ABSTRACT Progress in treating neurologic disease depends on the recruitment, retention, and support of a diverse cadre of neurosurgery and neurology physician scientists (NSci). Our major goal is to increase the number of diverse NSci residents who transition to independent academic careers, tackling complex neurologic questions with translational impact. We will achieve this through early multidimensional support of trainees, acknowledging cultural and scientific diversity that creates a stimulating, welcoming, and collaboration-fostering environment. We will focus on early engagement in research training, individualized and enduring mentorship of the R25 scholars, and iterative program design, to foster the strongest, most diverse pool of NSci physician scientists. To this end, we will establish an innovative R25 training program which extends beyond the architecture of the residency training years, to increase the recruitment of diverse candidates, and ensure their retention and successful transition to independent research careers. These innovations include: (1) integration with established Stanford diversity pathway programs supporting socially excluded/underrepresented trainees (R25 DEI Team), (2) Day 1 enrollment of NSci residents into an R25-foundational research training pipeline; (3) tiered, diverse, cross-departmental leadership, functioning throughout the continuum of NSci training to ensure the success of the R25 trainees; (4) increasing trainee independence through establishment of an R25-to-K Transition Team, and (5) continuous improvement with outside feedback from an External Advisory Committee. This adaptive R25 educational structure will identify, equip, and encourage a diverse group of NSci Residents immersed in direct investigative study, increasing retention and reducing time to a mentored or independent research award. Our active, engaged commitment to increasing the diversity of NSci residents well prepared for independent research careers, directly benefits the trainees, patients, and scientific communities we serve.