This new career development program established by the ACCP Research Institute intends to provide up to 25 experienced investigators annually with the knowledge and skills needed to facilitate their becoming independent clinical, translational, or health services researchers. The target audience is pharmacist investigators with prior pilot research data who want to create a focused competitive grant application that will support a significant extramural grant application.

Through this mentored program, each experienced investigator will take necessary steps toward preparing a K, R01, or similar investigator-initiated application for submission to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or other major funding source.

This is an intensive one-week hands-on workshop for up to 25 experienced investigators who have not yet been awarded significant peer-reviewed extra mural funding as a principal investigator. The participants will be expected to submit a grant proposal synopsis with the application and complete assignments/readings prior to the workshop. Research projects may be focused in any of the following areas: clinical, basic science, translational, health services, outcomes-based, or behavioral science. There will be multiple deliverables by the investigators throughout the experience.

The basis of the curriculum is to integrate research theory with practical applications while having the participant begin productive scholarship work early in the process. In validated adult learning theory, learning occurs within a logical familiar context and builds on past experiences. Skills develop more quickly through crucial thinking and problem solving when the learning parallels real world experience. Investigators will be challenged to explore Utah individual professional research goals and by the end of the program will have been oriented to and taken initial critical steps toward completion a mentor-assisted competitive grant application.

Pre-workshop Preparation
It is anticipated that a significant volume of pre-workshop assignments will be completed prior to attending the workshop. This may include, but not be limited to, readings, NIH video library training videos, and preparation of literature review and investigator-initiated grant proposal synopsis writing.

Grant Proposal Group Sessions
During this core activity of the workshop, the investigator develops a concept sheet and completes a draft of specific aims. Through extensive mentoring by the project group, the attendee outlines the writing of the grant proposal before the end of the workshop. These sessions allow the student to be actively involved, to apply learning in a real-life environment, and to receive detailed critiques from experienced, well-funded scientists and peers.

Lectures and Panel Discussions
Experts in the field will lead group discussions on specific topics related to the principles and conduct of high quality research grant proposals. Some lectures may be followed up by panel discussions so investigators and faculty can explore topics in greater depth and answer questions relevant to the audience at large.

Small Group Discussions
The small groups will allow investigators to interact with special topics related to l highly competitive grant applications. These experiences will offer an opportunity for the scholars to engage in in-depth conversations of special interest to the investigators. Attendance will be limited in order to maximize the potential learning environment.

One-on-One Sessions
Faculty will be available for individual advice and expertise on grant proposal development, mentoring, funding sources, data analysis, career development and grant writing. Due to limited space, registrants are required to preregister with specific faculty.

The faculty will be engaged in a close mentoring-type of relationship with the investigators. It is anticipated faculty mentors will be funded experienced researchers and educators primarily from academia and industry. A mix of highly skilled clinical, basic science and biostatical faculty researchers will be on-site to meet the diverse needs of the investigator participants.

The call to investigators will be made by January 1, 2009. Investigators are to submit online applications only, via the ACCP RI Web site, www.accpri.com. Deadline for submission of application materials is April 1, 2009. Potential investigators will be notified of their selection by May 30, 2009.

All workshop investigators and faculty are asked to bring a laptop with wireless internet ready capabilities.

The registration fee for 2009 is not yet determined.