We are pleased to announce the call for applications for the 2025 cohort of the NINDS Clinical Trials Methodology Course (CTMC). Now in its 13th year, the overall goal of the CTMC is to train early career investigators to develop scientifically rigorous, feasible, and ethically designed clinical trials. CTMC participants will learn best practices in clinical trial design from experienced neurological clinical trialists and biostatisticians. By the end of the course, participants will have a refined protocol synopsis, as well as a working version of the full trial protocol and the beginning steps of a grant.
The CTMC seeks applications from investigators who are from diverse backgrounds, from across various institutions, or performing research in diverse neurological disease populations, including pediatric patients, underrepresented groups, and rare diseases.
The 2025 CTMC will include 2 tracks:
- Foundation track: The foundation track is for investigators who have not previously designed their own prospective, interventional clinical trial. Most applications received by the CTMC will fit into the foundation track. Projects in this track will typically be single-center and early phase. The course is best suited for clinical trials that deliver one or more interventions (may include placebo or other control) in prospective manner to human participants with a neurological condition to evaluate the outcome of the interventions.
- Advanced track: The advanced track is for investigators who are proposing a large, multi-center phase 2/3 trial. Investigators in the advanced track will typically have prior clinical trials experience as a site PI or co-investigator, although for some rare or pediatric diseases, a multi-center trial may be required for the initial trial. Projects in the advanced track should be suited for one of the NINDS research networks (SIREN, StrokeNet, NeuroNEXT).
Course Information:
The CTMC includes a combination of virtual and in-person activities. Virtual webinars and small group mentorship meetings will take place weekly between March – July 2025. The in-person, residential part of the course will be held June 23 – 26 in Charlottesville, VA. Attendance at the residential course is required; funding for travel (within the US) and accommodations will be provided for participants. Learn more about the course schedule and time requirements on our website.
We will host an informational webinar on December 19, 2024, at 1:00pm Eastern Time to provide more guidance and answer questions about the course and application process. Register to attend the webinar here; a recording will be added to our website after the session.
For those who are unable to participate in the 2025 course, the course webinars are open sessions that anyone can attend; more information will be posted on the website in spring 2025.
Application & Deadline:
The application deadline for 2025 is January 21 at 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time.
Questions?
Please refer to the FAQ on our website. You are welcome to contact us at ninds.ctmc@virginia.edu or Mark Quigg, MD with any additional questions.
Thank you,