The Research Institute is proud to announce the faculty mentor team for the 2009 FIT Program. The team includes Barry Carter, Gene Morse, Susan Fagan, Reggie Frye, John Cleary, Mark Munger, Lynda Welage, Julie Wright, Gary Yee, Kathy Bungay, and Greg Stoddard. “This group of outstanding faculty brings extensive and diverse research and grantsmanship experience to the program in order to meet the needs of the participants,” stated Jacque Marinac, Director of the Research Institute. “Most are returning faculty who voiced they were energized to be part of something extraordinary like the FIT Program.” Although it has only been 6 months since the end of the 2008 FIT Program, to date, 10 new applications for funding have been submitted from the 2008 team. “This has exceeded our expectations,” said Dr. Marinac, “but [it] really speaks to the level of commitment both the mentors and mentees have made to reach their funding goals.

The FIT Program is an annual, intensive, 1-week, hands-on program for up to 25 experienced pharmacist investigators who have not yet been awarded significant peer-reviewed extramural funding as a principal investigator. The 2009 FIT Program will be held July 11–July 16, 2009, at the University of Utah, College of Pharmacy. Through this mentored program, you will take necessary steps toward preparing a K, R01, or similar investigator-initiated application for submission to the NIH or other major funding source. Applications and the 2009 FIT Program brochure are available online at http://www.accpri.org/fit/2009brochure.aspx. Applications close April 1, 2009.