The challenge
Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder diagnosed when a person has two or more unprovoked seizures. It affects more people than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, and ALS combined. Yet, despite its prevalence, epilepsy receives less federal funding per person compared to these other brain disorders, which leads to critical gaps in research. Epilepsy is heterogeneous; it presents differently in each person affected and varies in severity. There is an urgent need to unravel the complexity of epilepsy, accelerate research and fill funding gaps, and develop therapies so that all those with epilepsy are able to achieve seizure freedom until we find cures.
Learn more about epilepsyOur Driving Principles
Since 1998, CURE Epilepsy has invested in foundational research to understand the biology of epilepsy. By understanding what is causing seizures, we can target treatments and cures to stop them. Over the coming years, the focus of our investments will be in foundational research, unmet needs, and early career investigators. We will continue to fund the innovative ideas of today that will lead to the cures of tomorrow.
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Leadership
We will lead by shaping conversations around epilepsy research and influencing how federal funding can support epilepsy.
Innovation
We will accelerate breakthroughs in epilepsy by investing in the most promising lines of research on the horizon.
Collaboration
We will elevate team science and push for partnerships across the biomedical research space to multiply research efforts.
In the time that I was a CURE Epilepsy Taking Flight awardee, I generated a lot of preliminary data and results and cellular models that really laid the foundation for future NIH-type grants.
Assistant Professor of Neurology, Northwestern University
Why We Exist
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