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Dear Prospective Clinical Research Course Participants,

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We are excited to invite you to the Clinical Research Course (CRC) at the Spring 2026 PALISI Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. The course will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, with pre-course events on Tuesday, March 3, including registration, an Introduction to PALISI: Overview of Subgroups and Current Research Initiatives, and a welcome cocktail reception for faculty and CRC participants.

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The CRC is designed to help you take the next step in your pediatric critical care research career, whether that means launching your first multicenter study as a site principal investigator (PI) or refining a grant-ready Specific Aims page for independent funding. The day will combine high-yield plenary sessions with small, hands-on breakout groups so that you leave with concrete products, targeted feedback, and new connections across the PALISI network.

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To align with different career paths, we will again offer two complementary tracks:

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Collaborative Clinician-Researcher (CCR) Track

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Who it is for:

Clinicians and researchers who wish to lead local quality improvement or clinical research projects, serve as site PI in multicenter studies, and steadily grow a scholarly portfolio without running an independent lab.

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What you will take away:

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• Practical strategies for being an effective site PI, including study start-up, communication, and day-to-day management at your center.

• A clearer understanding of institutional review board (IRB) processes, contracts, and data use agreements, and how to move a study from “yes” to actively enrolling.

• Tools for framing your collaborative and site PI work so that it counts toward hiring, promotion, and leadership opportunities.

 

Independent Clinician-Scientist (ICS) Track

 

Who it is for:
Clinicians and researchers focused on building and sustaining an independently funded program of research. This track centers on developing a strong Specific Aims page as the foundation for a competitive grant application.

 

What you will take away:

• A refined, faculty-reviewed Specific Aims page with detailed feedback from small group workshops.

• A stepwise roadmap for turning your aims into a viable grant submission.

• A peer and mentor network invested in your long-term success as an independent PI.

 

Important for ICS participants:
To allow faculty sufficient time to review and prepare individualized feedback:

• Specific Aims submission: ICS attendees will be asked to submit their Specific Aims page by February 18, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST.

• ICS track registration closure: Registration for the ICS track will close on February 25, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST. Registrations received after this time will be placed in the Collaborative Clinician-Researcher track.

• Early Investigator Showcase: From the ICS track, we will select two participants to present in the Early Investigator Showcase during the main PALISI Meeting.

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Why Attend?

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Whether you are:

• Drafting your first K award or foundation proposal,

• Looking to turn “I am just a site PI” into a clear path to promotion, or

• Trying to understand how research can fit into a busy PICU career, the CRC is designed to meet you at your current stage and help you move forward.

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By the end of the course, you will have:

• Greater clarity about your career trajectory, including how different research roles (site PI, quality improvement leader, independent PI) contribute to academic advancement.

• New connections with peers, senior investigators, and leaders across the PALISI community who can support your next steps.

• Tangible products, from a sharpened Specific Aims page to an improved “elevator pitch” and promotion-ready framing of your clinical research work.

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If you are unsure which track best fits your goals or have questions about how to prepare (particularly for the ICS Specific Aims submission), please reach out to the course directors. We are happy to help you choose the option that best aligns with your career path.

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We hope you will register and join us in Salt Lake City as we work together to advance pediatric critical care research and support the next generation of investigators.

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Please note that the PALISI Main Meeting and the Clinical Research Course require separate registrations.

 

With warm regards,

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Lee Polikoff, MD
Aline Maddux, MD
Spring 2026 PALISI CRC Course Directors

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Note: Both the PALISI Main Meeting and the Clinical Research Course require separate registrations. 

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