Epilepsy Foundation
OVERVIEW: This is the largest non-governmental funder of epilepsy research. It supports a broad range of research aimed at finding treatments and cures for epilepsy, as well as fellowships and consortia on seizure disorders.
IP TAKE: The Epilepsy Foundation supports research that aims to develop new treatments and cures for epilepsy and its related disorders. It also funds fellowships for early-career researchers engaged in innovative work in the field. Grantseekers should read the various program pages carefully and consider which of the foundation’s several programs best suits their needs. Eligibility, guidelines and due dates vary by program. The foundation makes over $1 million a year in grants, with an average grant size of about $25,000.
PROFILE: Since The Epilepsy Foundation’s mission is “to lead the fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy and to accelerate therapies to stop seizures, find cures, and save lives.” Its Research Grants are divided into three categories: Innovation , Engagement and Next Generation of Scientists.
TEF’s Innovation Programs “test new ideas and follow new research leads.” The Epilepsy Innovation Institute “fosters new approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy” and “explores bold new ideas and combines novel expertise and technologies from other fields of science.” The Epilepsy Therapy Project “works to bring therapies to people faster” by supporting projects in the later stages of development. Targeted Research Programs are currently prioritizing “sudden unexplained death in epilepsy” and “understanding medical marijuana.”
TEF’s Engagement Programs are aimed at “creating open channels of communication between people living with epilepsy, their families, advocates, researchers, healthcare professionals, industry, and investors.” The Rare Epilepsy Network works to “investigate causes and consequences for rare epilepsies in order to improve diagnosis and treatment of these disorders. The foundation’s Research Roundtable for Epilepsy is an “annual research roundtable which brings regulators from United States and Europe with academic neurologists, non-profits, and over 20 companies to discuss regulatory issues on upcoming drug development.”
TEF’s Next Generation of Scientists includes four different early-career awards for “researchers who have recently started their own independent labs to study epilepsy.” Clinical Research and Training Fellowships support “clinical fellows or recently appointed clinical faculty who intend to pursue basic, translational, or clinical epilepsy research.” The foundation’s Clinical Research Apprenticeship invests in “clinical fellows who are actively involved in large clinical studies to attend meetings, take additional classes, and do independent scholarship that result in publications.” The Susan S. Spencer Clinical Research Training Fellowship in Epilepsy Award recognizes researchers who “foster the development of investigators interested in pursuing careers in patient-oriented research.”
This funder gives away over $1 million a year through its grant and fellowship programs. While its fellowships are awarded in set amounts, the foundation’s grants have ranged from $5,000 to $500,000, with an average grant size of about $25,000. For additional information about the foundation’s past giving, review its recent tax filings.
The Epilepsy Foundation offers two funding cycles per year, but not every program is available at all times. Grantseekers should review the TEF’s Upcoming Grants page to see if their projects fit the foundation’s current priorities. Funding inquiries may be submitted to the foundation’s staff via email or telephone at 301-459-3700.
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