Research Development Track

Physician-scientists occupy a critical niche in the translation of basic science findings into new clinical treatments. Within the field of neurology physician-scientists, as basic or clinical scientists, have been at the forefront of many discoveries, including developing new models of human disease, developing new clinical treatments for Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and stroke and identifying novel genetic signatures of brain tumors, glial progenitors and neural stem cells that may facilitate new therapies. UCLA Neurology has recognized our responsibility as a leading academic department to contribute to the scientific future by participation in the NIH-funded neurology residency research track, also know as the R25 program.

The goal of this neurology research track is to train neurology residents in either basic or clinical science research through direct investigative study, oral and written scientific presentation and intensive mentored career development. The structure of the training program incorporates mentoring, focused time on oral and written presentations, with a culmination in the production of a career development (K series) grant in the final year of the residency for each trainee. The program provides 6 months of consecutive research time in PGY4, and then an additional 18 months of funded research time that can be applied to a post-residency fellowship. Internal applications for this program are accepted in mid August each year. Up to two applicants will then be selected to apply to the NIH/NINDS. The NIH/NINDS will fund applicants based upon the merits of each submission.

We're pleased to share the work and successes of past R25 residents:

• In the past three years, seven members of the department have earned K grants, many of whom were past R25 residents. The seven are: Ahmet Arac, Timothy Chang, Kathryn Cross, Kimberly Paul, Jessica Rexach, Ranmal Samarasinghe, and William Zeiger.
• Three former Research Development Track residents are now faculty members with their own labs in UCLA Neurology: Dr. Jason Hinman, Dr. Jessica Rexach and Dr. Ranmal Samarasinghe.
• From time to time, we profile a UCLA Neurology lab to share with our patients, families and the academic community. Three past R25 residents, Dr. Rexach, Dr. Hinman and  Dr. Arac, have been profiled.

Current R25 Residents:

Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD

Project Title: Advancing Clinical and Neuroimaging Markers of Dissociative Seizures

Mentors: John M. Stern, MD (Neurology), Jamie Feusner, MD (Psychiatry)

Anthony Linares, MD, PhD

Project Title: Cell-type-specific mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease in their native tissue environments

Mentor: Long Cai, PhD, California Institute of Technology

Current Department of Neurology Sponsored Resident:

Daniel Okobi, MD, PhD

Project Title: Neuronal Network Dysfunction in Neurodegenerative Disease

Mentor: Peyman Golshani, MD, PhD