21st Annual Respiratory Disease Young Investigators’ Forum

Overview

This Forum is a unique educational opportunity designed for pulmonary, allergy and immunology fellows and junior faculty who are in their first few years in an academic role.

The goals of this program are to facilitate mentoring relationships with expert faculty in respiratory medicine, expand connections to peer investigators, improve the quality of scientific investigation and enhance the communication and presentation of associated research findings.

Throughout the Forum, attendees will enjoy opportunities to meet and interact with expert faculty and peer researchers. Opportunities to meet with specific expert faculty during scheduled meals will be available. Along with scientific presentations from the Young Investigators, expert faculty will provide several presentations over the course of the Forum on topics highly relevant to developing a career as a physician scientist.

Eligible candidates are invited to submit an abstract of their research (clinical or basic science) to a panel of expert faculty for review. Abstracts will be blinded and scored by the expert faculty. Based on these scores, the top 30 abstracts are accepted. It should be noted that the final selection of abstracts is based on the quality of the research and the number of abstracts received in each category.

At the forum, the 30 fellows will present their research in podium format and expert faculty will evaluate their presentations and score them on specified criteria. Selected winners will be awarded a monetary prize, as outlined below, to support their future research endeavors in respiratory medicine. There will be an award for each category (Basic Science and Clinical Research). First place award is $2,000, Second place award is $1,500 and Third place award is $1,000.

This Forum has been a successful program for the past 19 years. Previous participants indicate that it is one of the best programs they have attended because of its focus on research, interaction with other young investigators, and the mentorship that is provided by world renowned experts in respiratory medicine.

As the leading respiratory hospital, National Jewish Health is committed to growing young scientists to become leaders in the research and treatment of respiratory diseases, and is excited to be sponsoring this important forum.

This activity is supported by an educational grant from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.

2024 Program Co-Chairs
	Ravi Kalhan, MD, MS Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine Deputy Division Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Co-director of Center for Education and Career Development in the Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute Respiratory Disease Young Investigator, 2004
	Mihaela Teodorescu, MD, MS Professor of Medicine Director, James B. Skatrud Pulmonary/Sleep Research Laboratory William S. Middleton Memorial Veteran's Hospital  Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Respiratory Disease Young Investigator, 2005-2007
2024 Program Faculty
	Praveen Akuthota, MD Professor of Medicine University of California San Diego Health Respiratory Disease Young Investigator, 2008
	Jessica Bon, MD, MS, ATSF Professor of Medicine Director, Airways Disease Research Center Vice Chief for Research Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy, and Immunologic Diseases Wake Forest University School of Medicine Respiratory Disease Young Investigator, 2007
	Sonali Bose, MD, MPH, ATSF Associate Professor, Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Associate Professor, Pediatrics Mount Sinai-National Jewish Respiratory Institute Respiratory Disease Young Investigator, 2010
	Charles Dela Cruz, MD, PhD, ATSF Professor, Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine Director, Acute Lung Injury and Infection Center University of Pittsburgh Respiratory Disease Young Investigator, 2008
	Daniel Jackson, MD Professor of Pediatrics School of Medicine and Public Health Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology University of Wisconsin Respiratory Disease Young Investigator, 2008
	Victor E. Ortega, M.D., PhD Professor of Medicine Associate Director, Center for Individualized Medicine in Arizona Director of Omics Research and Translation, Department of Internal Medicine Mayo Clinic Associate Editor, JAMA Respiratory Disease Young Investigator, 2007 and 2009
	Jennifer L. Taylor-Cousar, MD, MSCS President, Medical Staff Medical Director, Clinical Research Services Co-Director and CF TDC Director, Adult CF Program Professor, Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, Divisions of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine and Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine National Jewish Health Divisions of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine and Pediatric Pulmonology University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Respiratory Disease Young Investigator, 2005
Research Advisors
	Laura Crotty Alexander, MD Associate Professor in Residence Department of Medicine Associate Division Chief Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine University of California San Diego Respiratory Disease Young Investigator, 2009
	Jane Gross, MD Associate Professor Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine Divisions of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine National Jewish Health Respiratory Disease Young Investigator, 2008
	Nathan Sandbo, MD Professor Department of Medicine Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine University of Wisconsin Respiratory Disease Young Investigator, 2005

 

Location:

Denver, CO

 

Presentation Format:

Young Investigator presentations will be podium format with 8 minutes dedicated to the formal presentation followed by 7 minutes of questions and answers from expert faculty and peer investigators.
 

Tentative Agenda

Thursday, October 9, 2025
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (MST)	Rehearsal Sessions
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.	Welcome Reception/Dinner
Friday, October 10, 2025
8:00 a.m. – 3:40 p.m.	Breakfast
	Young Investigators’ Presentations
	Expert Faculty Career-Based Presentations
	Meet-the-Professor Lunch
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.	Dinner
Saturday, October 11, 2025
8:00 a.m. – 3:40 p.m.	Breakfast
	Young Investigators’ Presentations
	Expert Faculty Career-Based Presentations
	Meet-the-Professor Lunch
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.	Awards Dinner

Eligibility and Selection Process

Eligibility:

• US-based Fellows (MDs, DOs) currently enrolled in a pediatric, pulmonary, allergy and immunology fellowship program and/or physicians who have transitioned from fellowship to an academic role in the past 2 years and are conducting basic science or clinical research on airway diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, allergic rhinitis, genetics of airway diseases, sleep disorders, or bronchiectasis, in either pediatric or adult  populations. Recognizing the apt attention the current pandemic requires across all healthcare organizations, we also welcome research on COVID-19 to be submitted in this Call for Abstracts.

• Fellows enrolled in basic science or clinical research programs during the 2024-2025 academic year. Young investigators transitioning to initial faculty positions in the last 2 years are especially encouraged to participate.

• PhD-only research Fellows are not eligible.

• Candidates must be based in the United States (training must be completed at a US-based institution).
   

Abstract Policies and Procedures:

All work must be unpublished original research in an area related to lung diseases. Publication as an abstract alone does not preclude eligibility. Abstracts/papers already presented or scheduled to be presented at future medical meetings are eligible for submission. Only 1 abstract submission of original work will be accepted.

All accepted abstracts will be published in a program workbook. The publication of this workbook will not preclude publication or presentation elsewhere.
 

Selection Process:

Expert faculty will review all abstracts and 30 finalists will be selected based on the following criteria:

1. Scientific importance – will this research make a difference in diagnosis, treatment or quality of patient care?

2. Quality of research – is the hypothesis feasible and will the stated methodology enable this research to be completed in a meaningful way?

3. Enhance knowledge – will the research improve our knowledge about the disease or treatment?

4. Does the research answer a question that needs to be answered or provide new findings that may change the way we diagnose or treat a condition?

5. Overall presentation of abstract – Is the abstract informative and thoughtfully written; does it outline the question to be addressed; and is the research proposed able to provide an answer?
    

Awards:

An awards ceremony will be held on Saturday evening, October 19, 2024, at which the award winners in each of the 2 categories (basic science and clinical) will be announced.
 

Abstract Submission and Notification Process

Instructions for Abstract Preparation and Submission:

1. Identification: Abstracts that do not have complete identification information may not be accepted.

Your submission must include the following information:

• Full Name, degree(s)

• Mailing address (PO Boxes will not be accepted)

• Daytime telephone, fax, pager, e-mail address,

• Current institution

• Previous institution (where research was conducted, if applicable)

• Year of fellowship (1, 2, 3) or year 1 or 2 as faculty

• Category of research: basic science or clinical research

2. Format:

Title and Author: Abstracts should consist of a brief title (bold) descriptive of the research and include first and last names and degrees of all authors with the presenting author’s name underlined. Also include the name and location of the institution where the research was completed. Please do not identify authors in the body of the abstract.

Text: Abstract text must be 500 words or fewer. Sans serif font (such as Arial or Helvetica) is preferred. Please do not use font sizes smaller than 10 point.​

Figures and Tables: 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 (ie, no multiple-part figures). All figures will be printed in black and white. Legends should be included and are not included in the 500-word limit; figures should be embedded in the abstract file and not included as separate e-mail attachments.

Content: Organize the body of the abstract in the following manner:

1. Disclosure of relevant financial relationships (not included in word count).

2. A sentence stating the purpose of the study, unless stated in the title

3. A brief statement of methods, if pertinent.

4. A summary of results

5. A statement of the conclusions reached. It is not satisfactory to state “the results will be discussed.”

Notification:

• Abstract Receipt: Notification of abstract receipt will be provided to you via e-mail.

• Abstract Acceptance: Notification of abstract acceptance or rejection will be provided to you via e-mail in July 2025.

Credit Designation and Compliance

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education by National Jewish Health. National Jewish Health is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

National Jewish Health designates this live activity for a maximum of 14 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.