Building Research Aspirations In Neurology - Progress in treating and preventing a range of disabling neurological conditions is severely hampered by a shortage of clinician-researchers in neurology in the US. To help fill this gap, we propose the BRAIN (Building Research Aspirations In Neurology) R25 program at NYU Langone Health. The BRAIN program is an interdisciplinary program that will introduce undergraduate students interested in the neurosciences to clinical neurology research that focuses on reducing the burden of neurologic disease. With the growing shortage of neurologists, the aim of BRAIN is to improve the neurology pipeline and to conduct research that helps advance knowledge and treatment of these burdensome conditions. Students in the program will learn about translational neuroscience, epidemiology, and patient-centered research. To train and develop young clinician researchers to meet the urgency of this health need, eight to ten undergraduate students, the majority of whom are from low socioeconomic status, who attend various undergraduate institutions within NYC, will be selected to participate in an intensive 10-week hands-on research and education training each summer followed by an extended learning experience throughout the academic year. During the academic year, students will continue their research with the intent to submit and present their research at regional and national meetings, and publish their findings in peer-reviewed publications. There will be monthly BRAIN meetings which will include career development sessions on topics such as leadership development and time management, and scheduled check-ins to ensure the students are on track with their abstract and manuscript preparations and submissions. In summary, the BRAIN program will comprise education on conducting and communicating research as well as performing an individual or small group -based research capstone project. We will track both short-term performance metrics of the BRAIN program and longer-term impacts on career trajectories for students completing the BRAIN program. We expect BRAIN students will continue their education by entering medical school to pursue a career in clinical research, and that ultimately, beyond the timeline of this program, pursue a neurology program and consider a career as a clinician-researcher in neurology.
