Weil Institute launches new program for early-career faculty in Emergency Medicine
Funded by the NIH, the K12 program will train physicians in research on neurological disorders commonly seen in pre-hospital and emergency department settings.
ANN ARBOR, MI – The Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation at the University of Michigan announced the launch of the Neuro-EM Scholars program. Housed at Weil and funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the program will train early-career emergency medicine physicians to conduct high-impact research focused on neurological disorders commonly seen in pre-hospital and emergency department settings.
Dr. Robert Neumar, Professor and Chair of Emergency Medicine and a member of the Weil Institute, will lead the Neuro-EM Scholars program alongside a team of co-directors and an advisory board comprised of national experts in emergency medicine and the neurological sciences.
“Each year, there are over 130 million emergency departments visits across the United States, many of which involve injuries and illnesses related to the brain such as stroke, seizures, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, pain, addiction and neurodegenerative diseases,” said Neumar. “Our aim is to support promising emergency medicine researchers who are at the beginning of their careers and ensure they have the time, mentorship, and training needed to effectively perform research that can improve the care of patients with these conditions.”
"Each year, there are over 130 million emergency departments visits across the United States, many of which involve injuries and illnesses related to the brain. Our aim is to support promising emergency medicine researchers who are at the beginning of their careers and ensure they have the time, mentorship, and training needed to effectively perform research that can improve the care of patients with these conditions."
Robert Neumar, MD, PhD
Professor and Chair of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan
Member, Weil Institute
Program Features
Neuro-EM Scholars is a five-year program that supports clinically practicing physicians who are within their first two years of a faculty position (after residency or fellowship training) and are conducting research within the missions of NINDS, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) or the National Institute on Aging (NIA). Applicants must dedicate 75% effort to their research and career development during the first 3 years of the program, and they must have a commitment from their department chair to provide two additional years of at least 50% protected time for research after the Neuro-EM funding period ends.
The program will feature an annual retreat to provide an opportunity for applicants and funded scholars to interact directly with the program’s national advisory committee members, senior investigators and with NIH/NINDS personnel. At these meetings, funded Neuro-EM scholars will be expected to present updates on their research progress. They will also receive valuable mentoring and will contribute insights and mentorship to new applicants and future scholars.
Finally, in addition to the main K12 program, Neuro-EM Scholars also includes a Pipeline Program that provides advance training for up to ten investigators who are not yet eligible or ready to apply for the K12. Participants—who must be nominated by a chair, division chief or program director—will be invited to attend the annual retreat, where they will receive training and support in grant writing 1-2 years before they might apply for the main K12.
Excellence in Emergency Medicine
The success of the Neuro-EM Scholars proposal was made possible through the combined efforts of the program team as well as the Weil Institute’s Proposal Development Unit, which facilitated and advised on the original grant submission. The program marks the second NIH K12 career development program to be housed and managed at the Weil Institute.
“It’s really a testament to the Weil Institute’s commitment to developing the next generation of innovators in emergency care. The research infrastructure and expertise we have here at Weil and at the University of Michigan are truly enabling the development of such impactful training opportunities,” said Dr. Kevin Ward, Executive Director of the Institute and Professor of Emergency Medicine and Biomedical Engineering. “We are thrilled to bring this program into the fold, and we can’t wait to see how it transforms the outcomes of patients with neurologic injuries and illnesses requiring emergency care.”
Alongside Dr. Neumar, Neuro-EM Scholars leadership includes Dr. Opeolu Adeoye of Washington University (Emergency Medicine); Dr. Gail D'Onofrio of Yale University (Emergency Medicine, Medicine, Epidemiology); and Dr. Clifton Callaway of the University of Pittsburgh (Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medicine Research). The program’s advisory board consists of fifteen leaders in emergency medicine and the neurological sciences from institutions across the United States.
Applications for the K12 and Pipeline Program will be opening soon. Interested candidates and nominators can learn more and register for updates via the official program website: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/emrcdpns.
Learn More
Program website: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/emrcdpns
Article on the Neuro-EM Scholars Program (formerly under the acronym EMRDCP-NS) published in Society of Academic Emergency Medicine PULSE journal (p.50-51): https://issuu.com/saemonline/docs/saem_pulse_may-june_2024
About the Weil Institute
The team at the Max Harry Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation is dedicated to pushing the leading edge of research to develop new technologies and novel therapies for the most critically ill and injured patients. Through a unique formula of innovation, integration and entrepreneurship that was first imagined by Weil, their multi-disciplinary teams of health providers, basic scientists, engineers, data scientists, commercialization coaches, donors and industry partners are taking a boundless approach to re-imagining every aspect of critical care medicine. For more information, visit weilinstitute.med.umich.edu.
Contact:
Katelyn Murphy
Marketing Communications Specialist, Weil Institute
[email protected]
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