Merit E. Cudkowicz MGH–Takeda Neuroscience Fellowship

Overview

The Merit E. Cudkowicz MGH–Takeda Neuroscience Fellowship is a two-year program designed for physician-scientists interested in translational neuroscience and pharmaceutical drug development. The fellowship provides an opportunity to work both within the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and within Takeda’s Neuroscience Therapeutic Area Unit in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

During the fellowship, trainees divide their time between academic clinical activities and industry-based research. Fellows spend approximately 50% of their time at Takeda working on neuroscience drug development projects and 50% at Mass General participating in clinical and/or research activities within the neurology department.

The program provides formal training in translational medicine, clinical trial design, and pharmaceutical drug development. Fellows work on projects related to emerging therapies for neurological diseases and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams involved in therapeutic discovery and development.

Requirements

Applicants should meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Physician-scientist who is or will be board-certified or board-eligible in neurology.
• Current neurology fellow or junior faculty member.
• Ability to commit 50% effort at Takeda and 50% at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Candidates are selected by a joint Takeda–Mass General search committee.

Curriculum

The fellowship provides training in translational neuroscience and therapeutic development through collaboration between academic medicine and the pharmaceutical industry.

Key components include:

• Participation in neuroscience drug development programs at Takeda
• Training in translational medicine and biomarker development
• Exposure to clinical trial design and regulatory processes
• Collaboration with multidisciplinary neuroscience research teams
• Clinical or research activities within the Mass General Department of Neurology

This dual academic-industry structure allows fellows to gain insight into how scientific discoveries are translated into clinical therapies for neurological disease.

Research Experience

Fellows participate in translational neuroscience research projects focused on developing novel therapies for neurological disorders. These projects may involve collaboration with scientists, clinicians, and regulatory experts working within Takeda’s neuroscience therapeutic programs.

Through this experience, fellows gain exposure to the full pipeline of therapeutic development, from early discovery and biomarker identification to clinical trial implementation.

Fellowship and Faculty Contacts

Andrew J. Cole, MD

Program Director, MGH