From Clinic to the Lab and Back: The Resident’s Journey to Physician-Scientist

For aspiring physician-scientists, the Department of Neurology’s residency program offers a research-focused environment designed to cultivate independent careers in both wet-bench and dry-bench research. Led by Evan Noch, M.D., Ph.D., Elan Louis, M.D., M.Sc., Vikram Shakkottai, M.D., Ph.D., and Steven Vernino, M.D., Ph.D., our research track is designed to prepare eligible neurology residents for a career in research while simultaneously bestowing superior clinical training.

Our department comprises basic, clinical, epidemiological, and translational investigators, who have collectively received more than $87 million in federal and external funding. One in four of our faculty holds NIH grants. With guidance from 28 principal investigators (PIs) whose expertise spans a wide range of fields – including behavioral and cognitive disorders, movement disorders, neuroimmunology, neuro-oncology, cerebrovascular diseases, epilepsy, and neuromuscular and autonomic disorders – residents receive valuable mentorship and collaboration opportunities.

We offer three funding mechanisms, dedicated research time, and regular mentorship meetings to support trainees, regardless of their prior research experience. Through our partnerships and affiliate programs, trainees gain access to specialized resources, including annotated biospecimens, microscopy, and neuro model facilities. We empower the next generation of physician-scientists to make lasting contributions to patient care. 

Resident Research Track & Funding

Our faculty conducts a series of intensive workshops throughout the year covering hypothesis generation, research design, and statistical methods. We have three funding mechanisms that allow flexibility during residency training to ensure adequate time for research activities. The coursework and resources promote research success and academic career development.

National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS) UE5: UT Southwestern Advancement of Neuroscience Research Careers (UT SWANS)

The NINDS-funded UT SWANS program is structured to support a trainee’s growth into a clinician-scientist. Residents customize their schedules by integrating mentorship and protected research time around their core clinical training requirements. While this funding mechanism is targeted toward those with prior research experience, all neurology residents are welcome to apply. 

By the end of the program, trainees submit a peer-reviewed original scientific paper and rigorously designed grant application. These achievements, in addition to demonstrating clinical knowledge, preparation, and skill to practice, embody the designation of clinician-investigator.

Training Resident Doctors as Innovators in Science (TARDIS)

TARDIS is an initiative built to help resident physicians without prior formal research training discover their research interests. This two-year, laboratory-based research program includes seminars, rigorous journal clubs, and career planning. Tiered mentorship is a central focus, and a PI, residency program director, near-peer, and TARDIS Executive Committee member all help the trainee mitigate real and perceived barriers to M.D.-based research.

Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute (OBI): Sprouts

Open to all, Sprouts grants facilitate the collection of pilot data exploring new directions that are not easily covered by other funding sources. Funding encourages creative, high-quality research in the areas of cell and molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases or modulation of normal and disease-altered brain circuits. The trainee works under the supervision of OBI investigators.

Travel Funds

Yearly education funds from the residency program include $1,000 per academic year for residents to present research at national meetings. Additionally, the OBI Travel Grant Program includes up to $2,500 to support travel costs to present original work at a conference.

	NINDS UE5	TARDIS	OBI Sprouts
Description & Purpose	Build a career as a clinician-scientist during residency and submit a K award.	Supports physicians who want to pursue research interests.	Supports lab or clinical scientists and facilitates collection of pilot data.
Eligibility	M.D./Ph.D.	M.D.	Trainee works under OBI investigator
Dedicated Research Time	6 months research time During PGY-4   +12 months	2 years research time Between PGY-2 & -3 OR Between PGY-3 & -4	Variable

 

Protected research time and mentorship

• PGY-1: up to 14 weeks
• PGY-2: up to 11 weeks
• PGY-3: up to 15 weeks
• PGY-4: up to 30 weeks

Residents will have 30-minute mentorship meetings every three months with the Director of Physician-Scientist Development.

What are our current residents doing?

Our residents have myriad interests and have been paired with mentors in adult or child neurology and neuropsychiatry. Current resident research projects include functional neuroimaging, interventional psychiatry, the junction of glioblastomas and bioengineering, CNS inflammation in multiple sclerosis, neuroimmunology, Alzheimer's disease, and gene therapy for the central nervous system.

Beyond receiving career guidance as physician-scientists in training, residents are also encouraged to learn all facets of research, including experimental design, data analysis and interpretation, and ethical research practices.

Annual Resident Research Day

All residents (even those not on the research track) are paired with mentors to contribute to a study in a field of their choice. Projects can range from basic science to clinical case studies as well as quality improvement. Graduating residents present the culmination of their scholarly work at the annual Neurology Research Day. Fellows showcase their projects via poster presentations, which are judged by volunteer faculty. The event provides a platform for medical students interested in neurology to present their research and be recognized for their accomplishments. We invite all faculty and trainees in the department to attend this symposium.

View Resident Researchers

 

A Rich Environment of Resources and Collaborations

Residents benefit from the Neuro Models Facility (NMF), Whole Brain Microscopy Facility (WBMF), and a dedicated exercise facility. The NMF offers more than 15 services utilizing rat or mouse models for behavioral testing, in vivo electrophysiological recording, and surgical approaches to model production. Meanwhile, the WBMF provides access to a unique set of high-throughput microscopes for serial two-photon tomography, whole-slide imaging, and histology resources.

The exercise facility allows for testing via ischemic or aerobic forearm exercise, bicycle exercise, exercise stress, cardiopulmonary exercise, peak VO2 testing, and more.

Additionally, trainees can join any research program at UT Southwestern and the O’Donnell Brain Institute including:

• Clinical Informatics
• Advanced Imaging Research Center (AIRC)
• Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases (CAND)
• Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC)
• Texas Institute for Brain Injury and Repair (TIBIR)

We encourage trainees to collaborate with any research program at UT Southwestern and our affiliated programs at UT Dallas (Bioengineering, Behavioral & Brain Sciences). 

Program Alumni Have Gone on to Receive Independent Grants

Resident Researchers: Neurology - UT Southwestern, Dallas, Texas

Alumni of the research track program have become a mix of clinician-educators and physician-scientists, continuing their research at prestigious institutions. To date, we have three alumni who have active R Series awards (funds for research, sponsors, or equipment) and five alumni with K Series awards (career development awards to conduct independent research).