American Epilepsy Society/Milken Family Foundation Research Awards To Be Presented In Seattle 12/5/2002
From: Stephanie Germeraad of the Milken Family Foundation, 310-998-2878 SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec. 5 -- Two distinguished neuroscientists will be presented with prestigious American Epilepsy Society / Milken Family Foundation Epilepsy Research Awards on Monday, December 9, 2002 at a luncheon ceremony held at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers (12 p.m., 1400 Sixth & Pike Streets, Seattle). This year's honorees are: -- F. Edward Dudek, Ph.D., professor, Colorado State University Department of Biomedical Sciences; and -- Christopher A. Walsh, M.D., Ph. D., Chief, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Division of Neurogenetics, Harvard Institutes of Medicine. Each recipient will receive a $50,000 grant, which recognizes achievement in clinical basic research that advances the understanding, treatment or prevention of epilepsy. The 2002-2003 AES/MFF Awards program also includes the presentation of eight research fellowships, totaling an additional $320,000. These fellowships are awarded to early-career physicians or Ph.D. neuroscientists for postdoctoral research at institutions with ongoing epilepsy research programs. Occurring more frequently in children than adults, epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder of the youth population. An estimated one percent of children have epilepsy and four percent have related febrile seizures. In 1989, the Milken Family Foundation, in conjunction with the American Epilepsy Society, established this annual award, grant and fellowship program. Since then, the program's recognition and funding have become significant for the epilepsy community, not only as a means to celebrate the achievements of outstanding scientists and clinicians, but also as a way to foster and guide research activities in seizure disorders. "Our greatest weapon against this disease is knowledge, and we must do all we can to support and reward those who supply us with that knowledge," said Lowell Milken, chairman and co-founder of the Milken Family Foundation. "By investing in these talented people at a pivotal juncture in their careers, we allow them to maintain the focus of their research activities, so that one day we may eradicate all seizure disorders." Further information about the AES/MFF Epilepsy Research Award, Grant and Fellowship Program can be found at http://www.mff.org. To arrange interviews with any of this year's outstanding recipients, please contact the Milken Family Foundation at 310-998-2878. |