Early Career Physician Scientist Award Program

The American Epilepsy Society and the Milken Family Foundation are proud to announce a funding mechanism for physician scientists who are embarking on academic careers and wish to develop outstanding epilepsy research programs. Generously funded by the Milken Family Foundation this program seeks to encourage the development of new therapies for epilepsy by providing research training for physicians early in their academic career. The Milken Family Foundation has particular interest in research proposals related to Pregnancy and Epilepsy These awards are primarily for investigators whose research interests will potentially affect epilepsy patients in the near term. Applications from outside the US are welcomed.

The Milken Family Foundation/American Epilepsy Society New Early Career Physician-Scientist Awards are to be used only for direct costs related to research (salary of PI or staff, expendable supplies, equipment including computers, etc.) and travel related to presenting research findings. Indirect costs are excluded (office, telephone, institutional costs of grants management). Requests for carry-over of up to 20% percent of initial funding may be submitted at the end of the first year of funding. Otherwise, any funds unexpended at the end of the 12 month period must be returned.

To be eligible, applicants must:

Hold a Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree
Have completed a residency in neurology or neurosurgery
Be no more than four years out of residency or fellowship training
Hold a faculty appointment not higher than Assistant Professor
Be committed to a career in translational research in epilepsy
Be working with a highly qualified mentor at an epilepsy center
Be able to attend the award presentation during the AES Annual Meeting during the first week of December.

An application should include:

Cover sheet with name, degree and contact information.
Researcher's personal goals statement (1 page maximum).
NIH-style Biosketch of the applicant (2-3 pages).
Letter from mentor commenting on applicant's potential as a physician scientist.
Letter from your department chair verifying your faculty position
NIH-style Biosketch of mentor (2-3 pages) with a list of epilepsy trainees in the past 10 years and their current positions (1 page).
Brief description of the epilepsy program (1 page).
Brief description of planned translational research project - prepared by the applicant (4 pages maximum).

Applications must be received by September 4, 2009. Awardees will be announced by November 1^st. Funding will be distributed in January 2010. Applications will be reviewed on the basis of: the applicant's commitment to a research career, the training record of the mentor and epilepsy center and the quality and relevance of the research project for developing cures for epilepsy. Funding Available: Awards will be made in the amount of $50,000 in January. Competitive renewals for a second year of funding will be considered.

Submit applications electronically to ctubby@aesnet.org for receipt on September 4, 2009. A single Word formatted document is recommended, sent as an email attachment. PDF documents are also acceptable.

Recipient receives: award of $50,000 for 12 months of support to research project. This award includes one night hotel accommodation and travel reimbursement to enable recipient to attend the award presentation during the AES Annual Meeting during the first week of December.

Progress Report: A progress report will be due within 90 days of the end of the funding cycle (or approximately March 31, 2010). A reporting format will be sent to you in the Fall of 2008. The report should include the expenditure of the funds and the results of the research project along with future research and career plans.

Second year funding may be possible. A competitive renewal application including progress report will be required. To be considered you must meet all the application instructions, including meeting the September 4^th submission deadline. Applications for a second year of funding must include whether or not you received any other funding during the year and the progress made during the initial funding period.

Early Career Physician Scientist Award Review Committee
Gary W. Mathern, M.D., Chair, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Derek J. Chong, M.D., M.Sc., Columbia University, New York, NY
J. Helen Cross, M.D., Ph.D., Institute of Child Health, London, UK
Beate Diehl, M.D., Cleveland Ohio Foundation, Cleveland, OH
William D. Gaillard, M.D., Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC
Frank G. Gilliam, M.D., M.P.H., Columbia University Neurological Institute , New York, NY
Tracy A. Glauser, M.D., Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
Christina Gurnett, M.D., Ph.D., St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, MO
Sheryl Haut, M.D., Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
Daniel Hoch, M.D., Ph.D., Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Andres M. Kanner, M.D., Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Robert C. Knowlton, M.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL
Eliane Kobayashi, M.D., Ph.D., McGill University, Montreal, QC
James Leiphart, M.D., Ph.D., George Washington University, Washington, DC
Darrell V. Lewis, Jr., M.D., Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Guy M. McKhann II, M.D., Columbia University Neurological Institute, New York, NY
Edward J. Novotny, Jr., M.D., Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
John Christopher Oakley, M.D., Ph.D., University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Jeffrey G. Ojemann, M.D., University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Jong M. Rho, M.D., Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ
Frank J. Ritter, M.D., Minnesota Epilepsy Group PA
Steven N. Roper, M.D., University of Florida, Gainsville, FL
David M. Treiman, M.D., Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ
Paul C. Van Ness, M.D., University of Texas, Dallas, TX
James W. Wheless, M.D., University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN
Anne Williamson, Ph.D., Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Kevin J. Staley, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
Howard R. Soule, Ph.D., ex-officio, Knowledge Universe Health & Wellness Group, Santa Monica, CA
John W. Swann, Ph.D., ex-officio, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX