What changes are needed to facilitate investigators independently recognizing and pursuing the early translation of their discoveries towards clinical applications through competitive peer reviewed models?

What is the pathogenesis and appropriate treatment for subjects with chronic respiratory symptoms or imaging abnormalities who do not have overt airflow obstruction (and thus are not currently categorized as having COPD)?

Is there a critical window of growth and development for maximizing lung function?

What is the best way for the mentoring effort of senior investigators to be encouraged, enhanced, and supported to develop early career investigators?

What are the early life elements that contribute to the development of chronic lung disease? Strategies need to be developed for treatment/prevention of these elements.

Maintaining the pipeline of clinician scientists via early and mid-career awards. Promote the development of collaborative teams.

Defining the origins of early disease.

SBIR STTR programs currently offer funds to support phase 1 and phase 2 development of translation with corporate involvement. Several here have pointed out that there is need for additional NIH support of investigator initiated translation, and I concur. There is indeed need for early stage and pre-IND support. Such a program would support relatively small grants for proof-of-principle studies, pre-clinical work needed... more »

Can detailed longitudinal study of lung disease in infancy/early childhood improve our understanding of the origins of obstructive airways disease, and the variation seen in asthma phenotypes and severity?

Why is Early Stage Investigator defined as New Investigators who are within 10 years of completing their terminal research degree or within 10 years of completing their medical residency at the time they apply for R01 grants? This provides an unfair advantage to all PhD, general surgeons, internists, and pediatricians compared to subspecialists who complete clinical training 3-6 yrs after general training.