It is often challenging for junior researchers to get an overview in the field of a rare disease like ataxia. The Young Investigator Initiative (YII) was initiated by Heike Jacobi and Jennifer Faber and formed within the framework of SCA Global as a platform for scientific exchange amongst young researchers and for education and training purposes. The idea is to assure high quality of clinical assessments by trained clinicians and to attract and bring together young researchers within the field of ataxia research.
The first Young Investigator Initiative Event was part of the SCA & ARCA Global online conference on October 29th 2020, including an introduction of the initiative, an ataxia scales training and an outline of our further steps. Here we also announced the awardees of the “Young Investigator – NAF Travel award” that we had organized together with the National Ataxia Foundation (NAF) to enable outstanding young researchers and clinicians without funding to attend the SCA Global conference 2020.
The overarching Ataxia Global Young Investigator Initiative will be inclusive and wants to connect young researchers and clinicians devoted to Ataxia Research from all over the world. There is no fixed cut-off with regard to age, young is defined as “young in the field of ataxia” which means that investigator is not in a senior position in the field.
If you are interested in participating in the Ataxia Global Young Investigator Initiative, send your Expression of Interest for the YII (click here to download the form) to yii_ataxia-global@posteo.de.
Researchers from all related fields are welcome! Please feel free to distribute this invitation to your colleagues and junior fellows from collaborating institutions.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!
We are really looking forward to creating an active and productive AtaxiaGlobal Young Investigator Initiative.