The primary goals of the program are to 1) help AAI members, early in their careers, better understand the role of the President and Administration, Congress, and the National Institutes of Health in determining the policies that affect biomedical research; and 2) teach participants how best to advocate for the funding and policies that impact their careers. The program will also help ensure that AAI has within its ranks a cadre of well-informed scientists who can help lead the organization's public policy efforts in the future.

Program Components

1. Capitol Hill Day: Fellows come to Washington, DC, for a two-day Capitol Hill Day (likely in March). They attend a training session with AAI staff and visit their Congressional representatives to advocate for biomedical research and increased funding for NIH. AAI pays for Fellows' flights, hotel, and other reasonable expenses (per the AAI PPFP Reimbursement Policy).
2. AAI Annual Meeting Program: Fellows attend the AAI annual meeting (during their Fellowship year), including any public policy or PPFP sessions requested by AAI. Attendance at the meeting is at the Fellows' expense. Fellows may apply for and use any AAI travel awards for which they are eligible.
3. Communication with AAI: Members of the AAI Committee on Public Affairs and AAI public affairs staff communicate with the Fellows by email and video conference calls during their Fellowship year to keep them informed and to solicit their views on key topics. Fellows receive, and respond to as appropriate, emails and phone calls from AAI staff and/or other program participants during their participation year and complete a program evaluation at the end of their Fellowship.

Qualifications

All PPFP Fellows are selected by the AAI Committee on Public Affairs. Applicants are required to:

• have received their Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent within the previous 15 years in immunology or a related field
• be a member in good standing of AAI (must be a member at the time of application and throughout the Fellowship year)
• be committed to a career in biomedical research
• have excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• have an interest in public policy as it relates to biomedical research
• live and work in the United States and
• submit by the designated deadline, as a single combined PDF:
  1. the AAI PPFP application
  2. a CV and
  3. two references from AAI members (regular members in good standing who do not serve on the AAI Council or AAI Committee on Public Affairs) using the PPFP recommendation forms.