Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation

Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation, Doctor, 5550 Meadowbrook Court, Rolling Meadows, IL.

NREF, the philanthropic arm of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, advances patient care by supporting neurosurgical research, education and innovation. The NREF is dedicated to providing education to neurosurgeons at all stages of their careers, as well as funding research into new and existing neurosurgical treatments, in order to identify links between best practices and improved outcomes in patient care. Through voluntary public donations, corporate support, and donations from allied groups, the NREF supports endeavors that impact the lives of those suffering from epilepsy, stroke, brain tumors, spinal disorders, sports-related head injuries, lower back pain and Parkinson’s disease.

The nomination window for the NREF MISS and Emerging Technologies Course closes this Friday, April 10.These courses are ...
04/06/2026

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!...
03/20/2026

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 info@nref.org for more information.

The NREF has invested over $30 million in the future of neurosurgery through its support of grants, fellowships, outcome...
03/19/2026

The NREF has invested over $30 million in the future of neurosurgery through its support of grants, fellowships, outcomes studies and education courses. With your support, we can accomplish even more! Make a gift to the NREF at https://ow.ly/LOXI50YvPUn

Congratulations to Dr. Collin Labak, recipient of the K***z Scholar Award at the 2026 Spine Summit, recognizing his outs...
03/18/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Collin Labak, recipient of the K***z Scholar Award at the 2026 Spine Summit, recognizing his outstanding abstract on research supported by an NREF grant. His work, “Implementation of Value-Based Spine Care Delivery at an Academic Health System: A Descriptive Analysis,” highlights how structured, multidisciplinary value-based care models can improve outcomes while reducing complications, readmissions, and unnecessary surgery.

NREF is proud to support research like Dr. Labak’s that advances innovative approaches to spine care and helps shape a more effective, patient-centered future for neurosurgery.

03/18/2026

Dr. Christopher Graffeo shares how the NREF serves as a powerful tool for supporting the next generation of neurosurgeons. 🧠

As a resource dedicated to advancing education, research and professional development, the NREF provides fellowship grants that open doors for early-career trainees to gain hands-on experience, explore cutting-edge innovations and build lasting mentorships.

Dr. Graffeo emphasizes the importance of internal support systems like the NREF in helping young neurosurgeons grow into confident, capable leaders in the field.

Learn more about our fellowship grant offerings and how you can support the future of neurosurgery at the link in our bio.

Congratulations to Laureen Hachem, MD, PhD, on the publication of her latest research in Nature Neuroscience. Supported ...
03/14/2026

Congratulations to Laureen Hachem, MD, PhD, on the publication of her latest research in Nature Neuroscience. Supported in part by funding from the Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation (NREF), this important work advances our understanding of how the spinal cord responds to injury and identifies mechanisms that may help unlock the regenerative potential of neural stem and progenitor cells. By exploring ways to enhance cellular activation and migration after spinal cord injury, Dr. Hachem and her colleagues are helping move the field closer to therapies that could improve recovery and functional outcomes for patients.

Interested in attending an NREF course this year? Sign up to be notified when the nomination window opens for each cours...
03/13/2026

Interested in attending an NREF course this year? Sign up to be notified when the nomination window opens for each course: https://ow.ly/4WTX50YtM65

These education courses are nomination only, and a program director (or coordinator) must submit your nomination. Be sure to speak with your program director about nominating you. Explore the 2026 course offerings here: https://ow.ly/MN2150YtM68

The NREF has advanced careers and the specialty of neurosurgery, but there is still so much to learn. Help us continue d...
03/12/2026

The NREF has advanced careers and the specialty of neurosurgery, but there is still so much to learn. Help us continue driving innovation, training future leaders, and funding groundbreaking research. Show your support at: https://ow.ly/C22z50YsRys

The NREF has advanced careers and the specialty of neurosurgery, but there is still so much to learn. Help us continue d...
03/12/2026

The NREF has advanced careers and the specialty of neurosurgery, but there is still so much to learn. Help us continue driving innovation, training future leaders, and funding groundbreaking research. Show your support at: https://ow.ly/2skJ50YsRss

Two NREF grant recipients, Drs. Adam Sonabend (2012–13) and Mark Youngblood (2022–23), are among the authors of a newly ...
02/12/2026

Two NREF grant recipients, Drs. Adam Sonabend (2012–13) and Mark Youngblood (2022–23), are among the authors of a newly published study highlighting a non-invasive method to predict chemotherapy response in glioblastoma.
Published in Nature Communications, the research examines how advanced imaging and molecular analysis may help physicians better determine which patients are most likely to benefit from chemotherapy. This work represents an important step toward more personalized and effective care for patients facing one of the most aggressive brain tumors.
Read the full article: https://ow.ly/myjV50YexVY
In his NREF testimonial, Dr. Youngblood discusses the findings from his fellowship research project, shares the current status of that work and explains how NREF support helped shape his goals as a neurosurgeon-scientist.
Watch Dr. Youngblood’s testimonial: https://ow.ly/lQKJ50Yexy5
Support the future of neurosurgical research: https://ow.ly/Iwx850YexEZ

02/05/2026

Save the Date! The 2026 NREF Resident & Fellow Course calendar has been announced. If you are interested in coming to an in-person course, talk to your program director about your nomination.

Congratulations to the Long Island Ducks, winners of the 3rd Annual Van Wagenen Hockey Tournament! The event raised $40,...
01/30/2026

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, , , , 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 .andrew.grande for hosting and leading the planning efforts, for capturing the action with fantastic photos and .art for designing the tournament’s standout logo!

Address

5550 Meadowbrook Court
Rolling Meadows, IL
60008

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

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