The North American Association of PhotobiomoduLation Therapy Annual Awards

Each year at the annual meeting of the North American Association of PhotobiomoduLation Therapy we set aside time to honor our colleagues who are and have been the driving force that has resulted in the growing excitement and enthusiasm for this innovative cutting edge therapy.  As a result of our colleague’s enthusiasm and persistence photobiomodulation therapy has experienced rapid progress in recent years in both clinical research as well as the manufacturing of new photobiomodulation devices.

The NAALT leadership team would invite you the membership to nominate your colleagues and leaders for one or more of the NAALT leadership award categories.  These specific awards include:

1. NAALT Endre Mester PBM Lifetime Achievement Award
2. NAALT Chukuka Enwemeka PBM Leadership Award
3. NAALT Tiina Karu Excellence in Basic PBM sciences
4. NAALT Mary Dyson Excellence in Clinical PBM sciences
5. NAALT Poster and Travel Awards

Eligibility and Criteria for individual awards

NAALT Endre Mester PBM Lifetime Award
(Senior Investigator – Clinician)

A call for nominations will go out to NAALT board and general membership soliciting nominations in a specific format (below). Nominations have to be made by a NAALT member in good standing but the nominee does not have

to be a NAALT member. Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Eligibility

1. Senior level scientist (Age > 60years, as of Jan 1″ of that year)
2. Significant contributions to laser biology as a clinician or researcher as evidenced by (but not limited to) publication, talk invitations, journal editorial board membership, leadership positions in laser organizations, patents, honors, etc.
3. Industry affiliates will be eligible and will be held to same meritorious standards.
4. Does not have to be a NAALT member
5. The awardee must be present in person to accept this award

Application

1. Cover letter by NAALT member addressing merit of applicant
2. Biographical sketch (NIH format: http://grants.nih.g.tov/ctrants/funding/phs398/phs398.html)
3. Three letters of reference from colleagues/peers

The application package should be emailed to President@naalt.org

Selection Procedure: Applicants will be screened by current NAALT executive board and suitable candidates will be forwarded for electronic voting by NAALT board. A simple majority decision will be used to select the honoree. Any ties will be resolved by majority vote from current NAALT President, Vice-President and Science Chair. The award will be formally announced during the dinner gala and will be preceded by a brief description of Dr. Mester’ s seminal contributions to the field of photobiomodulation therapy. The awardee must be intimated before the conference to ensure they can attend the conference in person and accept the award.

NAALT Chukuka Enwemeka PBM Leadership Award
(Mid / Senior Investigator – Clinician)

A call for nominations will go out to NAALT board and general membership soliciting nominations in a specific format (below). Nominations have to be made by a NAALT member in good standing but the nominee does not have

to be a NAALT member. Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Eligibility

1. Mid-senior level scientist (Age > 45years as of Sep of that year)
2. Significant contributions to PBM leadership as evidenced by talk invitations, journal editorial board
   membership, leadership positions in laser organizations, patents, honors, publications, grants, etc.
3. Industry affiliates will be eligible and will be held to same meritorious standards.
4. Does not have to be a NAALT member
5. The awardee must be present in person to accept this award

Application

1. Cover letter by NAALT member addressed to Chair, SEC, explaining merit of applicant
2. Biographical sketch (NIH format: http:Atrants.nih.gov/2rantslfundinalphs398/phs398.html)
3. Three letters of support from colleagues/peers
   The application package should be emailed to President@naalt.org

Selection Procedure: Applicants will be screened by current NAALT executive board and suitable candidates will be forwarded for electronic voting by NAALT board. A simple majority decision will be used to select the honoree. Any ties will be resolved by majority vote from current NAALT President, Vice-President and Science Chair. The award will be formally announced during the dinner gala and will be preceded by a brief description of Dr. Enwemekar’s leadership in the field of photobiomodulation therapy. The awardee must be intimated before the conference to ensure they can attend the conference in person and accept the award.

NAALT Tiina Karu Excellence in Basic PBM Sciences Award
(Young Investigator Competition)

A call for scientific abstracts for the annual meeting will go out to general membership and awards will be advertised widely. This award is meant for a young investigator based on both scientific merit as well as ability to communicate their science to the audience effectively.

Eligibility

1. Young investigator (Age < 45years as of Jan of that year)
2. Must be a NAALT member
3. Must be the first (primary) author on the submitted abstract in Basic PBM sciences*
4. Must attend annual conference and present work in person
5. Can be affiliated from academic or industry
6. Work must be original, novel or innovative and recent (unpublished in journals)

Basic PBM sciences*: as judged by SEC to include work on basic light physics, chemistry or biology, in vitro biological or biochemical analyses, all small and large animal work for research purposes (excluding large or

companion animal and human studies), instrument manufacturing or innovation,

Selection Procedure: One award will be given each year. Abstracts are reviewed by at least three independent reviewers and scored for originality, content and novelty-innovation. The best three eligible abstracts will be invited to present their work in a special session at the Annual meeting which will be judged by 6 to 10 members compromising of the SEC and NAALT board but must include at least 2 members from the general membership. The nominee will be judged on a standardized scoring sheet provided by SEC chair on scientific merit, presentation skills and addressing audience and/or judges questions. A majority decision will be used to select the awardee. Any ties will be resolved by majority vote from the NAALT President, Vice-President and SEC Chair. The award will be announced during the dinner gala and will be preceded by a brief description of Dr. Karu’s seminal contributions to our understanding of laser basic sciences.

NAALT Mary Dyson Excellence in Clinical PBM Sciences Award
(Young Investigator Competition)

A call for abstracts for the annual meeting will go out to general membership and advertised widely. This award is meant for a young investigator based on both scientific merit as well as ability to communicate their science to the audience effectively.

Eligibility

1. Young investigator (Age < 45years as of Sep of that year)
2. Must be a NAALT member
3. Must be the first (primary) author on the submitted abstract in Clinical PBM sciences*
4. Must attend annual conference and present work in person
5. Can be affiliated from academic or industry
6. Work must be original, novel and recent (unpublished in journals)

*Clinical PBM sciences: includes studies directly involving large or companion animal and human subjects

Selection Procedure: One award will be given each year. Abstracts are reviewed by at least three independent reviewers and scored for originality, content and novelty-innovation. The best three eligible abstracts will be invited to present their work in a special session at the Annual meeting which will be judged by 6 to 10 members compromising of the SEC and NAALT board but must include at least 2 members from the general membership. The nominee will be judged on a standardized scoring sheet provided by SEC chair on scientific merit, presentation skills and addressing audience and/or judges questions. A majority decision will be used to select the awardee. Any ties will be resolved by majority vote from the NAALT President, Vice-President and SEC Chair. The award will be announced during the dinner gala and will be preceded by a brief description of Dr. Dyson’s seminal contributions to our understanding of laser clinical sciences.

NAALT Poster and Travel Awards

Most meritorious abstracts submitted to the 2017 Annual meeting will be considered for Travel awards and the best poster presentations will be recognized with poster awards. More details and number of these awards will be announced based on funding availability.