Empowering early career emergency medicine physicians to conduct transformative research in the neurological sciences.
The Neuro-EM Scholars Program of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is committed to recruiting, mentoring, training, and supporting early career emergency medicine faculty across the United States with the goal of expanding the cadre of physician-scientists capable of performing NIH-funded research focused on neurological disorders commonly treated in the pre-hospital and emergency department settings.

Scholars receive up to 3 years of financial support from the Neuro-EM Scholars Program including dedicated research time (75% effort). In the 2 years following program completion, scholars are required to have at least 50% dedicated research time guaranteed by their home department to ensure transition to independence. Scholars complete their research and career development activities at their home institution with support by a local mentorship team.

The Neuro-EM Scholars Program also hosts an annual Retreat for scholars and holds research training webinars.
Requirements
K12 Program
The Neuro-EM K12 Program supports clinically practicing emergency medicine physicians within their first two years of a faculty position (after residency or fellowship training).

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 2 additional years of at least 50% protected time for research after the Neuro-EM Program funding period ends. Applicants are also required to attend the Annual Neuro-EM Program Retreat and will be interviewed by Program Leadership during the meeting. Funded Neuro-EM Program scholars are expected to attend the Retreat during the 3 years of K12 funding, plus the 2 years immediately following K12 funding (i.e. for 5 consecutive years).

Applicants must also be citizens or noncitizen nationals of the U.S. or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time of appointment.

Candidates must be conducting research within the missions of NINDS, NIDA, or NIA. Any type of research is accepted (e.g., basic, clinical, translational, health services).

The Neuro-EM Scholars Program funds 3 new scholars each year. The award includes $115,000 in salary support, a fringe rate up to 35%, and $40,000 for research and career development costs per year for up to 3 years. An indirect rate (8%) is allowed.
Pipeline Program
The Neuro-EM Scholars Pipeline Program provides advance training for early career investigators who are not yet eligible or ready to apply for the K12 program.

The Neuro-EM Scholars Program invites chairs, division chiefs, and program directors to nominate emergency medicine senior residents, fellows, and first year faculty to participate in the Pipeline Program.

Each year, this program will support up to 10 of the aforementioned early career investigators to attend the Neuro-EM Scholars Program Annual Retreat, where they will receive grant writing training and support 1-2 years before they might apply for the Neuro-EM K12.

A primary goal of the Pipeline Program is to promote the diversity of emergency medicine research and the pool of successful emergency medicine physician-scientists by enhancing the participation of individuals from populations that have been shown to be underrepresented in medicine including, but not limited to, women, individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups, individuals with disabilities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Resources
If you would like to share information about the Neuro-EM Scholars Program with your departments, the following materials may be freely used.
Neuro-EM Presentation Deck
Neuro-EM Informational Slide
How to Apply
The application for the Neuro-EM Scholars Program is very similar to an NIH individual K award application.

All applicants are required to attend the Annual Neuro-EM Scholars Program Retreat and will be interviewed by Program Leadership during the meeting. Travel costs will be covered for all applicants and program scholars.
2025 Key Deadlines
Letters of intent and draft aims pages will be due September 3, 2025.
Applications will be due October 1, 2025.
The Retreat will be held December 2-5, 2025.
Award notifications will be made in January 2026.
Neuro-EM Scholars Program Retreat
The Retreat provides an opportunity for junior faculty to interact directly with the Neuro-EM Scholars Program national advisory committee members, senior emergency medicine faculty, and NIH/NINDS career development leaders. The small-group interactive format allows for individual mentoring and career development advice.

All applicants are required to attend the Annual Neuro-EM Retreat and will be interviewed by Program Leadership during the meeting.

Funded Neuro-EM scholars are expected to attend the Retreat during the 3 years of K12 funding, plus the 2 years immediately following K12 funding (i.e. for 5 consecutive years). At the Retreat, scholars provide updates on their research progress, receive mentoring from senior emergency medicine investigators and NIH personnel, and provide advice, insights, and mentorship to new Neuro-EM Program applicants and future scholars.

Travel costs will be covered for all applicants and program scholars.

The 2025 Neuro-EM Scholars Program Retreat will be held December 2-5, 2025. Details will be available soon.
2024 Retreat: Travel & Accommodations
LODGING
Neuro-EM program staff will organize all hotel arrangements. We have booked rooms that are covered for 3 nights (Wednesday, December 4 through Friday, December 6). 
 
AIRFARE
Guests who will be flying in are responsible for their own air travel arrangements but will be reimbursed up to the price of an economy-class ticket.
Due to the potential of unforeseen travel disruptions and/or cancellations, all airfare reimbursements will be processed promptly following the conclusion of the Retreat. Please be assured that a thorough reimbursement form will be made available well in advance in an effort to expedite this process.
 
NON-LOCAL VEHICLE MILAGE

Per University of Michigan policy, for all guests who will be travelling to the Retreat by car, but are not based in Ann Arbor: Effective January 1, 2024, the mileage reimbursement is 67 cents per mile.

The mileage rate for reimbursement accounts for fuel costs as well as wear and tear to a personal vehicle; therefore, costs for fuel or maintenance are not reimbursable. Tolls will be reimbursed in addition to the mileage allowance. On-site hotel parking will also be included in the travel allowance
 
TRANSPORTATION
Attendees must arrange their own travel from Detroit Metro to the Retreat. Neuro-EM Scholars program staff will arrange shuttle transportation to Detroit Metro Airport from the Retreat on Saturday after the close of the retreat.
 
For questions or further information about traveling to, from, and around the Retreat, please contact Lisa Coon, Events Manager, at [email protected].
 
Uber and Lyft are easy and reliable options, as well as the following University-approved limo services:
 
Golden Limo 
https://goldenlimo.com/
(734) 668-8282
 
Network Car Service LLC
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkCarService/
(734) 787-8200
Program Leadership
Members of the Neuro-EM Scholars Program National Advisory Committee are carefully selected to represent a diverse group of successful scientists from different geographical locations, educational backgrounds, research areas, and races and genders. By design, most committee members are emergency medicine physicians; however, the committee also includes other scientists to ensure well-balanced reviews.
Co-Directors
Robert Neumar, MD, PhD
Professor & Chair of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan
Opeolu Adeoye, MD, MS
BJC HealthCare Distinguished Professor and Chair of Emergency Medicine, Washington University
Gail D'Onofrio, MD, MS
Albert E Kent Professor of Emergency Medicine, Professor of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine and Professor of Epidemiology (Chronic Diseases), Yale School of Public Health
Clifton Callaway, MD, PhD
Distinguished Professor and Executive Vice-Chair, Emergency Medicine; Ronald D. Stewart Chair of Emergency Medicine Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
National Advisory Committee
Marie-Carmelle Elie, MD
Endowed Professor & Chair of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama Birmingham


Monika Goyal, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics & Emergency Medicine, George Washington University; Endowed Chair, Women in Science and Health; Associate Chief of Academic Affairs and Research, Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's National Hospital
Dawn Kleindorfer, MD
Robert W. Brear Professor & Chair of Neurology, University of Michigan
Nathan Kuppermann MD, MPH
Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer; Director, Children’s National Research Institute; Department Chair, Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Roger J. Lewis, MD, PhD
Professor of Emergency Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Senior Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Senior Medical Scientist, Berry Consultants
Craig Newgard, MD, MPH
Professor and Vice Chair for Research and Academic Affairs in Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University
Lynne Richardson, MD
Mount Sinai Endowed Professor of Emergency Medicine and Health Equity Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Manish I. Shah, MD, MS
Professor of Emergency Medicine (Pediatrics), Stanford University
Manish N. Shah, MD, MPH
Professor and The Azita G. Hamedani Distinguished Chair of Emergency Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Kevin Sheth, MD
Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery; Vice Chair for Clinical and Translational Research in the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Yale University
Lori Shutter, MD
Professor of Neurology; Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
Susan Stern, MD
Professor & Chair of Emergency Medicine, University of Washington
Stephen Thom, MD, PhD
Professor and Director of Research in Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland
David Wright, MD
Professor & Chair of Emergency Medicine, Emory University
Gregory Zipfel, MD
Ralph G. Dacey Distinguished Professor and Chair of Neurosurgery, Washington University
Meagan Ramsey, PhD
Neuro-EM Scholars Program Manager, Proposal Development Unit Manager, Weil Institute, University of Michigan
Interested in learning more?
Please provide your email, first and last name, title, and institutional affiliation in the form to the right to subscribe to Neuro-EM Scholars Program updates.

Neuro-EM Scholars is a K12 program of the National Institutes of Health funded under award number K12NS137516 and supported by the University of Michigan Max Harry Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation.
Questions?
For questions, please reach out to Meagan Ramsey, Neuro-EM Scholars Program Manager, at [email protected].

Catch program news and updates across social media at #NeuroEMScholars!

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