Young Investigators Initiative

Research into musculoskeletal conditions has not been keeping pace with the burden of disease in North America. By training young investigators to compete for research grants, BJD Canada and the USBJD aim to address this imbalance. The goals of the Bone and Joint Decade are:
     
 
  • To reduce the social and financial cost of Musculoskeletal disorders to society
  • To improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment for people with arthritis and bone disease
  • To advance research on prevention and treatment
  • To empower patients to make decisions on their care
 
     

USBJD and BJD Canada have developed the YII program, which matches early-career clinical investigators with experienced researchers in the field to assist them in securing funding and other survival skills required for pursuing an academic career. To date, more than 140 young investigators have been accepted into the YII programme covering anatomy, chiropractic, dentistry, endocrinology, kinesiology, orthopaedics, pathology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, physical therapy, occupational medicine, occupational therapy, and rheumatology. More than fifty participants have obtained >$23.5MM in research grants.

Participants are invited to attend two workshops, approximately 12 months apart. In the first workshop, participants are taught how to apply for funding and they are matched with mentors to assist them in developing their specific proposals. In the second workshop, returning participants are taught how to develop a research program and how to balance competing demands for their time and resources.

For more information, visit the YII website.

(http://www.usbjd.org/research/research_op.cfm?dirID=197)

 
BJC Currently Accepting Abstracts!

This grant mentoring program 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 that are doing research and have a faculty appointment in place or confirmed. Basic and clinical investigators, without or with training awards (including K awards) are invited tso apply.

Investigators selected to take part in the program attend two workshops, 12 months apart, and work with faculty between workshops to develop their grant applications. The next workshop is scheduled to take place October 29-31, 2010, in Toronto, ON Canada. The unique aspect of this program is the opportunity for attendees to maintain a relationship with a mentor until their application is funded. To apply for this program the applicants must provide the following documentation.

  Application

1. Letter of nomination from division or department chair.
2. Letter of support from institutional research mentor.
3. One or two page document with program title, specific aims and outline of a proposed grant application from the participant, making sure to note applicant’s name.
4. Curriculum vitae of the applicant, to include complete contact details, and discipline specialization.
5. The application is due by July 15, 2010
6. The application should be addressed to Young Investigators Initiative and emailed to usbjd@usbjd.org(preferred), or mailed to the USBJD at:

United States Bone and Joint Decade, NFP
6300 North River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018