Each trainee has contributed significantly to the field through their research projects, focusing on various aspects of movement disorders. If you would like to learn more about their research or connect with them, please contact us.
About the T32 Training Program
The T32 Movement Disorders Training Program is designed to cultivate the next generation of investigators in basic, translational, and clinical research related to movement disorders. These disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, and ataxia, profoundly impact an individual’s ability to move, think, and process emotions. Addressing these complex conditions requires an interdisciplinary approach that bridges genetics, molecular biology, neuroscience, physiology, and cognitive science.
To meet this challenge, our T32 program brings together leading mentors and top-tier predoctoral trainees to foster innovative research aimed at improving movement and quality of life. Each year, six outstanding predoctoral students from diverse backgrounds are selected to participate in this specialized training program, receiving up to two years of support.
Comprehensive Training & Mentorship
In addition to meeting their home doctoral program requirements, T32 trainees engage in a robust training experience that includes:
- Monthly T32 meetings covering experimental design, research rigor, career development, and trainee presentations.
- Quarterly rigor and reproducibility seminars and annual workshops.
- An annual chalk-talk symposium, where trainees present alongside clinical movement disorders fellows.
- A required movement disorders course, incorporating a collaborative research project.
- Additional coursework in rigor and reproducibility, statistics, grant writing, and research ethics.
- A clinical shadowing experience, providing firsthand insight into movement disorders and their impact on patients.
Each trainee’s doctoral committee includes a biostatistician and faculty mentors representing at least two of the three core themes of the program. To ensure research rigor, a biostatistician is actively involved across all training activities.
Career Development & Research Excellence
T32 trainees benefit from structured career development opportunities, including:
- Individual career development plans tailored to long-term research goals.
- Presentation opportunities at scientific conferences, including the NINDS workshop.
- Networking and professional development to support career advancement in academia, industry, or clinical research.
A World-Class Research Environment
The T32 Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration Training Program capitalizes on the clinical and research strengths of the Fixel Institute and the Center for Movement Disorders, alongside eight designated Centers of Excellence, including:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Lewy body dementia
- Progressive supranuclear palsy
- Multiple system atrophy
- Ataxia
- Tourette syndrome
- Dystonia
- Huntington’s disease
Additionally, trainees have access to cutting-edge animal research facilities, advanced neuroimaging resources, and a highly collaborative interdisciplinary environment.
Through this program, trainees gain essential skills in research design, communication, and mentorship, building a strong foundation for future advancements in movement disorder research. By integrating scientific discovery with clinical impact, the T32 program ensures that its trainees are well-equipped to lead the next generation of research in the etiology and treatment of movement disorders.