Research Activities

As the program is located in one of the world’s largest medical centers, the fellow will have access to numerous research supervisors who are leaders in their areas of investigation. While the opportunities for engaging in research can span the entire medical center, the fellow will be guided to choose research supervisors and projects in line with their fellowship goals during their orientation period with the aid of training directors.

Internal research mentorship may be provided by faculty at the TIRR Brain Injury Research Center on ongoing projects that are funded through numerous National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research grants. TIRR Memorial Hermann is designated as a Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems site and brings together world-renowned investigators to study the complicated facets of recovery from brain injury and spinal cord injury. Several of the inpatient neuropsychology providers within TIRR MH also oversee clinical research projects that offer additional opportunities to the interested fellow.

Fellows interested in advanced scholarly activity can also take advantage of an existing vast database of TBI patients and available biostatistician support. Funding for research support can be granted on a competitive basis through the TIRR Innovation Grants program held once a year, with applications typically due in early October. See additional information on current BIRC projects and recent publications.

Fellows are expected to devote approximately 10-20 percent of their time to research and didactics, and are typically provided research time of a half day per week. By the end of the program, fellows should be able to demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of strategies of scholarly inquiry. Fellows are expected to begin research activities their first year. The minimum requirement is active participation in one study over the course of two years with a first-author submission to a professional meeting or for publication, though many of our trainees have easily exceeded this requirement. Development of a grant proposal and submitting it for funding would also meet the research requirement, but may be ambitious, given the clinical load of the program.