Paul Lasko and Anthony Phillips, Scientific Directors of the CIHR Institutes of Genetics (CIHR-IG), and Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (CIHR-INMHA), are pleased to announce the 9th Annual New Principal Investigators Meeting. The meeting is for new faculty (in their first four years) at Canadian universities, including new scientists and clinician scientists in genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, developmental biology, population health, computational biology, ethical, legal or social issues related to genetics, and other health research disciplines.

The overall goal of the meeting is to facilitate the career development of "newly hatched" health researchers. More specifically, the first goal of the meeting is to foster the formation of peer networks between new PIs working in related or overlapping areas of health research. The second and equally important goal is to provide mentoring to new researchers to help them begin their careers. A significant portion of the meeting is devoted to mentoring, both through formal presentations by, and discussions with "star" established scientists from Canada and abroad, as well as through many informal interactions. New PIs are counseled on writing grants & papers, leading a research group, managing budgets, and interacting with lab personnel and colleagues.

Approximately 100 new PIs and clinicians from across the country will meet and engage with their peers and with leading scientists from a variety of disciplines. The format of this year's meeting will include presentations of research from all four CIHR research pillars: biomedical, clinical, health systems and services, and social, cultural and environmental factors affecting the health of populations. Without exception, the ~800 new PIs who have attended New PI meetings over the past seven years have declared the meeting to be a remarkably valuable experience.

The costs of all new PI attendees will be borne by the host Institutes. Applications are accepted primarily on a first-come first-served basis.

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