Neuroscience Education Programs

Support education and training for future neuroscience specialists worldwide.

Donate to Neuroscience Education and Training Programs

Education has always been a cornerstone of Barrow Neurological Institute’s mission. With support from philanthropy, its renowned physicians and scientists provide education and training across all levels—from high school and undergraduate students to PhD candidates, residents, fellows, and international observers at partner sites around the world.

Help Inspire Future Neuroscience Leaders

High School & Undergraduate Internships

Made possible through the generosity of our donors, the High School and Undergraduate Summer Internship Programs provide students with an immersive experience that deepens their understanding of the neuroscience field. Barrow interns have the unique opportunity to conduct hands-on research under the mentorship of our renowned physicians and scientists.

With your support, these programs have grown to include a diverse range of departments for interns to experience, including:

Ivy Brain Tumor Center
Neuroimaging Center
Thurston Innovation Center
Neuroscience Publications
Spinal Biomechanics Laboratory
Virtual Reality Spine Laboratory
Neuro-Rehabilitation Center
Neuroscience Nursing
Neurology Clinics
Translational Research Laboratories

How Your Support Makes an Impact

Tuesday Seminars: Weekly discussions featuring one clinician and one scientists, allowing interns to see the critical role research plays in clinical care
Neuroscience Technology Boot Camps: Weekly seminars that introduce interns to next-generation technologies in neuroscience research
Career Day Panel: Presentation and Q&A session with Barrow faculty, medical students, and graduate students
Capstone Symposiums: Interns present their research to Barrow faculty and peers

Donor funding is integral to sustaining and expanding these programs, which spark curiosity, build foundational skills, and inspire the next generation of leaders in neuroscience.

My project was very in-depth, and we looked at it from multiple angles and complexities. At the same time, I learned a lot about the overall field, which made it clear that I want to keep doing this.

Ria Moharil, ALS Network Scholar

Mentor: David Medina, PhD

I don’t think I would have been able to learn the amount of lab techniques that I did at Barrow anywhere else. Not just learning those techniques, but also applying them to real research was really beneficial. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity.

Garv Sharma, American Parkinson Disease Association (ADPA) Scholar

Mentor: Rita Sattler, PhD

I got the opportunity to shadow doctors at Ivy Brain Tumor Center, which was really interesting. I want to thank the Franke family for giving me the opportunity to come here to Barrow, and for giving me the opportunity to learn from people that are renowned in their fields.

Steffi Verbeek, Franke Global Neuroscience Education Center

Mentor: Shwetal Mehta, PhD

ASU-Barrow PhD Program

Barrow partners with Arizona State University (ASU) to offer a premier doctoral training program for future neuroscience leaders. Established in 2007, the ASU-Barrow Interdisciplinary Graduate Program was the first neuroscience PhD program in Phoenix. With critical support from our donors, it has remained a cornerstone of academic and clinical excellence. The program emphasizes broad training and individualized mentorship to prepare students for independent scientific careers.

Donor support has led to these achievements:

More than a quarter of ASU neuroscience PhD students have chosen Barrow labs
Students have had their work published in respected journals and have presented at national and international conferences
Graduates have gone on to have successful careers in academia, biotech, and the pharmaceutical industry

Your Generosity, Their Career Development

Briana Ondatje, a fourth-year PhD student in the ASU-Barrow Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, was recently awarded the Ruth L. Kirchstein National Research Service Award. This is a highly competitive predoctoral fellowship from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Her thesis focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Briana is also a Fast-Track awardee from Barrow Neurological Foundation, which provides trainees with critical funds for research and career development. Achievements like Briana’s would not be possible without the support of our donors

"My hope is to continue my work in neurodegeneration by searching for therapeutic interventions that will halt disease progression and reverse it in not only ALS but other neurodegenerative diseases as well."

Briana Ondatje, PhD

Fellowship Programs

With the prevalence of neurological disorders increasing worldwide, it is imperative to train future neuroscience specialists who are willing to take on the challenge of studying these complex disorders, developing new treatments, and providing care to a rapidly aging population.

Barrow Neurological Foundation donors provide crucial funding for fellowship programs throughout Barrow, enabling physicians from around the world to receive specialized training directly from our experts.

Philanthropy funded fellowships include:

Dan Cracchiolo and Pam Grant Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry Fellowship (Alzheimer’s and dementia)
Sy Syms Fellowship for Movement Disorders (Parkinson’s disease)
Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship
Headache Medicine Fellowship
Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Fellowship
ALS and Neuromuscular Disease Fellowship
Traumatic Brain Injury & Sports Neurology Fellowship
Woodlyn T. Kendrick Fellowship Endowment (Stroke)

Barrow Global Neurology

Through a bidirectional partnership with the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, the Barrow Department of Neurology has established a program to cross-train neurologists from South Africa and the United States. Brad A. Racette, MD, FAAN, Kemper and Ethel Marley Professor and Chair of Neurology at Barrow, is leading this initiative.

The bilateral exchange program allows Barrow neurology residents to gain a deeper understanding of global neurologic care. At the same time, Barrow neurology experts will provide training to international fellows from the University of the Witwatersrand. The initial emphasis for this program is on epilepsy, stroke, and neuro-critical care.

Discover More Programs

At Barrow Neurological Foundation, your donation is crucial in supporting three key areas: advanced patient care, curative research, and education for the next generation of neuroscientists. Learn more about how your donation impacts each of the areas we treat.