AFMR Past President Abdulla Salahudeen, MD

This has been an exciting year for the AFMR and I am pleased to provide you with an update on our activities and new endeavors.

AFMR has become a member of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). FASEB’s mission is to advance biological science through collaborative advocacy for research policies that promote both scientific progress and education and lead to improvements in human health. The AFMR’s membership in FASEB strengthens the position of clinical research in that organization, and through conjoined efforts strengthens the AFMR’s public policy efforts.

In April, the Eastern Region had a very successful meeting at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC with 58 registered attendees. The guest speakers included Dr. Charles Flexner of Johns Hopkins University, who gave the 1st Annual Former AFMR/AFCR President’s Address, and Dr. Randal Weber of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center who presented a breakfast workshop. There was also a very informative Research Advocacy Workshop given by Research!America.

The Western Region recently held its Annual Meeting in Carmel. It was very successful with excellent speakers and good attendance. We were pleased to present the Outstanding Investigator Award to Dr. Stephanie Page and scholar awards to 19 recipients. View the complete list.

The Southern Region met in New Orleans from February 25-27. The program included Workshops on Manuscript Preparation, Neonatal Quality Improvement and the NIH Grant Review Process. There was also Poster Sessions and Concurrent Sessions on: Adolescent Medicine and Pediatrics; Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology; Endocrinology; Gastroenterology; Hematology and Oncology; and Infectious Diseases. View the abstracts.

The Midwestern Region held its 2010 Combined Annual Meeting with the Central Society for Clinical Research (CSCR) from April 22-23, 2010 at the Swissotel in Chicago. One of the highlights of the program was the 2nd Annual AFMR Career Development Workshop on Thursday afternoon, featuring Dr. Pamela Davis, Dean at Case Western Reserve University, Dr. Francois Abboud, Professor of Medicine at the University of Iowa, and Dr. Douglas E. Vaughan, Chairman, Department of Medicine at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine.

The AFMR sponsored five workshops at Experimental Biology 2010 April 24-28, 2010 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. View the list of symposia.

We are pleased to announce that we received a record number of applications for the 2010 Henry Christian Awards. These awards began in 1990 to honor the founder of the AFMR, Dr. Henry Christian.

The Journal of Investigative Medicine continues to be published regularly with peer reviewed articles, AFMR-EB symposia proceedings and other articles relevant to AFMR members. Information on submitting a manuscript and the instructions for authors for JIM can be found here:
http://edmgr.ovid.com/jim/accounts/ifauth.htm

The AFMR is a vibrant organization and its leadership is eager to hear from you. We need your support and advice now more than ever before. If you have not already done so, please renew your membership here and enter your username and password.

close article     return to top

Western Regional Meeting
January 26-29, 2011 - Carmel, California
Abstract Deadline – October 1, 2010

Southern Regional Meeting
February 17-19, 2011 - New Orleans, Louisiana
Abstract Deadline – October 18, 2010

Eastern Regional Meeting
Washington, DC

Experimental Biology 2011
April 9-13, 2011, Washington, DC

2011 Combined Annual Meeting of CSCR and MWAFMR*
April 14-15, 2011 - Chicago, Illinois
*New Venue: Chicago Marriott Downtown

close article     return to top

close article     return to top

The Eastern Region of the AFMR showcased its high caliber science and research when it convened at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, DC April 5-6 for its 2010 Annual Meeting. This year’s program featured excellent abstract presentations across numerous disciplines by authors from many different institutions on the coast and provided great insight from invited lecturers including Charles W. Flexner, MD, of the Institute of Clinical and Translational Research at Johns Hopkins University, who provided the 1st Former AFMR/AFCR President’s Address, and Karen Goraleski of Research!America who gave a fascinating interactive workshop on medical research advocacy.

Along with abstract presentations covering current aspects and innovative approaches to medical research, the 2010 program addressed timely and important topics such as dealing with conflict and negotiation in the current economic climate - a presentation given by Randal S. Weber, MD of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and career building through publication, which was the focus of Dr. Allison Reiss of Winthrop University Hospital in New York. In 2010, the East also honored the following seven top scholars during a ceremony over dinner on April 5th:

• Angela Benton, Children’s National Medical Center
• Charu Gandotra, Howard University Hospital
• Ofek Hai, Winthrop University Hospital
• Bora Kim, Winthrop University Hospital
• Sirikarn Napan, Howard University Hospital
• Isaac Opoku-Asare, Howard University Hospital, Washington DC VA Medical Center
• Ravi Parikh, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Baptist Medical Centre Ogbomoso

This year’s Eastern Regional Meeting program and abstracts are now archived on the AFMR website. Planning for the 2011 Annual Meeting, to be held in Washington, DC, will soon begin. Please check the Eastern Region website for regular programming updates.

close article     return to top

close article     return to top

• Joan Beckman, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Samuel Carrell, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
• MingMing Ning, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
• Michael Valentino, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

close article     return to top

• Advocacy on behalf of medical investigators and researchers - the AFMR has direct Washington representation on Capitol Hill, and also works with other related societies to pool resources to get important messages directly to members of Congress
• Updates on Public Policy and Clinical Research Funding including regular AFMR email alerts and “call your Congress representative” notifications.
• A complimentary print and online subscription to the Journal of Investigative Medicine, the AFMR’s official journal
• No page charges on publications in the Journal of Investigative Medicine for AFMR members
• A dedicated Members’ Only area on the AFMR website where members can update their records, access the journal, seek information on other AFMR members in their city or state, and obtain important grant and career information through an ever-expanding portal
• Opportunity to apply for a series of substantial Awards - including the AFMR Outstanding Investigator Award, Junior Physician Investigator Awards, the Henry Christian Awards, and AFMR Regional Scholar Awards
• Reduced registration fees at Regional Meetings as well as the AFMR National Meetings
• Notification of all upcoming abstract deadlines for important national and regional meetings
• Opportunity to present and showcase your work at Regional and National Meetings as well as to present symposia at Experimental Biology each year - a forum for translational research

close article     return to top

close article     return to top