Overview

ELIGIBILITY

• North American and internationally-based Junior Faculty, Fellows, Postdoctoral Researchers, and PhD students (MDs, DOs, PhDs, and PhD students) 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 & 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)

• PhD Students/Trainees (conducting lab-based research in neurofibromatosis)

• All work must be unpublished original research in an area related to neurofibromatosis.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 September 9, 2024.

• Abstracts to be presented at future medical meetings are eligible for submission.

ABSTRACT POLICIES & PROCEDURES

• Only one abstract submission per Young Investigator will be accepted.

• Abstracts must conform to the abstract preparation instructions. Those that do not will be rejected.

• Only original work completed by the Young Investigator will be accepted.

• Abstract submissions from past Young Investigators are both allowed and encouraged.

• 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 Monday, September 9, 2024 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).

FINALISTS

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

• A travel scholarship for lodging, airline, and/or ground transportation, if eligible.*

• All group buffet meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) for the duration of the meeting.

• Individualized presentation skills coaching prior to the meeting.

Please note: Expenses for accompanying travelers will not be provided. Guests are not permitted to attend any portion of the meeting, including buffet meals.

AWARDS

An awards ceremony will be held Friday evening, December 6, 2024, 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.

*Travel scholarships provided by CEC