The Brown Dementia Research Fellowship (Brown DRF)is designed to develop independent investigators in clinical dementia research. It builds on previous accomplishments of the Brown Brain Sciences Program to integrate basic and clinical researchers in dementia from multiple departments and research centers at Brown. Participating faculty represent the key disciplines involved in basic and clinical neuroscience research related to dementia. The DRF will build upon the resources of existing fellowship training programs at Brown, through shared administration and trainee participation in joint seminars in research methodology and ethics. ? ? The Brown faculty listed in this proposal has a strong track record for training post-doctoral fellows for academic careers in dementia research. Brown's four dementia clinics at affiliated hospitals evaluate over 1000 new patients per year and share a common database for recruitment of research subjects. Faculty collaborates on numerous studies, clinical trials and grants. These dementia clinics will serve as sites for research training and as sources of participants for research grant proposals. ? ? The program will provide MD and PhD fellows with background knowledge in the basic and applied aspect of dementia research; expertise in research methodology and ethical conduct of research; and research experience through participation in ongoing grant-funded research and their own independent studies. Fellows will be mentored in the production of their own grant proposals via close collaboration with both clinical and basic science mentors. Their proposals will be reviewed in a grant writing seminar and intramural review process. On completion of the fellowship, trainees will be fully prepared to advance to a faculty position at a university or medical school. They will have acquired the skills necessary to compete for external funding and begin an independently funded research career in dementia and related disorders. ? ?
