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SNS Neurosurgeon-Scientist Training Program

Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation

The Society of Neurological Surgeons has established a two-year Neurosurgeon-Scientist Training Program (NSTP) to increase the pool of neurosurgery residents conducting research and to enhance their success rate in becoming independent neurosurgeon-scientists. Additional research by clinician-scientist neurosurgeons is critical to the fundamental discovery that advances new methods of care and new cures.

The NSTP will serve as a formal mentored research program for those neurosurgery residents who are beginning a protected research year or who have already completed their protected research year. The primary goal of this new program is to provide participants with the skills, mentorship, education, and experience needed to successfully compete for individual research funding (e.g., NIH K award and R01 grants) and launch productive research careers. Awardees have access to neurosurgeon-scientist mentors through a national network organization and will participate in the Annual NINDS R25 workshop.

Applicants will submit a written application to the program and be interviewed virtually by a selectioncommittee. It is anticipated that up to 4-5 candidates per year will be selected based on the application process. Selected residents beginning their protected year of research in Year 1 of the NSTP program will be provided a travel stipend to attend the CNS and NINDS R25 neurosurgeon-scientist symposiums in the fall and spring, respectively. All those selected for support in Year 1 will be assigned a central NSTP mentor, who will work synergistically with the awardee’s local mentor to guide the awardee.

All awardees who complete Year 1 of the program will be eligible to apply for funding to support continuation of their research project in the year after their Year 1 support (i.e., Year 2). Residents are eligible for continued support in Year 2 whether they are continuing with protected research time or going back into clinical training full-time. Residents who have completed a year of protected research outside of the NSTP can also apply for Year 2 entry into the NSTP. The key to obtaining research support in Year 2 will be making good progress in their research during Year 1, clear plans for use of the Year 2 funding and a well-considered, specific plan to successfully use the Year 2 funding to help transition to a K award application.

Applicant interviews for the Travel & Mentorship Grant (Year 1) and the Research Grant (Year 2) will be completed virtually in March 2027. Award winners will be announced in April 2027. The start date for both NSTP programs will be July 1, 2027.

NSTP TRAVEL GRANT (YEAR 1) APPLICATION GUIDELINES

NSTP RESEARCH GRANT (YEAR 2) APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Apply for an SNS NSTP Grant

NOTE: The Research Grant (Year 2) funding is for people who have completed their dedicated research year, and the Travel Grant (Year 1) funding is for people who are doing their dedicated research year. NSTP research funds CANNOT be used for resident salary support, as the intent is to help support research progress (i.e., lab tech, grad student, postdoc, supplies, etc.) while the residents are back on clinical rotations. These funds CANNOT be used for resident salary support during clinical rotations.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Direct relevance to neurosurgery and neurological disorders ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the most important predictor.

Competitive research should directly address neurosurgical or neurological problems such as:

Brain tumors
Cerebrovascular disease
Traumatic brain injury
Spinal disorders
Peripheral nerve disorders
Pediatric neurosurgery
Functional neurosurgery
Epilepsy surgery
Neurodegenerative disorders
Hydrocephalus
Neurotrauma
Neuro-oncology
Neurosurgical technologies
Neurological disease prevention and treatment

NREF specifically funds basic, translational, and patient-oriented clinical research relevant to neurosurgery.

2. Strong potential to advance neurosurgical care ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A strong proposal should clearly explain how successful research could improve:

Patient outcomes
Surgical safety
Diagnosis
Treatment
Functional recovery
Survival
Quality of life
Neurosurgical decision-making

NREF's stated mission is to fund research into new and existing neurosurgical treatments and identify connections between best practices and improved patient outcomes.

3. Strong preliminary data ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is an explicit NREF success factor.

The published research-grant guidance asks:

Does the research have potential for extramural funding? Is there strong preliminary data?

Therefore, where available, applicants should demonstrate:

Preliminary experimental results
Pilot clinical data
Proof of concept
Feasibility data
Prior publications supporting the hypothesis
Initial biomarker/technology validation

Preliminary data should directly support the proposed hypothesis rather than simply demonstrate that the laboratory is active.

4. Innovation and a new research direction ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

NREF explicitly asks reviewers whether:

The project represents a new direction from existing research efforts
The study is innovative

Strong applications should therefore emphasize:

Novel hypotheses
New surgical approaches
New therapeutic targets
Innovative technologies
AI/computational approaches
Novel biomarkers
New disease models
Innovative approaches to neurosurgical outcomes

The proposal should make clear why the project is different from the applicant's existing work and from current literature.

5. Potential for future extramural funding ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is one of the most distinctive NREF success predictors.

NREF wants its relatively early-stage funding to help researchers develop toward larger external awards.

A strong proposal should demonstrate:

NREF funding → preliminary/strengthening data → publication → NIH/other extramural grant → independent research program

NREF's Neurosurgeon-Scientist Training Program goes even further: Year 2 funding is explicitly intended to help residents transition toward an NIH K Award application.

6. Clear goals, objectives and anticipated results ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

NREF specifically asks whether:

Goals are clearly defined
Objectives are logical
Anticipated results are well described

A strong proposal should therefore use a straightforward structure:

Problem → hypothesis → specific aims → methods → expected results → clinical significance

Avoid overly broad objectives that cannot realistically be completed within the award period.

7. Feasibility within the proposed timeframe ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

NREF explicitly evaluates whether the scope of the project is realistic for the timeframe.

Competitive projects should demonstrate:

Realistic recruitment
Adequate sample availability
Appropriate technical expertise
Accessible facilities
Manageable aims
Defined milestones
Appropriate statistical resources
A realistic one-year or award-period plan

This is especially important because many NREF research awards are relatively short-term.

8. Strong mentor and institutional research environment ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

NREF explicitly evaluates whether:

The research environment is supportive
The institution provides strong mentorship

For resident and early-career applications, mentorship can be particularly important.

A strong mentor should provide:

Neurosurgical research expertise
Methodological guidance
Access to facilities
Statistical/scientific support
Publication guidance
Grant-writing mentorship
Career-development support

For the NREF Neurosurgeon-Scientist Training Program, mentor documentation must specifically describe the candidate's ownership and intellectual contribution to the project.

9. Strong career-development and research independence potential ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

NREF has a major emphasis on developing academic neurosurgeon-scientists.

Its Research Fellowship Grant supports neurosurgery residents preparing for academic careers as clinician-investigators, while the Young Clinician Investigator Award supports junior faculty pursuing clinical-investigator careers.

A strong application should demonstrate:

Commitment to academic neurosurgery
Research career goals
Development of independent expertise
Protected research time
Mentorship
Future funding strategy
Potential for a sustainable research program

10. Societal impact and potential applications ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

NREF explicitly asks reviewers:

What is the societal impact?
What are the potential applications?
Would a positive result contribute to the field?

Therefore, proposals should identify the broader significance of the research, such as:

Reduced disability
Improved survival
Reduced complications
Better functional recovery
Lower healthcare burden
Improved access to effective neurosurgical treatment
New technologies or treatments

Specialties

Neurosurgery

Eligibility Requirements

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 5550 Meadowbrook Industrial Ct. Rolling Meadows, IL 60008-3852

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