Research Program

Research opportunities for residents within the division of pediatric neurology are diverse, and tailored to fit each resident's particular interest. Residents can work with faculty within the pediatric and neurology departments, and may pick projects in both basic science and clinical research arenas. Residents interested in pursuing an advanced degree may participate in the UCLA Specialty Training and Advanced Research (STAR) Program. Career tracks include Basic Science, Health Services/Outcomes Research, and Clinical Research.

Basic science

Because the hospital is housed within the university campus, residents have access not only to faculty within the department of pediatrics, but also to faculty in basic science departments such as Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Human Genetics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Cellular and Molecular Pathology. There are several basic science labs associated with the division of pediatric neurology focusing on a variety of research topics, including epileptogenesis in the developing brain, neural stem cell and brain tumor initiating cells, neuroplasticity and traumatic injury in the developing brain.

Clinical research

There are a wide range of clinical research opportunities in both the departments of pediatrics and neurology. Clinical research activities in subspecialty areas include neurobehavior, epilepsy, movement disorders, neurogenetics, neuromuscular, headaches, and strokes. Specific topics include: the use of the Ketogenic diet in traumatic brain injury, quality of life outcomes in diet therapy, pharmaceutical trials, neurocritical care, corticosteroid use in infantile spasms and many others.