Road to R Funding: Insights from Successful Awardees

PANEL DISCUSSION Road to R Funding: Insights from Successful Awardees For Early-Career Investigators Date Thursday, October 29, 2026 Time 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Format In Person REGISTER About The Miami CTSI and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center invites you to join a panel of faculty who successfully transitioned from career development funding to independent research support as they share lessons learned, challenges encountered, and strategies that helped them secure major external grants. Moderated by the Miami CTSI K12 Program Co-Director Alessia Fornoni, M.D., Ph.D., FASN, the discussion will offer practical insights into building a competitive research program, strengthening grant applications, and navigating the path to research independence. This session is intended for early-career investigators pursuing or currently holding career development awards and those interested in R or equivalent independent research funding. Panelists Defne Bayik Watson, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Merline Benny, M.D. Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics Tali Elfassy, Ph.D. Research Assistant Professor, Katz Family Division of Nephrology and Hypertension…