Taking Flight Award
Mark Bennett, PhD / The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Australia
Dr. Bennett will investigate the contribution of repeat expansions to the genetics of epilepsy.
CURE Epilepsy Award
Christina Gross, PhD / Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
Dr. Crone will use mouse models to test if alterations in a specific genetic pathway in cells, called the PI3K/mTOR pathway, lead to breathing abnormalities and SUDEP.
Taking Flight Award
Ankit Khambhati, PhD / University of California, San Francisco
Dr. Khambhati and his research team aim to optimize strategies for faster and more effective stimulation-based control of seizures.
Taking Flight Award
Edilberto Amorim de Cerqueira, MD / University of California, San Francisco
Dr. Amorim’s research is using non-invasive brain monitoring with electroencephalography (EEG) to predict, prevent, and treat seizures in critically ill patients.
Taking Flight Award
Cristina Reschke, PhD / Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Dr. Reschke will study how disruption of circadian rhythms could affect gene expression during epileptogenesis.
Taking Flight Award
Chris McGraw MD, PhD / Massachusetts General Hospital
Dr. McGraw is developing a system in a zebra fish model that integrates the latest advances in genetic engineering (Crispr/Cas9) and non-invasive monitoring of neural activity (genetically encoded calcium sensors) to enable a rapid screen for genes that enhance seizure resistance.
The Catalyst Award
Detlev Boison, PhD / Rutgers University
Our goal in this project is to optimize and test a new epilepsy preventing drug, which meets criteria for future clinical development.
AES/CURE Training Fellowship for Clinicians
James Gugger, MD, PharmD / University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Gugger will use a special type of brain scan called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate if changes in the brain’s wiring, amount of water in the brain or brain inflammation are associated with the development of epilepsy following a brain injury.
CURE Epilepsy Award
Christopher Reid, PhD / Florey Institute, Australia
Associate Professor Chris Reid and his team will develop new rodent models which replicate having both epilepsy and a genetic heart abnormality, and compare these for incidence of SUDEP against existing models.
