University of florida UE5 early research program for neurology and neurosurgery residents

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke awarded a $168,714 cooperative agreement to the University of Florida on August 15, 2026, under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853).

The award funds the University of Florida Early Research Program for Neurology and Neurosurgery Residents, which develops a comprehensive early research pipeline engaging neurology and neurosurgery residents in research from the start of internship through residency, fellowship, and K Award application. The program provides protected research time, coursework, mentorship, and access to basic and translational laboratory experiences, clinical research infrastructure, and core facilities including the Fixel Institute and McKnight Brain Institute. The curriculum targets residents early in their training and advances them through milestone-driven development toward independent research careers as clinician-scientists, addressing the shortage of clinician-researchers in academic neurology and neurosurgery.

The University of Florida Division of Sponsored Research is the recipient. Performance occurs in Florida. The period of performance runs through July 31, 2028.

Abstract

The next generation of academic leaders in neurology and neurosurgery residency programs will require expert research training and mentorship in order to achieve a balanced academic career. Unfortunately, most training programs are better suited to develop the clinician and not prepared to mentor the clinician-researcher or to offer him/her the dedicated time necessary to develop an academic research project. There is a danger of the disappearing clinician-scientist and this danger in a reality in many institutions based on an ever increasing patient care demand and a shortage of neurologists and neurosurgeons. The university of florida neurology and neurosurgery residency programs have adopted an infrastructure to identify resident researchers early in their training and to advance them toward k awards. This early identification coupled with a milestone driven approach has provided a formula for the success of residents interested in research career paths. This ninds UE5 application from the university of florida (UF) will focus on the development of a comprehensive early research program to meaningfully engage neurology and neurosurgery residents in research from day 1 of their internship all the way through their residency, fellowship, and successful k award application. This project will provide the potential UF UE5 individual applicant access to an ideal research environment with protected time, coursework, mentorship and a strong institutional commitment. UF offers outstanding basic/translational laboratory experiences, clinical research, research facilities, and an expert mentor-mentee experience. Potential UE5 enrollees at UF will have access to a freestanding neuromedicine hospital, multiple interdisciplinary clinics with significant research/clinical trials infrastructure, and the core facilities of the fixel institute and the mcknight brain institute. The potential UE5 participant will be identified early in their residency training, placed on a research track and mentored toward a dedicated research experience and ultimately a NIH k award.