Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology

About

Program Description and Mission

Our program is a premier non-ACGME comprehensive post-graduate training program for neurologists who aspire to become expertly trained specialists in MS and Neuroimmunology. Our clinician fellowship track is coordinated through SF Match and is a 1+year intensive training program focused on training master clinicians and future clinical leaders in the field. Our program also offers clinician scientist fellowship pathways (typically 2-3 years) that are NOT currently part of the SF Match process, and applications for the clinician scientist pathway need to be submitted directly to the program via email to the Director of the Fellowship Program, Dr. Joanne Guo, MD ([email protected]).

Details

Clinical Fellowship Track (1 year):
The clinician fellowship track provides training in multiple sclerosis and a broad range of other inflammatory neurological disorders including optic neuritis, myelitis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, MOG-antibody associated demyelinating disease, neurosarcoidosis, vasculitis, encephalitis (autoimmune and infectious), meningitis, autoimmune ataxia, paraneoplastic conditions, disorders of glial biology (including leukodystrophies), and related degenerative and inherited conditions. Fellows will actively participate in weekly didactic sessions, MS Center Clinical Conferences, and journal clubs. Fellows also have the opportunity to participate in our clinic leadership rounds and meetings to understand and contribute to the multidisciplinary team needed to care for people living with chronic neuroimmunologic conditions. The goal of this fellowship pathway is to provide training needed to launch a clinically-oriented career as a sub-specialist in MS/Neuroimmunology. There are currently considerations to offer the option of a 1 year extension of this fellowship track and the website will be updated when further information is available.


Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Clinician Scientist Fellowship Track (Clinical, Translational, and Basic Science Research (2-3 years):
In addition to the clinical breadth of training as described above, clinician-scientist fellows work in a clinical research unit or laboratory at the state-of-the-art Sandler Neurosciences Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, or affiliated research teams, typically at our Mission Bay campus. Fellows focusing on clinical research projects will obtain hands-on training in observational and interventional clinical research related to MS, neuroimmunology and glial biology, including participation in clinical trials testing new agents, under the mentorship of expert faculty in clinical research. Fellows are encouraged to obtain formal training in epidemiology, biostatistics and research methods. Fellows participate in research-oriented journal clubs, grand rounds and retreats as part of the innovative research environment at UCSF. The goal of this fellowship pathway is to provide training needed to launch a clinically-oriented career as a sub-specialist in MS/Neuroimmunology and as a physician-scientist in MS / Neuroimmunology.

Research Opportunities

Fellows focusing on basic, translational, or computational or related science projects will obtain hands-on training in the wet or computational laboratory under the mentorship of experienced principal investigators in the research unit. There is extensive laboratory expertise at UCSF in a wide range of areas, including cellular/molecular biology, genetic epidemiology, remyelination/repair, oligodendrocyte biology, astrocyte/other glial biology, axon survival and repair, biomarker development, translational application of animal models to human disease, early phase clinical trials, computational biology, signaling, EAE/MS immunobiology, B and T cell biology, antibody discovery, developmental/stem cell biology, neuroimaging, molecular imaging, cellular therapeutics, microbiome, metagenomic sequencing and neuro-infectious diseases. The expectation is that basic research will be relevant to human disease. Mentors will guide and assist fellows in the preparation of applications for funding to continue career development or transition to independence.


Neuro-Infectious disease interest -- With faculty mentors in the UCSF Center for Encephalitis and Meningitis (https://encephalitis.ucsf.edu) within the Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, the fellowship program also offers applicants with a particular interest in neuro-infectious diseases to pursue neuro-ID focused research and clinical training, while also gaining critical clinical expertise in MS / Neuroimmunology.

Facilities / Training Sites

Clinical Building:
Weill Neurosciences Building:
1651 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94158


Research Building:
Sandler Neurosciences Center:
675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, CA 94158

How to Apply

Contact Us

Dr. Joanne Guo, Program Director

[email protected]

 

Sabrina Ho, Program Coordinator

[email protected]

 

Current Fellows

Trainee Funding Resources