Research Education Program for Residents and Fellows in Neurology

This Research Education Program is designed to provide teaching in the science of rigorous investigation, in addition to protected time, structure, resources, mentoring, and research skills training to diverse and outstanding neurology, neurosurgery, and other residents engaged in neuroscience research who will become the next generation of leaders in clinical neuroscience research. Some unique aspects of our programs are (1) that we are able to provide 9-12 months of 80% protected time for research education and research participation during residency; and (2) that we pair each participant with both a Senior Mentor and a Junior or Co-Mentor who are closely engaged in the participant’s research and training. We have added new mechanisms to increase the success of K awards submitted by the trainees supported by this program. The Hopkins environment is highly collaborative across disciplines and provides superb research education resources, through the Clinical and Translational Science Award, the Bloomberg School of Public Health, The Brain Sciences Institute, Neuro-ICE (Institute of Cellular Engineering), the Kirby Functional Imaging Center, The Mind Brain Institute, and many other interdisciplinary programs. This program is also designed to develop a cohort of talented and inspirational mentors who will continue to serve role models and effective coaches, enabling residents and fellows to become independent clinician scientists with a passion for discovery in the mechanisms of neurological disease, improving diagnosis and treatment of neurological disease, and facilitating recovery of neurological function. To date this grant has supported 36 exceptional residents/fellows, who all remain actively engaged in research. Of the 26 awardees who have completed the program, 16 (62%) have been awarded a K award (K23, K08, K01) or better (e.g. R01, McFarland Transition to Independence Award), and most others have pharmaceutical or foundation funding. We have also been very successful in facilitating the development of junior mentors into Professors who are now Senior Mentors with their own highly productive research programs.