SCHOLARLY CONCENTRATION in the NEUROSCIENCES
Co-directors: Ian Butler, M.D., John H. Byrne, Ph.D.
Administrative coordinators: Anne Hart, Ph.D. and Brandy Chandler
Mission:
This scholarly concentration in the medical school curriculum is designed to enhance the
knowledge and training of medical students interested in basic or translational research and
current issues in the neurosciences. This concentration will combine neuroscience research,
teaching and scientific presentations with enhanced lectures, grand rounds and seminar
series.
Application Information:
Deadline: March 25, 2012
Application is available online at https://medapps.uth.tmc.edu/scholarlyconcentrations
When filling out online application, please be sure to address the following points:
I. Interest/Experiences:
Please describe your background and why you would like to do a SC
Please include the names of your mentor and Advisory Committee members
II. Future Goals:
Please describe your plans for the summer research project in as much detail
as possible
Please describe how your research plan fits in to your overall goals during
medical school and residency
Student selection process:
The Co-directors and Coordinators will review and approve applications. The student, after
identifying a mentor, will apply during the first year. If approved, a guidance (advisory)
committee will be formed for each student’s program. This committee is responsible for
monitoring the progress of the student.
Timeline for student completion of concentration requirements:
Middle of Year 1 through second semester Year 4
Concentration requirements (didactic and experiential):
(Specific courses listed on pages 6-7)
Year 1
Required
 Identify a mentor
 Apply for stipend for summer research program
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Complete application form and obtain approval for research/education plan from
Steering Committee.
Form Advisory Committee consisting of 2-3 Faculty members in area of interest (p. 9)
Perform summer research project with mentor between Year 1 and Year 2
Take tutorial in literature search, PowerPoint, other research tools (Available through
HAM-TMC Library Training)
Optional
 “Shadow” mentor or clinicians
 Attend Grand Rounds (area of interest) or Neurobiology & Anatomy seminar series
(must attend for 2 of 4 years)
Year 2
Required
 Continue research with mentor
 Attend Grand Rounds in area of interest
 Select one or more courses to be completed prior to graduation (over year 2-4) with
approval of Advisory Committee. See list on pages 6-7
 Join scientific society as student in area of interest
 Attend GS140021 “Neurobiology of Disease”, a seminar course on Wednesdays from
12 pm -1 pm during Fall Semester.
Optional
 Teaching assistant for Medical Neuroscience Laboratory
 Attend Grand Rounds (area of interest) or Neurobiology & Anatomy seminar series
(must attend for 2 of 4 years)
Year 3
Required
 Present research at Neuroscience Research Center’s Annual Poster Session; held
annually on the first Saturday in December from 10 am to Noon.
 Required clinical rotations should be performed in neuroscience-related field
Optional
 Attend Grand Rounds (area of interest) or Neurobiology & Anatomy seminar series
(must attend for 2 of 4 years)
 Attend GS 140021 “Neurobiology of Disease”
Year 4
Required
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Senior elective should be in neuroscience-related area (examples include: Adult
Neurology, Pediatric Neurology, Adult Neurosurgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery,
Neuroradiology, Neurobiology, Adult Psychiatry, Pediatric Psychiatry, Clinical
Neuroscience)
Submit final version of neuroscience research project to Advisory Committee for
approval
Present final project at appropriate Grand Rounds and/or regional/national
conference.
Attend GS 140021 “Neurobiology of Disease” seminar course
Optional
 Attend Grand Rounds (area of interest) or Neurobiology & Anatomy seminar series
(must attend for 2 of 4 years)
 Submit paper to appropriate scientific or clinical journal
Scholarly projects
a) The mentored student scholarly PROJECTS available to students include basic
research, clinical research, public health analysis, curriculum development, literature
review, etc.
b) The SELECTION will be based on interest of student and interest of mentor.
c) The student scholarly project will be EVALUATED by an Advisory Committee.
d) A traditional student-authored MANUSCRIPT describing his/her project and its
outcome is required.
e) DISSEMINATION of the scholarly product will be determined given the interest of the
student and mentor.
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Scholarly Concentration Faculty
*not a complete list and additional neuroscience faculty members can be considered
Faculty Name
Contribution(s) to Concentration
Dept. of Neurobiology and Anatomy
Andrew Bean, PhD
vesicular trafficking
Michael Beauchamp, PhD
imaging, cognition
John Byrne, PhD
mechanisms of learning and memory
Pramod Dash, PhD
neurobiology of head trauma
Valentin Dragoi, PhD
vision in nonhuman primates
Nachum Dafny, PhD
drugs and behavior, rodents
Daniel Felleman, PhD
imaging, nonhuman primates
Ruth Heidelberger, MD, PhD
transmitter release
David Marshak, PhD
neurobiology of the retina
Anne Sereno, PhD
perception and attention
Anthony Wright, PhD
cognition and learning in monkeys and pigeons
Department of Neurosurgery
Timothy Ellmore, PhD
Nobuhide Kobori, PhD
Teresa Santiago-Sim, PhD
imaging, behavior, memory
working memory deficits, head trauma
genetics, aneurysms
Department of Pediatric Surgery (Pediatric Neurosurgery)
Stephen Fletcher, DO
brain tumors, animal models
Department of Neurology (Adult Neurology)
Kazim Sheikh, MD
peripheral nerve disorders, imaging nerves
Mya Schiess, MD
spasticity, movement disorders
George Lopez, MD
stroke, cardiac treatment
James Grotta, MD
acute stroke
John (Bill) Lindsey, MD
autoimmune disease
Sean Savitz, MD
stroke, stem cells
Giridhar Kalamangalam, MD
epilepsy
Flavia Nelson, MD
multiple sclerosis, cognition
Suur Biliciler, MD
muscular dystrophy
Jerry Wolinsky, MD
multiple sclerosis, imaging
Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science
Steven Massey, PhD
retina, neuronal circuitry
Christophe Ribelayga, PhD
retina, circadian rhythm, visual adaptation, rodent, fish
Yinping Zhao, PhD
corneal dystrophy
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Department of Pediatrics (Pediatric Neurology)
Mary Kay Koenig, MD
mitochondrial, neurometabolic and neurocutaneous
disorders
Gretchen Von Allmen, MD
pediatric epilepsy
Pauline Filipek, MD
autistic spectrum disorder
Hope Northrup, MD
genetics, neural tube disorders, tuberous sclerosis
Eric Swindell, PhD
retina development
Soenhee Kim, PhD
cortical development
Seo-Hee Cho, PhD
retinitis pigmentosa
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Gerard Moeller, MD
substance abuse
Alan Swann, MD
drugs and behavior, rodents
Jair Soares, MD
imaging, mood disorders
Adel Wassef, MD
cognition, schizophrenia
Scott Lane, PhD
substance abuse, aggression
Deborah Pearson, PhD
cognition, autism
Kate Loveland, PhD
developmental psychopathology
Department of Pediatrics (Children’s Learning Institute)
Jenifer Juranek, PhD
Andrew Papanicolaou, PhD
magnetoencephalography and functional brain imaging
Linda Ewing-Cobbs, PhD
head trauma and functional neuroimaging
Susan Landry, PhD
brain development and prematurity
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AVAILABLE COURSES FOR THE
SCHOLARLY CONCENTRATION IN THE NEUROSCIENCES
Fall Courses
GS21 0051 The Ethical Dimensions of the Biomedical Sciences
Instructor: William Seifert
One semester hour, Mondays from Noon to 1:30 pm
CLRS 5009 Biostatistics for Clinical Investigators (even years)
Instructors: Kathleen Kennedy and Robert Lasky
One and a half credit hours, Wednesdays from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm.
GS21 0232 Translational Sciences: Bench to Bedside and Back
Instructors: Razelle Kurzrock and Edmund Kopetz
Two semester hours, Wednesdays from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
GS21 0041 Topics in Translational Research
Instructor: Steven Norris
Held even years, 1 semester hour, Mondays, 12:00 to 12:50 pm
http://www.uth.tmc.edu/pathology/courses/transres2010/index.htm
Spring Courses
GS21 0052 Introduction to Animal Models
Instructor: Suzanne Craig
Two semester hours, odd numbered years
GS21 0132 Human Protocol Research
Kurzrock, Razelle, two semester hours (evening course)
Summer Courses
GS21 0122 Introduction to Large Animal Models
Instructor: Suzanne Craig
Two semester hours, Thursdays from 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
GS01 0014 Biomedical Statistics
Instructor: R. Allen White, R. Allen
Four semester hours, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 am – 11:30 am
GS210121 Resources and Methods for Analysis of Patient-Derived Samples
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Instructor: Scott Kopetz
One semester hour, Thursdays, 5:00 to 6:30 pm.
GS21 0061 Critical Thinking in Science
Instructor: William Mattox
One semester hour, Wednesdays, 1:15 to 2:15 pm
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STEERING COMMITTEE FOR SCHOLARLY
CONCENTRATION IN NEUROSCIENCE
NEUROLOGY
Chairman James Grotta, MD
 Kazim Sheikh, MD
 James Ferrendelli, MD
PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY
Chairman Ian J. Butler, MD
 Pedro Mancias, MD
PSYCHIATRY
Chairman Jair Soares, MD
 F. Gerard Moeller, MD
 Alan Swann, MD, PhD
NEUROBIOLOGY & ANATOMY
Chairman John Byrne, PhD
 Anne Sereno, PhD
 Ruth Heidelberger, MD, PhD
NEUROSURGERY
Chairman Dong Kim, MD
 Teresa Santiago-Sim, PhD (Adult)
 Stephen Fletcher, DO (Pediatric)
CHILDRENS LEARNING INSTITUTE
Director Susan Landry, PhD
 Jenifer Juranek, PhD
 Linda Ewing-Cobbs, PhD
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Advisory Committee Form
Name of Student: _____________________________________ Date Submitted: ______________
Brief description of student’s research interests: ________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Mentor:
__________________________________________________________________________________
Name, Degree
Dept & Institutional Affiliation & Position
Members of Advisory Committee:
__________________________________________________________________________________
Name, Degree
Dept & Institutional Affiliation & Position
__________________________________________________________________________________
Name, Degree
Dept & Institutional Affiliation & Position
__________________________________________________________________________________
Name, Degree
Dept & Institutional Affiliation & Position
Approved:
___________________________________________________
________________________
Program Director
Date
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