Neurology Research Education and Mentorship Program

描述(由申请人提供)：对于内科科学家来说，越来越需要将基础神经科学的发展转化为临床护理的改善。然而，对于临床医生研究人员来说，获得基础、临床和转化性研究的资金变得越来越困难。神经学实习生在其职业生涯的形成阶段需要受保护的研究时间和出色的指导，才能成功竞争指导职业(K奖)和其他资助。哥伦比亚大学神经病学系一直强烈支持将研究纳入住院医师的培训体验。自1979年以来，该部门一直有一个临床神经科学培训计划的T32(T32 NS07155)，该计划为PGY4住院医生和第一年研究员提供资金，以学习研究方法和进行研究。自2002年以来，我们一直有一个驻院研究导师计划，将驻院医生与教师导师配对，共同从事一个研究项目。然而，这些举措受到限制，因为对住院医生的临床要求越来越高，使他们无法参与T32机制所要求的2年全职承诺，以及缺乏系统的方法来提供集中的、连续的专门研究时间块来从事研究项目。本提案描述了一项计划，将每年至少1名被认为有特殊希望成为独立的基础、临床或翻译神经科学研究人员的住院医生的研究经验正规化。重点将放在实际的、导师指导的研究体验上，课堂时间有限，参与该计划的住院医生将处于最佳地位，在完成2年培训经验的基础上，竞争导师职业奖(K奖)。项目主任埃尔金德博士拥有独立的NIH资助，以及指导和审查赠款的经验，该项目的教职员工都是经验丰富的基础、临床或翻译研究人员。该计划将主要通过学员获得K08和K23奖项的成功程度以及学术职业安置和出版物生产率进行评估。 公共卫生相关性：包括中风、痴呆症、癫痫和神经退行性疾病在内的神经疾病很常见，并导致严重的发病率和死亡率负担。近年来，实验室和临床神经科学有了显著的进步，内科科学家在将神经科学的发展转化为临床护理的改善方面发挥着越来越大的作用。在他们职业生涯的形成阶段对年轻的神经学家进行研究方法的培训，并鼓励他们将研究作为一种职业，将增加致力于工作、成功的内科科学家的数量。这项研究教育计划将为有才华的神经学住院医生提供发展研究技能的机会，这些技能很有可能减轻神经疾病的负担。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): There is a growing need for physician-scientists to translate developments in basic neuroscience into improvement in clinical care. Obtaining funding for basic, clinical, and translational research, however, has become increasingly difficult for clinician investigators. Neurology trainees require protected research time and excellent mentoring during the formative stages of their careers to be able to compete successfully for mentored career (K awards) and other grants. The Columbia University Neurology Department has been a strong proponent of incorporating research into the training experience of residents. Since 1979, the department has had a T32 for a Clinical Neuroscience Training Program (T32 NS07155), which provided funding for PGY4 residents and first year fellows to learn research methodology and conduct research. Since 2002, we have had a Resident Research Mentorship Program that pairs residents with faculty mentors to work on a research project. These initiatives have been limited, however, by increasing clinical requirements for residents that preclude their participation in 2 year full time commitment required by the T32 mechanism, and by the absence of a systematic approach to providing a concentrated, contiguous block of dedicated research time to work on a research project. The present proposal describes a plan to formalize the resident research experience for at least 1 resident annually who is considered to have exceptional promise to become an independent basic, clinical, or translational neuroscience researcher. The focus will be on a practical, mentor-directed research experience, with limited classroom time, and residents who participate in this program will be optimally situated to compete for mentored career awards (K awards) at the completion of the 2 year training experience bridging residency and fellowship. Dr. Elkind, the Project Director, has independent NIH funding, as well as experience mentoring and reviewing grants, and the faculty of the program are all experienced basic, clinical, or translational researchers. The program will be evaluated primarily by the trainees' success in obtaining K08 and K23 awards, as well as by academic career placement and productivity in publications. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Neurological disorders, including stroke, dementia, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative conditions, are common and cause a significant burden of morbidity and mortality. Laboratory and clinical neuroscience have advanced markedly in recent years, and there is now a growing role for physician-scientists to translate developments in neuroscience into improvement in clinical care. Training young neurologists at a formative stage of their careers in research methods, and encouraging them to consider research as a career, will increase the number of committed, successful physician-scientists. This Research Education Program will provide talented neurology residents with the opportunity to develop research skills that have a high likelihood of reducing the burden of neurological disease.