22nd Annual Respiratory Disease Young Investigators’ Forum

Developing the next generation of physician-scientists:

a research and career mentorship opportunity for fellows and early career faculty.

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 young investigators whose Basic Science Research or Clinical Research abstracts are selected will be invited to present their research at the Forum where a panel of expert faculty will evaluate their presentations and score them on specified criteria. Selected winners will be awarded a monetary prize 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.

October 8-11, 2026 | Denver, CO

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.

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.

This Forum has been a successful program for the past 20 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.

See the 2024 Forum Newsletter (PDF)
  

Target Audience

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 research on airway diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung disease and others, 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.
 

Learning Objectives

1. Discuss new and emerging areas of respiratory research that offer new inroads to effective therapies and treatment

2. Establish mentoring and collegial relationships to support scientific endeavors and career
   advancement

3. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of peer research presentations

4. Incorporate peer/expert faculty feedback effectively to enhance research presentations

5. Discuss key strategies for career development as a physician-scientist

6. Describe comprehensive process for securing grant support for research

This activity is supported by an educational grant from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals

Faculty announcement coming soon!

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

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 recent pandemic requires across all healthcare organizations, we also welcome research on COVID-19 to be submitted.

• Fellows enrolled in basic science or clinical research programs during the 2025-2026 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 respiratory 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.

Research must adhere to research integrity principles as defined by the National Institutes of Health. This includes the use of honest and verifiable methods in proposing, performing, and evaluating research; reporting research results with particular attention to rules, regulations and guidelines; and following commonly accepted professional codes or norms.

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 10, 2026, 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 2026.

For additional information, please contact the Office of Professional Education at ProEd@njhealth.org or 303.398.1000.

The deadline to submit an abstract for this event is Monday, June 15, 2026 11:59 P.M. PDT. Troubles with your submission? Email ProEd@NJHealth.org

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.