There is currently no standard method by which physicians-in-training are introduced to clinical research careers in neurotherapeutics. As such, decisions to embark upon an industry career are based on very little first-hand exposure to the nature of the work. Traditional research training, such an MD-PhD or Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) typically do not focus on clinical study design or principles of therapeutic development. This abstract reviews: 1) published viewpoints from various stakeholders in the US and in Europe on the needs for physicians in both academic and industry clinical research careers; 2) the training paths available in the US and in Europe to achieve these concrete skills, including notable successful US programs in academia and in partnership with industry (e.g., University of Rochester Experimental Neurotherapeutics Fellowship, the NIH-FDA Fellowship in Clinical Trial Methodology and Regulatory Science, the Anne B. Young Translational Neuroscience Fellowship in partnership with Biogen); and 3) the need to survey the information gaps and curricular needs of US physicians-in-training who aspire to clinical research careers in either the academic or industry setting. We propose that there may be mutual benefit, to both academic and industry organizations, to providing greater awareness and potential expansion of post-graduate fellowships that combine a traditional academic fellowship with on-the-job experience within a biopharmaceutical company, given the high need for neurotherapeutics research-oriented clinicians in both the academic and industry setting. 

Dr. Shih consults for WCG-Medavante, Neurocrine Biosciences, and Medtronic, Inc. and receives research study funding from NIH. Dr. Haubenberger is a full-time employee of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.