Chicago, ILL. (June 12, 2017)—Twenty-five early career scientists and clinicians have been awarded fellowships or grants to support their work in epilepsy research, the American Epilepsy Society (AES) announced today. The award recipients include predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees, junior investigators establishing their independent programs, and clinicians and fellows pursuing additional training for a career in research.
“On behalf of the AES Board of Directors and our funding partners, it is a pleasure to congratulate this impressive group of talented and committed junior researchers,” said Eileen M. Murray, executive director of the American Epilepsy Society. “Their work is an important part of our mission of advancing research and education for professionals dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of epilepsy.”
“The scientific and medical communities recognize there is a shortage of researchers focused on epilepsy,” said Eli Mizrahi, M.D., president of the American Epilepsy Society Board of Directors. “Cutbacks in research funding, particularly by government agencies, have made it extremely difficult for new investigators to secure grants needed to launch a research career and subsequently compete for larger, longer-term support from the National Institutes of Health or other sources. AES has an explicit, long-term commitment to filling the epilepsy talent pipeline, which in turn will produce new discoveries and treatments over the next generation.”
AES is one of the largest non-governmental funders for those starting their careers in epilepsy research. AES early career funding programs, which are supported by generous philanthropic donations and non-profit partners, provide grants to research fellows in training and newly independent investigators working across the full spectrum of epilepsy research, from basic science to translational and clinical research. The full list of 2017 awardees is available at aesnet.org/earlycareer.
The 2017 awards represent an expanded commitment by the American Epilepsy Society to support those starting their careers in epilepsy research Over 3 years, the program has nearly doubled in its reach from 13 awardees in 2015 and now 25 awardees in 2017. Eight awards were made possible by the generous support of funding partners, demonstrating a shared and collaborative vision to support the next generation of epilepsy researchers. Four awards are supported in full by the Epilepsy Foundation, one award is supported by the Epilepsy Study Consortium, and three awards are supported in part by either the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance or Wishes for Elliott.