Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy
OVERVIEW: This funder awards grants to early career and advanced researchers studying epilepsy treatments and cures.
IP TAKE: CURE prioritizes epilepsy research that is focused on treatments for patients who are pharmacoresistant, treatment of severe pediatric epilepsies, or cases that result in sudden death. It runs three grant programs annually and accepts letters of inquiry for each program. Grants range from $100,000 to $250,000 and generally support independent researchers at universities and institutes in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
PROFILE: Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE) was established in 1998 by Susan Axelrod and other parents of children with epilepsy out of frustration with their inability to protect their children from this disease. Its mission is to “identify and fund cutting-edge research, challenging scientists worldwide to collaborate and innovate in pursuit of a cure for epilepsy.” This funder supports projects globally, funding over 180 projects in 13 countries in its first 17 years. It offers three types of Grant Opportunities.
CURE’s most prominent grant is the CURE Epilepsy Award. This grant supports “highly innovative, risky, paradigm-shifting projects that address CURE’s mission to cure epilepsy.” It prioritizes research into “1) Basic mechanisms of epilepsy; 2) Acquired epilepsies; 3) Pediatric epilepsies; 4) SUDEP; 5) Treatment-resistant epilepsies; and 6) Sleep & epilepsy.” This grant provides up to $250,000 and is “available to both established and early career investigators.”
CURE’s Taking Flight Award offers up to $100,000 “to promote the careers of young epilepsy investigators, enabling them to develop a research focus independent of their mentor(s).” Applicants must be either “a senior postdoctoral fellow who has a minimum of 3 years postdoctoral experience,” “a clinical fellow who is a Neurology Resident in his/her Neurology training and considering Epilepsy Fellowships,” or “newly appointed faculty within one year of having completed postdoctoral training.”
Finally, CURE’s Catalyst Award provides $250,00 for up to two years for “nimble development of data necessary to advance ideas toward larger commercialization funding opportunities.” This opportunity is geared toward “independent researchers at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) at universities and non-academic research institutions.”
CURE makes between $3 and $5 million in grants a year. Its grants are generally awarded in amounts set by its three grantmaking programs. Grantees tend to be independent researchers and leading research universities and institutes in the U.S., Canada and Europe. For additional information about past grantmaking see the organization’s grants awarded page or its past tax filings.
Grantseekers working in CURE’s specific areas of interest are invited to submit brief letters of inquiry. Letters for the CURE Epilepsy and Taking Flight programs are due at the end of November, and letters for the Catalyst program are due in June. Grantseekers are advised to check the organizations grants page periodically for changes and updates to application guidelines and requirements. General inquiries may be submitted via the organization’s contact page.
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