Abstract This is a proposal for renewal of an NINDS R25 program. The Specific Aim of this proposal is to support educational activities that will enable physician-scientists training in neurology, neurosurgery, radiology, anesthesiology and neuropathology or related fields to compete successfully for mentored career development awards, or similar major research awards. This training program addresses the critical needs posed by an increasingly aging US population, which are leading to a greater prevalence of neurological disorders. The scientific successes of the last two decades have resulted in a vast expansion of knowledge. To close the gap between these advances in knowledge and clinically meaningful benefits to human health, a strong cadre of clinical neuroscientists with the skills to engage in basic, translational and clinical research is essential. The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is exceptionally well positioned to undertake this task. It is a large metropolitan university with a 380-acre contiguous campus. It is a Carnegie Class-I biomedical research organization, with current research funding of over $570 million per year. It is also a major provider of tertiary- level health care serving a catchment area of over 8 million people, and the educational, research, and health care missions of the institution are closely integrated. The environment for neuroscience research and training has grown dramatically at UAB in recent years. Funding from NIH Institutes which support primarily neuroscience research has doubled from $40M to nearly $80M. Support from NINDS has climbed even more dramatically, from $8.5M in 2005 to the current level of more than $24M. Important new NIH-funded centers and programs include the Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence in Parkinson Research, an Exploratory Alzheimer Disease Center, NeuroNEXT and StrokeNET sites, and a Brain Initiative program. Dr. David Standaert, Professor and Chair of Neurology at UAB and Program Director of the current R25 program remains in this role. Taking on an expanded role in this R25, Dr. James Markert, Professor and Chair of Neurosurgery, will serve as Co-Director. Dr. Markert is an academic neurosurgeon with a very active NIH- funded research portfolio. The training faculty are a diverse group of 33 accomplished neuroscientists. Four themes form the framework of the R25 program: Neuro-oncology; Neurodegenerative disease; Synaptic plasticity, pain and epilepsy; and Cerebrovascular disease. Each of the themes has a faculty member designated to coordinate this area. The program includes training in ethical and successful scientific practices, conducting reproducible science, and the responsible conduct of research as well as participation in the annual NINDS R25 workshop.