Save the date! NREF will host four hands-on courses again in 2026. Interested in attending? Talk with your program director about a nomination. The nomination window will open soon.
Click here to learn more about our hands-on courses: https://ow.ly/tB2r50XYeNo
Family is important — and within the AANS, our family extends beyond biology. It includes the mentors who guide us, the colleagues that collaborate with us, the trainees we invest in and the partners who support our mission to advance neurosurgery. That’s the true value of the AANS family.
Membership renewal is now open. Pay your dues via the link in bio and stay connected to the community that drives education, advocacy and the future of neurosurgical care.
The nomination window for the 2026 NREF Spinal Deformity Course is now open!
Connect with your program director or coordinator to be nominated, or contact [email protected] for more information.
The nomination window for the NREF MISS and Emerging Technologies Course closes this Friday, April 10.
These courses are nomination-only, and a program director (or coordinator) must submit your nomination. If you're interested in attending this year’s MISS course, be sure to connect with your program director this week.
The nomination window for the 2026 Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) and Emerging Technologies Course is now open!
Connect with your program director or coordinator to be nominated, or contact [email protected] for more information.
Congratulations to the Long Island Ducks, winners of the 3rd Annual Van Wagenen Hockey Tournament! The event raised $40,000 to support the Van Wagenen Fellowship Fund.
The 3rd Annual Van Wagenen Hockey Tournament was a huge success!
With around 40 players and tough competition, the tournament was a nail biter! The Long Island Ducks managed to come through with the win, taking down the Peterborough Patriots in the final. Congrats to all the participants for an awesome effort on the ice and thank you to those who generously supported the fundraiser!
Special thanks to the partners of the tournament - Kaneka, @medtronic , @mitakausa , @mizuho_america , @peterlazicus and Scientia Vascular.
There is still time to contribute to the fundraiser. Use the link in our bio to make a donation.
The William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship is one of the most distinguished awards in neurosurgery, providing recipients with a unique opportunity to gain global research experience, collaborate with leading neurosurgeons worldwide, and contribute to advancements in the field.
A huge thank you to @dr.andrew.grande for hosting and leading the planning efforts, @scottstreble for capturing the action with fantastic photos and @brendanpugliese.art for designing the tournament’s standout logo!
It’s almost game time — register now for the 3rd Annual Van Wagenen Hockey Tournament!
Players hit the ice Jan. 25, 2026, at 3M Mariucci Arena. All net proceeds benefit the Van Wagenen Fellowship. Sign up and skate for a cause! 🏒
Register Now: https://ow.ly/H6by50XC2oE
Meet Rebecca Du, M.D! Dr. Du is a recipient of the 2025-26 NREF & AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves Sanford J. Larson Research Fellowship Grant and is a resident at @neurosurgerynm . Her NREF-funded fellowship project, TIM3 as a Therapeutic Target for Chordomas, is underway.
We asked Dr. Du a few questions about her fellowship and experience with NREF. Here is what we learned!
Tell us about your research project and how it will impact neuroscience/neurosurgery:
My research project investigates TIM-3 as an immunotherapeutic target for chordomas, which are rare primary notochordal remnant tumors that occur in the spine and skull base. Currently, no effective pharmacotherapies for chordomas exist, and the discovery of one could revolutionize oncologic care for these patients. The effect would be two-fold: first, as salvage therapy in the setting of recurrence and second, as neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy in combination with surgery +/- radiation.
How does the NREF grant impact your project:
With the NREF grant, I will have the necessary support to conduct rigorous experiments testing the therapeutic potential of an anti-TIM-3 antibody. These results would provide the preclinical data required for a clinical trial. An effective medical therapy for chordomas is desparately needed, and the NREF grant allows us to do the research necessary to potentially provide this for our patients going forward.
No plans for January 25th? Join Dr. David Altschul at the 3rd Annual Van Wagenen Hockey Tournament at the University of Minnesota's hockey arena! Register to attend: https://ow.ly/RRtV50XrHAW
Registration is now open for the 3rd Annual Van Wagenen Hockey Tournament! : https://ow.ly/ro1l50XrNjN
The tournament is back for its third year running at 3M Mariucci Arena Sunday, January 25, 2026!
Open to medical students, residents and faculty who play hockey, this is your chance to showcase your skills and enjoy some friendly competition.
All net proceeds benefit the William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship: https://ow.ly/QpM150XrHu7
Time to trade scrubs for skates! We will see you on the ice.
Meet Andrew Schindler! Andrew is a recipient of the 2025 NREF Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship, and a medical student at @tamumedicine . His NREF-funded fellowship project, Augmenting Spinal Surgical Navigation by Leveraging RFID Technologies, is complete.
We asked Andrew a few questions about his fellowship and experience with NREF. Here is what we learned!
Tell me about your research project and how it will impact neuroscience/neurosurgery:
"My research project aims to develop an ulterior technology for spinal surgical navigation to overcome the limitations experienced by traditional line of sight navigation systems. In practice, this technology will help to eliminate reliance on line of sight technologies and improve OR workflow efficiency for navigated spinal procedures."
How does the NREF grant impact your project:
"The NREF MSSRF grant allows me to take the next step for the project and develop a higher fidelity prototype to further validate my concept. The resources and support provided through the NREF grant allow this project to move forward in the right direction."
