Combined United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS) Clinical and Research Fellowship

Combined Program of the The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health Neuro-Oncology Branch

The combined Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) Neuro-Oncology Branch fellowship is specifically designed to train the next generation of physician scientists and leaders in the field of neuro-oncology.

Both the neuro-oncology training program at JHU and the NIH have decades of experience in training clinicians and researchers that have made a significant impact in the field of neuro-oncology. In 2015, JHU and NIH merged their training programs to create the combined program to leverage both the unique and shared strengths of each program.

The goal of the combined fellowship program is to prepare physicians for successful clinical and research careers in neuro-oncology. The fellowship involves one year of clinical training following all UCNS requirements followed by one to two years of dedicated time for training in neuro-oncology clinical, translational, or laboratory-based basic research. The clinical program is thoughtfully developed to meet all of the requirements to qualify for the neuro-oncology board examination (UCNS) while also allowing fellows to concentrate efforts in areas of particularly interest to them. Each trainee is immersed within multidisciplinary teams at Johns Hopkins University and at the NIH with formal rotations with neurosurgeons, medical and pediatric oncologists, neurologists, radiation oncologists, and neuropathologists.

The program emphasizes customization of the training for each fellow. This includes creation of an individualized dedicated mentoring committee with a primary faculty mentor that has the goal of optimizing each fellow’s education, clinical and research growth and to ensure that each fellow can utilize the up to three years of full funding to prepare for a successful career as an academic neuro-oncologist. Trainees have the opportunity to develop and implement clinical trials for adult brain and spine tumor patients, and will gain valuable experience in data analysis, manuscript and grant preparation. Both collaborating institutions offer a plethora of world class laboratories and outstanding clinical and outcomes research opportunities for the fellows to engage in.

The majority of the fellows in this program take advantage of our fully funded three-year fellowship (one year dedicated to clinical training and two years dedicated to research training). The support provided for exceptional research and clinical training puts graduating fellows in an optimal position for their first appointment as a clinician scientist in neuro-oncology.

Dr. Matthias Holdhoff of Johns Hopkins University, together with Dr. Mark Gilbert of the NIH Neuro-Oncology Branch are the co-directors of this combined clinical and research fellowship program. They are joined by Drs. Jaishri Blakeley, John Laterra and Stuart Grossman at Johns Hopkins and Dr. Terri Armstrong form the NIH Neuro-Oncology Branch in overseeing the training of our fellows.

Applications Are Being Accepted for Year 2025

The JHU/NCI combined UCNS clinical and research fellowship is participating in the SF Match.  Learn more

For application to our combined program please also fill out Neuro-Oncology Fellowship Applicant Registration Form.

Application deadline is February 29, 2024.  Interviews for invited applicants will be held March-May 2023.

For more information, please contact  Mark Gilbert, M.D., Matthias Holdhoff, M.D., Ph.D., Lilian Yang or Brittni Griffin or by phone 410-955-8837.