstract text must be 500 words or less. Please make sure all figures are high resolution (at least 300 dpi). No more than a total of 4 figures and/or tables per submission are permitted. Please limit figures to 1 graph or image each (i.e., no multiple-part figures). Legends should be included with the abstract text and not as part of the figures (not included in the 500-word limit); figures should be embedded in the abstract file and not included as separate attachments.

Organize the body of the abstract in the following manner:
a) Disclosure of relevant financial relationships (not included in word count)
b) A sentence stating the purpose of the study
c) A brief statement of methods
d) A summary of results
e) A statement of conclusions reached. It is not satisfactory to state, “The results will be discussed.”

Notification:
Abstract Receipt: An automatic notice confirming abstract submission, "Thank you, your submission has been received," will be provided upon completion of the online submission process.
Abstract Acceptance: Notification of abstract acceptance or rejection will be provided via e-mail by the end of July.

Questions can be directed to Rebecca Weaver at rweaver@ceconcepts.com.

Agenda:

DayKey Components/Activities: DayKey Components/Activities: Evening

Thursday

  • Arrivals of all Young Investigators, judges (AM)
  • Small group sessions*
  • Afternoon scientific presentations*
  • Mentoring Moment: (Expert Faculty Panel) “Axioms for Success in NF: Grant Writing, Research Funding, Publishing, and the Academic Hierarchy”
  • Welcome Reception 
  • Keynote Welcome Address

Friday

  • Morning scientific presentations*
  • Meet-the-Professor lunch 
  • Afternoon scientific presentations*
  • Mentoring Moment: (Expert Faculty Panel) “Catalyzing Connectedness: How Collegiality and Community-Building Can Change Your Career (& Your Life)”
  • Awards Dinner
  • “Mission Moment” presentation by patients/caregivers

Saturday

  • Departures
 

 

Live Virtual Event
United States

Bruce Korf, MD, PhD
Activity Chair
University of Alabama Birmingham

 

 

 


Andrea Gross, MD
Activity Co-Chair
National Institutes of Health

 

 

 

 

D.W. Clapp, MD
Indiana University

 

 

 

 

Michael J. Fisher, MD
CHOP
 

 

 

 

AeRang Kim, MD, PhD
Children's National

 

 

 

 

Nancy Ratner, PhD
Cincinnati Children's

In support of improving patient care, Creative Educational Concepts is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Available Credit

  • 8.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 8.25 Participation
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