·	NREF Research Fellowship
·	NREF Young Clinician Investigator Award
·	Current Research Fellowship and YCI Awardees
·	Research Fellowship and YCI Awardees Yearbook
·	New Awardee Spotlight

As a premier funder of neurosurgical studies, the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) focuses on providing fellowship funding in basic neuroscience and neurosurgical programs in North America.

The NREF strongly encourages research projects from all fields of neurosurgery. The more research that is conducted, the better chance we have to SAVE LIVES in the future.

The NREF sponsors two neurosurgical research grant programs annually:
Applications for the 2009 NREF Grant Cycle will be available online in July 2008.

• Research Fellowship– Open to residents only, the Research Fellowship is offered as a one-year research project grant of $40,000 or a two-year commitment totaling $70,000
  
  
• Young Clinician Investigator Award – Designed to support young neurosurgeons pursuing careers as clinician investigators, the Young Clinician Investigator Award is open to junior faculty for a one-year grant of $40,000.

The NREF endorses the submission of applications for both patient-orientated clinical research and basic science research. Applications from all neurosurgical areas of focused practice are encouraged. Application submission deadline for 2008 research opportunities is October 31, 2007.

These focus areas include...

Head trauma and brain injury Tumors Spine-related conditions mechanics, diseases, tumors, injury, repair techniques, etc. Cerebrovascular disease Pain management Stroke

Epilepsy Stem cell research Bio-materials Surgical techniques Degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

This section offers information on both the NREF Research Fellowship and the Young Clinician Investigator Award. Take a few minutes to review the list of current NREF grant awardees, with information about their research studies, or browse through the yearbook of past awardees to see what types of projects were funded during the earlier days of the Foundation.

The NREF through the Corporate Associates Program partners with corporations to offer a number of co-sponsored grants. Companies supporting residents and junior facility research grants include Biomet Microfixation, DePuy Spine, a Johnson & Johnson

NEW in 2007 - The American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) are offering a two-year Faculty Career Development Award to neurological surgeons. The award is to support the establishment of a new and independent research program in an area of neurological surgery, co-sponsored by the ACS and the NREF. The award is $40,000 per year for each of two years. Two-Year Faculty Career Development Award The first award was granted in 2007. The next award cycle, for 2009, will begin in summer 2008; applications will be available via web site in spring 2008.

NREF/Spine & Peripheral Nerve Section Young Clinician Investigator Award

Young Clinician Investigator Award applications are accepted in all neurosurgical areas. However, to be awarded the co-sponsored NREF/Spine and Peripheral Nerve Section Young Clinician Investigator Award the research application must be in the area of spinal cord, vertebral column or peripheral nerve disorders.

For additional information on the NREF research grant programs, contact the Development department at (847) 378-0500 or nref@aans.org.