Multiple Sclerosis Fellowship


Program Overview

The multiple sclerosis fellowship is tailored to the applicant’s interests. Potential fellowships are:

  1. One-year clinically oriented fellowship;

  2. Two-year clinical care/clinical trial fellowship; and

  3. Two-years of laboratory research on the immunology, molecular biology, and genetics of MS, or on novel immune-based therapeutic agents and gene knockout models in EAE and brain myelination.

Educational Goals & Objectives

To become an expert in diagnosis and treatment of MS and to have profound insight into the cause and mechanisms of the disease.


Supervisory Guidelines

Fellows are supervised by faculty with extensive clinical, clinical trial, and basic research expertise in MS. MS patients and clinical trials MS patients are seen in a busy clinic five days per week.

Approximately 10 clinical trials are ongoing to investigate the benefit and mechanisms of experimental new drugs for the treatment of MS and its symptoms.

An internationally-known group of translational and basic science faculty researchers are investigating the immunology and electrophysiology of MS, novel therapeutic compounds, myelin formation and its genetic and neurotrophic control, and brain protein and virus-induced EAE.


Curriculum

Multiple sclerosis has been a central focus in the Department of Neurology at The University of Chicago Medical Center for over 25 years. The clinic is busy with over 3,000 patient visits per year. Most patients come from the Chicago metropolitan region, which has a population of 8 million. A significant number of Neurologist-referrals and self-referrals from the Midwest, continental U.S., and from many foreign countries add to the total patient population. Fellows see these patients and have numerous contacts with local and regional neurologists who refer difficult cases to the MS clinic.

The clinical training program consists of mentored clinical care of 2,000 new and follow-up MS patients, under the supervision of five neurologists specializing in MS, plus the opportunity to see patients with specialists in inflammatory peripheral nerve disease and neurodegenerative disease. Fellows also have the opportunity to spend dedicated time in NeuroRadiology, and NeuroOphthalmology, Neurophsyiology, and Physiatry (lectures and graduate-level courses are discussed below).

The MS clinic has been the site of approximately 40 clinical MS trials. We contributed significantly to the design and execution of the first large multicenter trials of Cyclosporin A and interferon-ß-1b. We are currently involved in our own and multicenter Phase I, II, III, and IV MS trials of interferons, glatiramer, natalizumab, rituximab, PPAR-y agonists, MBP tolerization, and FTY720, plus symptomatic therapies such as Fampridine and novel uses of FDA-approved drugs. In internally designed and executed studies on the course of MS or on MS symptoms, we have demonstrated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic nervous system abnormalities, and defined the role of retinoids, ß-adrenergic agonists, and prostaglandin analogues. For instance, the prostaglandin analogue, misoprostol, reduced severity of EAE and also abrogated the pain of trigeminal neuralgia in MS patients who had been refractory to all other drug and surgical interventions.

The Clinical Research Training Program at The University of Chicago Medical Center began in 1999, and strengthens the MS fellowship. The Essentials of Patient-Oriented Research is a series of integrated weekly lectures exploring specific topics of patient-oriented research held during the academic year. Lectures focus on methods for planning, funding, conducting, and reporting clinical research. They include "Ethics of Clinical Research and Human Subject Protection," "General Biostatistical Methods," "Evidence-Based Medicine" (clinical epidemiology), and "Design and Analysis of Clinical Investigations." Fellows will enroll in this program. Clinical fellows are intimately involved in design and data analysis of investigator-initiated trials, as well as design, contracts, performance, and examinations in pharmaceutical-sponsored trials. Training information can also be found by visiting the General Clinical Research Center (CRC).

The Department of Neurology also has a series of clinical and basic lectures for residents, fellows, and faculty. Fellows will attend relevant lectures and will present one to two lectures per year. In addition, The University of Chicago Medical Center also has a rich series of lectures in immunology, molecular biology, ethics, genetics, medicine, neurobiology, and neurology.

Fellows are expected to give lectures to residents, present abstracts on their work at national and international meetings, and to write original and review papers during the fellowship.


Eligibility Criteia

  • Fellows must have satisfactorily completed a Neurology residency and have excellent evaluations from their programs.
  • Clinical fellows must be eligible to see patients in the State of Illinois.
  • Research Fellows should preferably have relevant lab experience and applicable knowledge.
Application for fellowship funds, and design of the individual fellowship program, should begin at least a year in advance of the July 1 start date.


How to Apply

Click here to Download an Application.

Residents are selected for the MSfellowship from eligible applicants based upon their preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills, and personal qualities.

No discrimination is made based upon sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

All applicants are sent an aplication form to complete. Necessary information to be provided include education, training, and certifications to determine eligibility. Three letters of reference are also required.

Completed applications are reviewed by the program director. Approximately 20% to 40% of the eligible applicants are invited for personal interviews.

Invited appicants are interviewed by the program director and as many MS faculty as possible. Interviewers rate each applicant independently.

A MS faculty meeting is held after interviews are completed at which time applicant ratings are reviewed. Decisions regarding appointments to the fellowship are then made by concensus.