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Research Residency Track

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Overview

Director: Dr. Leif Havton

We have been awarded an NIH Research Residency R25 grant, see Program Announcement from NINDS, which is designed to facilitate the development of neurologist-scientists by providing mentoring and protected research time during residency and during fellowship. Briefly, residents will have a 6-month period of 80% protected research time during their PGY4 year, and an additional 12-24 months of support (maximum protected time being contingent on submission of a competitive K-award) during their fellowship years at any R25-awarded institution. It is an important component of the residency program to mentor clinician-scientists and to encourage them to discover novel ways to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure diseases of the nervous system. The research-resident program is intended for the resident with an outstanding bench, computational or clinical research background. The program described below can be varied for individual needs. Residents who want to join the research track match for the regular residency slots and apply for the research-residency during the fall (approximately October) of second year of Neurology (PGY-3).

The Research Residency track has been designed to satisfy all ACGME/RRC curricular requirements for clinical training, and is congruent with the goals of the ACGME Flexible Training in Neurology program.

PGY2 Year

Clinical rotations follow the same PGY2 curriculum as residents not considering the research track.

  • The residents interested in applying for the research residency track should discuss this with the program director during their semi-annual meetings.

  • Interested candidates should contact Dr. Sealfon (PI) to better understand the program and begin selecting a mentor.

  • Residents are encouraged to contact potential mentors, which can be either basic science or clinical faculty.

  • To facilitate the timely preparation of a proposal, we suggest that potential research residents make a decision as to whether to pursue the research track by the end of the PGY2 year.

PGY3 Year

Clinical rotations follow the same PGY-3 curriculum as residents not considering the research track, utilizing elective time to make progress on their research initiative.

  • R25 candidates should finalize their choice of mentor during the Summer of their PGY3 year.

  • With guidance from their mentor, candidates will submit an R25 project supplement proposal to the NIH during the Fall, with notification occurring usually the following Spring (Feb-May)

  • Following acceptance of the proposal, research track residents should begin/continue to meet with their mentor(s) to plan the project approach, timelines, IRB submissions, etc in preparation for their protected research time in PGY4 year, as these may have lengthy processing times

  • Attend ANA Translation and Clinical Research Course for Clinician Scientists (if accepted)

PGY4 Year

  • In general, research-track residents succeed in obtaining supplemental funding from the NIH through the R25 mechanism; however other funding sources may be available.

  • Clinical rotations occupy one-half of the academic year. Research residents pursue 6 months of continuous research (80% time) to generate the data needed to apply for a K award under the guidance of the mentor and 6 months of clinical rotations to satisfy all ACGME requirements.

  • Research residents attend:

    • Responsible conduct of research program

    • Postdoctoral Office Career Development Seminar Series: Includes: A postdoc’s guide to goal setting and time management, how to give a great talk, conflict resolution/negotiation, and other practical topics.

    • NINDS annual R25 Research-Resident Workshop and ANA Translation and Clinical Research Course for Clinician Scientists (if accepted)

  • Residents present at scientific meetings relevant to the resident’s topic of interest

  • Generate draft of specific aims for K award application