Neurology

Education and Training

Neurology Fellowship Programs

Experimental Therapeutics of Neurological Disorders

1. Twenty-nine clinical investigators with major research programs in neuromuscular disease, movement disorders, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, stroke, neurovirology, and neuro-oncology.
2. Interactions with faculty in the Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, all of whom have extensive experience and ongoing collaboration with the clinical investigators.
3. Strong research collaboration with the Departments of Pharmacology and Physiology, and of Neurobiology and Anatomy.
4. The resources of the Clinical Trials Coordination Center which oversees more than 30 multi-center clinical trials.

1. The clinical, pathophysiologic, and pharmacologic aspects of neurological disorders
2. Design implementation, data management and statistical methodology of controlled clinical trials
3. Methodologies for examining of the natural history of nervous system disorders.

• $500/year for approved travel. Additional travel funds are usually available from the individual units.

• $3,500/year for approved courses and educational materials. Many fellows have successfully completed a masters program in either public health, translational research or clinical investigation as part of their fellowship.

• All fellows must take a course on scientific integrity and the responsible conduct of research.  This requirement is met by “Ethics in Research”, which is offered during the Fall semester.  This cost is covered by University benefits and the Training Grant.

• Prior to starting the program, each fellow completes the following forms:
  • Statement of Appointment of Trainee
  • National Research Service Award Payment Agreement

Other Features

• Grant Preparation: Fellows learn to design, research, and develop extramural grant applications in a highly-mentored environment.  Most fellows completing the program have had successful grant applications prior to the end of training.

• Biweekly Working Group on Clinical Trials meeting: This group consists of faculty and fellows interested in experimental therapeutics.  Meetings consist of general discussion of experimental therapeutics issues, particularly the design, performance and analysis of clinical trials.

• “Mellow Fellows Monthly Seminars”: Informal research-social meeting held monthly.   Providing opportunity to brainstorm about new research ideas.

• Mentoring Team that works closely with each fellow: A clinical neuroscientist and biostatistician meet frequently (weekly or more often as needed) with fellows to assist in development of research interests and methods.  An important goal is successful mentoring in an academic career focused on high quality clinical research and outstanding teaching skills. 

• Monthly Mechanisms of Disease and Therapeutic Development Workshop (MDTD): Presentations on up-to-date basic science approaches that focus on educating the molecular and pathological basis of neurodegenerative diseases.  Presentations are geared at addressing cutting edge research and how this could be exploited for therapeutic intervention.