20th Annual National Jewish Health Respiratory Disease Young Investigators’ Forum Calls for Abstracts

Young physician investigators interested in research careers in pulmonology, allergy and immunology, pediatric and related programs, are encouraged to submit basic science or clinical research abstracts by June 3, 2024, to be considered for participation in the 20th Annual Respiratory Disease Young Investigators’ Forum. This year’s Forum will take place October 17-20, 2024, in Denver.

The annual event provides career development and research opportunities for fellows and early career faculty. The Forum is a celebration of talent and ingenuity in respiratory medicine. Physician-scientists in fellowship and early career stages are encouraged to submit their abstracts to be considered for this opportunity to showcase their research, connect with industry leaders, and contribute to the advancement of respiratory disease research.

"The Young Investigators’ Forum has been a catalyst for groundbreaking discoveries, and we are thrilled to celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. We invite physician scientists from around the country to submit research abstracts for the opportunity to join us as we continue to shape the future of respiratory medicine together," said Jeff Swigris, DO, pulmonologist at National Jewish Health and last year’s program chair.

This unique educational opportunity is designed for pulmonary, allergy and immunology fellows and junior faculty who are in their first few years in an academic role. Thirty investigators, whose Basic Science Research or Clinical Research abstracts are selected, will be invited to present their research at the Forum in the fall, where a panel of expert faculty will evaluate their presentations and score them on specified criteria. Selected winners will receive a monetary award to support their future research endeavors in respiratory medicine. Throughout the Forum, attendees will enjoy opportunities to meet and interact with expert faculty and peer researchers.

At last year’s Forum, 29 early career physician-scientists were selected to present research in one of two categories: Basic Science or Clinical Research. The top three winners in each category received awards as well as a monetary prize to support their future research.

The top 3 winners in the 2023 Basic Science and Clinical Research Categories were:

1st Place Basic Science: Eno-Obong Essien, MD, University of Pennsylvania Hospital: Nanoparticles for Lung Disease: Risks, Challenges, and Solutions

1st Place Clinical Research: Agnes S. Montgomery, MD, Children's National Hospital: Prematurity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risk in Early Childhood: The Role of Early‐Life Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

2nd Place Basic Science: Daniel Colon Hidalgo, MD, University of Colorado: Genetic Variant of EC‐SOD Leads to Worsened Pulmonary Hypertension Severity Due to Alterations in Mitochondrial Function

2nd Place Clinical Research: Jonathan Rose, MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital: Genetic Variant of EC‐SOD Leads to Worsened Pulmonary Hypertension Severity Due to Alterations in Mitochondrial Function

3rd Place Basic Science: Matthew McCarra, MD, Stanford University: TERT Expressing Alveolar Type II Cells As Unipotent Progenitors of the Distal Lung

3rd Place Clinical Research: Kristin Berger, MD, New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center: Airway Tree Caliber and Subclinical Interstitial Lung Disease in Community‐Dwelling Adults: The Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

For more information about the 2024 20th Annual Young Investigator's Forum and to apply, please visit njhealth.org/YIF2024.