Project Summary/Abstract The objective of the Beeson Program is to help develop a cadre of talented scientists prepared to take an active leadership role in transformative change that will lead to improved research or healthcare outcomes.The Beeson Annual Meetings (BAM) play an important role in nurturing the career development and leadership of the Beeson Scholars. Funding of this competitive renewal R13 application will allow us to build on the earlier meetings. We will leverage private funding from the American Federation for Aging Research to support meeting expenses not covered by the R13. We also plan to leverage the annual meeting organized by the Clin-STAR Coordinating Center – a national platform that organizes activities and provides resources for the cultivation, connection, and synergy of clinician-scientists in aging research from disparate specialties across the US. The Clin-STAR meeting is scheduled immediately prior to the BAM with one overlapping day, providing greater opportunities for networking and mentoring among scholars in the two programs, with the more senior Beeson Scholars serving as role models and mentors to the more junior Clin-STAR meeting participants This competing renewal R13 conference grant will allow current and former Beeson Scholars to: 1) foster collaboration with other Scholars; 2) nurture and develop a collective identity; 3) support career development and promote leadership skills that help Scholars become independent investigators and leaders in geriatrics and aging research; 4) better exchange research information and network more effectively; 5) provide access to colleagues from different disciplines who are working on similar scientific issues related to aging; 6) receive mentorship from nationally recognized academic leaders who can guide the Scholars’ research and career development; 7) develop mentoring skills by providing mentorship to more junior investigators attending the Clin-STAR annual meeting and 8) provide access to organizations, programs, and colleagues that can foster the Scholars’ growth and development. During the next funding cycle, we are committed to incorporating additional innovations to advance the mission of the program. For example, we plan to incorporate a cross-disciplinary mini-theme into each Annual Meeting and to further leverage the Clin-STAR Coordinating Center resources with targeted outreach to the Beeson Scholars. We also plan to organize activities throughout the year such as office hours with the Program Advisory Committee, virtual networking sessions, and structured mentoring between Beeson Scholars and GEMSSTAR Scholars.