2014 Beeson Meeting and Report
Since its launch in 1994, The Paul B. Beeson Career Development Awards in Aging Research Program has recognized over 200 investigators as Beeson Scholars through a program that provides three to five years of mentored career development support to enable clinically-trained investigators to gain skills and experience in aging-related research and to become leaders in the field.
On October 8-11, 2014, more than ninety current and alumni Beeson Scholars, mentors, funders, and senior faculty gathered for the annual Beeson Meeting in San Diego. Organized by AFAR, the Beeson Meeting serves as a forum for career development, scientific exchange, mentoring, and networking.
David Reuben, MD, of the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, opened the meeting with his keynote address, “A Physician-Scientist’s Life: Pearls and Platitudes”
One highlight of the meeting was the Funding Information session, moderated by Chyren Hunter, Deputy Director and Training Officer, Division of Extramural Activities, NIA, with speakers Marie Bernard, Deputy Director, NIA; Joe Selby, Executive Director, PCORI; and Kristine Yaffe, Professor, UCSF. This session covered everything from underutilized funding mechanisms to how to keep your grant from being “dead on arrival.”
The meeting included career development sessions, presentations from the graduating Beeson scholars, research and poster presentations, a consultancy where researchers prepresented questions for peer feedback and suggestions, a workshop where scholars could discuss proposed new projects and get feedback on how to strengthen their proposals, and an update on the John A. Hartford Foundation ChangeAGEnts Initiative.
Coinciding with the meeting, AFAR also launched the 2014 Beeson Report highlighting research of the 2012 scholars. Explore the report here.
Meet the 2014 Beeson Scholars here and learn more about Dr. Paul B. Beeson here.
This program is sponsored by The National Institute on Aging (NIA), The Atlantic Philanthropies (USA), The John A. Hartford Foundation, and the National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS) and administered by the NIA and AFAR.
Marie Bernard, MD, Deputy Director, National Institute on Aging, shared valuable insights on the current funding climate and opportunities.
The annual Beeson Meeting provides emerging researcher the unique opportunity to get one-on-one advice from mentors outside their own institution.
Beeson Scholars shared insights in the “Data Blitz” session, a fast-track vehicle to understand research and possible synergies with others.