Neuro-Oncology Fellowship Training Program

 Training Program

Fellowship candidates will be identified, selected and assigned a fellowship advisor who is a member of the Steering Committee. After extensive discussion on the research interest of the fellow, he or she will be formally linked to one of the participating laboratories. The fellow, with the help of his research supervisor and other appropriate participating faculty, will prepare a tentative research plan and present this to the Neuro-Oncology Training Program's Steering Committee. This committee will review and must accept the research proposal.

The strength of this research training program is the result of the following important factors:

1. There is a strong institutional commitment to neuro-oncology and the training of fellows in this emerging field at the NIH and Johns Hopkins.
2. There are excellent investigators and laboratories currently involved in neuro-oncology research at the NIH and Johns Hopkins. The faculty researchers in these laboratories are eager to have trainees join them in laboratory research and to teach them basic science skills.
3. The trainees are immersed in the multidisciplinary approach and activities at the NIH and Johns Hopkins. They are formal rotations with neurosugeons, medical and pediatric oncologists, neurologists, radiation therapists, and neuropathology. They will also participate in the clinical and research conferences. In addition, they will have peers from multiple disciplines working with them in the neuro-oncology laboratories.
4. There are a broad range of readily available, appropriate educational activities in clinical research methodology and the principles of medical oncology, radiation therapy, and biostatistics at the NIH and Johns Hopkins.
5. Excellent academic neurosurgeons, oncologists, radiotherapists, and neurologists, neuropathologists, and neuroradiologists with a primary interest is neuro-oncology, serve as role models and ensure that the trainee's surgical proficiently is maintained. Patient care activities will require no more than 20% of the trainee's time.
6. The caliber and experience of the supervising faculty preceptors as well as the scientific environment and active resources at the NIH and Johns Hopkins will help to attract high quality applicants and provide them with the necessary skills to become successful academic neuro-oncologists.
7. This fellowship also covers issues related to the principles of scientific integrity and responsible conduct of research.
8. A core of seven courses are required for neuro-oncology trainees supported on this grant. A full description of these courses is included below. There is an opportunity to obtain to a masters degree from The Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health in association with this fellowship.