Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center R25 Neurological Surgery Resident Research Training Program

ABSTRACT Over 1 billion people around the world will be significantly impacted by a neurological disorder during their lifetime. Better understanding of the underlying pathobiological mechanisms and the development of new treatment paradigms is critical to mitigate the impact and/or cure these diseases. Neurosurgeon-scientists have a unique opportunity to fundamentally advance understanding into ineffectively treated or untreatable neurologic disorders. Specifically, neurosurgeons can directly access human physiologic data, acquire nervous system lesions/tissue, develop/employ new surgical treatment technology, as well as make direct associations between the operating room and clinical findings. Moreover, they have the potential to collaborate with scientists from other disciplines to most effectively advance critical discoveries and develop new therapeutic paradigms. Consequently, defined and robust training of neurosurgeon-scientists is urgently needed. To enhance research training and best support the successful transition from residency to an independent neurosurgeon-scientist career, we are applying for National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) R25 in Neurological Surgery at the Ohio State University (OSU). The overarching objective of this program is to provide research training to neurosurgery residents in the basic, translational and/or clinic sciences that will drive their successful transition to independent National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded neurosurgeon-scientists after residency. This program is led by 2 senior investigators (Drs. Herson and Lonser) who have implemented a research curriculum and programmatic changes to maximize the impact of the R25 on selected neurosurgery residents at OSU. The training plan is supported by senior faculty with a track record of mentoring/funding success and leverages the research infrastructure across the OSU campus.