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Susan S. Spencer, MD Clinical Research Training Scholarship in Epilepsy

American Academy of Neurology

This two-year award supports clinical research training in the field of epilepsy. It is hoped that this program, targeting clinicians who are fellows or new faculty, will foster the development of clinical care providers interested in pursuing careers in patient-oriented research. The late Susan Spencer, MD, an internationally renowned epileptologist, exemplified the qualities of a clinician-investigator. The award recognizes the importance of good clinical research and encourages young investigators in clinical studies in epilepsy.

The award will consist of a commitment of $65,000 per year for two years, plus a $10,000 per year stipend to support education and research-related costs for a total of $150,000. Supplementation of the award with other grants is permissible, but to be eligible to apply for this award, the other grant source(s) cannot exceed $75,000 annually.

The American Academy of Neurology is firmly committed to embracing the diversity among our members, applicants, and reviewers and affirms the importance of equity and inclusiveness within the AAN research program.

Please only submit one application. Applicants are not allowed to submit applications for more than one award. Your application will also be considered for all relevant clinical research training scholarship awards.

Timeline

June 2, 2025: Applications open
September 9, 2025: Application deadline—Note that this is the deadline for all documents, including those from the mentor and chair.
January 2026: Notification of recipients
July 1, 2026: Funding begins

Evaluation and selection

Applications are evaluated by reviewers based on the following criteria:

Quality and originality of the research plan.
Applicant’s ability and promise as a clinician-scientist based on prior record of achievement and career plan, and NIH Biosketch.
Quality and nature of the training to be provided, and the mentor-specific, departmental, and institutional training environment.
Innovation of the research plan approach.
Project significance: the ability to progress the field or solve an important problem.

A successful application should include the following:

Well-developed hypothesis: The hypothesis is testable and presented in clear language.
Detailed statistical plan: Statistical methods are well-designed and detailed.
Strong mentorship: There is clear demonstration of strong mentorship to support the project.
Feasible primary outcomes: Each aim is feasible, focused, and logical.
Innovation: Project concept is original, novel, and will advance the applicant’s long-term career goals.
Well-defined training plan: There is a clear and gap-based career development plan.

Required attachments for application

PDF of three-page research plan, including brief statements of aims, background, contemplated approaches to methodology, and any supporting preliminary data/figures. References do not count toward the page limit. The research plan should be written by the applicant and should represent their original work. However, the applicant is expected and encouraged to develop this plan based on discussion with the proposed mentor. It is appropriate, but not required, for the proposed work to be specifically related to the mentor’s ongoing research.
PDF of applicant’s NIH Biosketch. See the most recent NIH Biosketch template.

Once the above information is fully completed and submitted by the applicant:
The chair will receive an email with a link asking them to check a box confirming that the applicant’s clinical service responsibilities will be restricted to no more than 30 percent of their time and include a list of the applicant’s non-research-related service. The chair will NOT be asked to submit a letter.
The mentor will receive an email with a link to submit a letter of reference detailing their support of and commitment to the applicant and the proposed research and training plan. The letter should be 1,000 words or less and specifically indicate the mentor’s role in the development and preparation of the applicant’s research plan and should include:
1. How the proposed research fits into the mentor’s research program
2. Expertise and experience in the area of research proposed, and the nature of the mentor’s proposed time commitment to the supervision and training of the applicant
3. Mentor’s prior experience in the supervision, training, and successful mentoring of clinician-scientists
4. Potential for applicant’s future research career and comparison of applicant among other trainees
5. Institution's commitment to 70 percent protected research time
The mentor will also be required to upload an NIH Biosketch.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. 🎯 Direct Relevance to Neurology

AAN funds research in neurological disorders, such as:

Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias

Parkinson’s disease, ALS, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke

Neuromuscular, neurogenetic, neuroimmunological, and movement disorders

✅ Predictor: The project addresses a significant neurological disease or care challenge.

2. 👩‍🔬 Early-Career Focus

Most AAN awards support:

Residents, fellows, postdocs, and junior faculty

Career development through mentored research programs

✅ Predictor: Applicants with strong mentorship, training plans, and clear career goals are highly competitive.

3. 🧪 Strong Preliminary Data & Feasibility

Funded projects are typically pilot studies or early-phase research

Proposals with proof-of-concept data or access to relevant cohorts/models fare better

✅ Predictor: The research has clear, achievable aims that can produce results within 1–2 years.

4. 📚 Alignment with AAN Priorities

AAN prioritizes research that:

Advances patient care and outcomes

Addresses health disparities in neurology

Builds the pipeline of neurologist-scientists

✅ Predictor: The proposal ties to AAN’s mission of improving neurologic health through research and education.

5. 📈 Potential for Career Development and Impact

Applications should demonstrate:

Clear career trajectory toward independence

Plans for future NIH/foundation funding

✅ Predictor: Strong applications show how the project will serve as a springboard to larger grants.

🧾 AAN Grant & Fellowship Programs

Program	Amount	Audience	Purpose
Clinical Research Training Scholarship (CRTS)	$65k/year (2 years)	Residents, fellows, junior faculty	Career development
Practice Research Training Scholarship (PRTS)	$65k/year (2 years)	Early-career	Patient-oriented research
Clinician Scientist Development Award	$240k over 3 years	Early-career	Transition to independence
Investigator-Initiated Research Grants	Varies (~$100k–$150k)	Faculty	Disease-specific research

🧬 Commonly Funded Topics

Biomarkers and novel diagnostics for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MS, ALS

Neuroimmunology and neurogenetics research

Clinical trials in epilepsy, stroke prevention, movement disorders

Research addressing neurology workforce and patient access disparities

📌 Tips for Strong Applications

✅ Provide clear, testable hypotheses with short-term deliverables
✅ Include mentorship letters and career development plans
✅ Explain how findings lead to larger-scale NIH or foundation grants
✅ Show alignment with AAN’s mission and patient impact

Specialties

Clinical Trials

Neurosciences

Eligibility Requirements

For the purpose of this scholarship, research is defined as “patient-oriented research conducted with human subjects, or translational research specifically designed to develop treatments or enhance diagnosis of neurological disease. These areas of research include epidemiologic or behavioral studies, clinical trials, studies of disease mechanisms, the development of new technologies, and health services and outcomes research.” Disease-related studies not directly involving humans or human tissue are also encouraged if the primary goal is the development of therapies, diagnostic tests, or other tools to prevent or mitigate neurological diseases.
Recipient must be an AAN member interested in an academic career in neurological research with an MD, PhD, or equivalent doctoral-level clinical degree who has completed clinical residency or PhD no more than 5 years prior to the beginning of this award (July 1, 2026). If you have completed both residency and a PhD, your eligibility is based on when you completed residency. If you completed a fellowship of any kind after residency, your eligibility is still based on the date you finished residency.
At the time of application, applicants can be epilepsy fellows, postdoctoral fellows, or newly appointed junior faculty members (first two years of appointment). During the award period, it is acceptable for the candidate to be pursuing formal graduate coursework (e.g., MPH) as part of the 70 percent protected time for research.
Applicants at accredited US and international institutions are eligible.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: American Academy of Neurology

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 201 Chicago Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55415

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