Additional Training Information

Research Focus Areas

The main research focus areas are neurodegeneration, neuromuscular diseases, neuroinflammatory disorders, stroke, systems neuroscience, and health services research. In addition, the trainees are exposed to the most advanced research techniques in different areas, ranging from genomics and proteomics to computational medicine and bioinformatics.  Trainees are biomedical scientists who seek training in disease-oriented neuroscience and clinicians (neurologists, neurosurgeons, pediatricians, or other physicians) who have completed clinical training and select a laboratory-based or clinical research career. Interested candidates with research experience in genetics, proteomics, molecular biology, biochemistry and clinical research applied to other research focus areas will also excel within the available research programs. 

Individual Research Training

Each trainee will work closely with a faculty mentor in his or her laboratory or clinical research program on a specific project or projects. The trainee will be expected to progress towards independence during the training period. Each trainee will have a three person mentorship committee which will monitor the progress of the trainee and provide additional insights. Trainees are expected to present their work in national forums and publish their work in peer reviewed journals. Each trainee will submit a grant application during the first year of training.

Courses

All trainees are required to complete Research Responsibility and Ethics (PIBS 503). This course fulfills the NIH requirement for responsible conduct of research training and includes 8 hours of small group sessions. Laboratory based trainees (PhDs) are also required to take the course Introduction to Scientific Communications (Pharm 502) which includes training on grant writing. Trainees in clinical scientist track are required to complete a Master’s Degree, either the School of Public Health’s Masters Program in Clinical Research or a unique Health Services Research Master’s Program. These provide comprehensive formal training in clinical or health services research methods by University of Michigan.

Seminars

All trainees attend a weekly Translational Neurology Seminar. This seminar series supplements the many conferences available to the trainees within the Department of Neurology and other programs, such as Grand Rounds and a Live Patient Conference. Trainees also attend laboratory meetings within their mentor’s research area.  They are also required to present their research at one of the Neurology Research Seminars.

Fellow Research Days

Trainees present their work at Neuroscience Day and the annual Neurobiology of Disease Symposium.