Young Investigators Workshop participants (P.A Coucke) and N. Coleman : Radiation Research program, Radiation Oncology Sciences Program, National Cancer Institue, Nih, August 1-2, 2000

INTRODUCTION
The one-and-a-half day Young Investigators Workshop was
held in the Holiday Inn, Bethesda, August 1–2, 2000. Using
the SCAROP mailing list and recommendations from department
chiefs, approximately 55 “early-career” physicianscientists
were invited to attend the workshop. Table 1
includes the participants.
The goals of the meeting were:
c To bring together radiation oncology physician-scientists
who were in the early part of their career to discuss
research ideas and opportunities as well as potential barriers
to progress for the field and for young-investigator
careers.
c To help develop camaraderie among and a critical-mass
of a new generation of physician-scientists with interests
ranging from technology development, to basic and translational
research, to outcomes research and analysis.
c To help the young investigators gain familiarity with the
NIH grant programs.
c To prepare a “white paper” with their vision and ideas for
potential opportunities for the future. If possible, a shortand
long-term agenda were to be proposed.
The first morning included presentations from a variety of
NCI programs. Three breakout sessions were held in the
afternoon. Breakout Group Reports were discussed by the
entire group the following morning. A fourth discussion
topic on “Barriers To a Successful Research Career” was
conducted by the entire group. Drafts of this entire Workshop
Report were circulated to the participants. The final
document represents the efforts of the entire Young Investigators
Workshop and provides the perspective from the
point of view of the investigators who have many years to
invest in the future of radiation oncology.
The Radiation Research Program (RRP) is grateful to all
the participants for a lively workshop and to the session
co-chairs for the timely preparation of this report.