Practice Research Training Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by American Academy of Neurology

Overview

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) offers a two-year award to support practice-based research that evaluates the translation of evidence into clinical practice. The award focuses on studies of health services, quality of care, implementation, physician performance, patient adherence, and comparative effectiveness research (CER). It is designed to create training opportunities for early-career neurologists and to encourage research that improves health systems and patient outcomes. The AAN Research Program reflects the Board of Directors’ commitment to promoting neurology and neuroscience research and training.

Description: A two-year award supporting clinical and translational research that advances the application of evidence into best clinical practice, with an emphasis on training and career development for clinician-scientists.

History of the Award: The award is administered through the AAN Research Program as part of the Academy’s ongoing efforts to support neurology research and training.

• Supports practice-based and comparative effectiveness research.
• Focuses on improving clinical practice, health systems, and patient outcomes.
• Targets early-career neurologists and clinician-scientists.

Award Value

The award provides direct funding to support research and education over a two-year period. Award funds include an annual research commitment plus an annual stipend for educational and research-related costs. Supplementation with other grants is permitted but limited to ensure primary support from this award.

Award Value: $65,000 per year for two years, plus a $10,000 per year stipend, for a total award value of $150,000. Other grant support is allowed provided total additional funding does not exceed $75,000 per year.

• Total award: $150,000 over two years.
• $65,000/year research support plus $10,000/year stipend.
• Additional grants allowed only if they do not exceed $75,000 annually.

Timeline

The application cycle follows a defined schedule with an open application period, a submission deadline, notification of recipients, and a fixed start date for funding. Applicants must ensure all supporting materials from mentors and chairs are submitted by the deadline. Recipients are notified in advance of the funding start date to allow preparation and transition into protected research time.

Application Timeline: Applications open June 2, 2026. The application deadline occurs in September (all elements, including mentor and chair inputs, must be complete by the deadline). Recipients will be notified in January 2027, and funding begins July 1, 2027.

• Applications open: June 2, 2026.
• Application deadline: September (all components due by this date).
• Notifications: January 2027; funding begins July 1, 2027.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are early-career investigators with appropriate clinical or research doctoral degrees and a commitment to an academic research career in neurology. Research eligible for this award includes patient-oriented and translational studies, epidemiologic and behavioral research, clinical trials, studies of disease mechanisms, technology development, and health services/outcomes research. Applicants affiliated with accredited institutions in the United States and internationally may apply. Only one application may be submitted per applicant and applicants may not submit applications for more than one AAN award concurrently.

Eligibility: Applicants must be AAN members with an MD, PhD, or equivalent doctoral clinical degree who completed clinical residency or PhD no more than five years before the award start date (July 1, 2027). Eligibility is determined by the residency completion date if both residency and PhD were completed; subsequent fellowships do not alter that date.

• AAN membership and an MD/PhD or equivalent required.
• Must have completed residency or PhD within five years of July 1, 2027.
• Applicants at accredited U.S. and international institutions are eligible.
• Only one application per applicant; cannot apply to multiple AAN awards simultaneously.

Evaluation and selection

Applications are reviewed by subject-matter reviewers who assess scientific merit, innovation, and the applicant’s potential as a clinician-scientist. Review criteria emphasize the quality and originality of the research plan, the applicant’s record and career plan, and the strength of the training environment and mentorship. Successful applications demonstrate feasibility, clear hypotheses, robust statistical planning, and a training plan that supports the applicant’s career trajectory. Reviewers also consider project significance and potential to advance the field of neurology.

Evaluation Criteria: Reviewers evaluate research quality and originality, applicant promise, training environment and mentorship, innovation, and project significance. Applications should present a testable hypothesis, feasible aims, a defined training plan, strong mentorship, and a detailed statistical approach.

• Primary criteria: research quality, applicant potential, and training environment.
• Innovation and project significance are key considerations.
• Applications must include a testable hypothesis, feasible aims, and a detailed statistical plan.

Required attachments for application

Applicants must submit a set of specific documents in PDF format and ensure mentor and chair confirmations are completed via emailed links after submission. Required materials document the research plan, training plan, and biosketches for both applicant and mentor, and include mentor commitments and institutional support for protected research time. The chair will confirm clinical effort limits via a checkbox link; a separate chair letter is not required. Mentor letters must describe mentorship, fit with the mentor’s program, time commitment, mentoring track record, and institutional support.

Required attachments: A three-page PDF research plan (references excluded), the applicant’s NIH Biosketch (PDF), and a two-page training plan. After submission, the chair will be asked to confirm clinical effort limits and the mentor will be asked to submit a letter of reference (≤1,000 words) plus an NIH Biosketch.

• Research plan: three-page PDF with aims, background, methods, and any preliminary data; references do not count toward the page limit.
• Applicant NIH Biosketch and a training plan (up to two pages).
• Chair confirmation of ≤30% non-research clinical time via emailed link (no chair letter required).
• Mentor letter (≤1,000 words) detailing fit, mentor commitment/time, mentoring experience, potential for applicant’s career, and institutional commitment to 70% protected research time; mentor must also upload an NIH Biosketch.