American Brain Foundation

Programs: Grants: in 2017, the american brain foundation funded research projects in multiple sclerosis, ataxia, tourette syndrome, parkinson's disease, stroke, muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, epilepsy, migraine, intracerebral hemorrhage, x-linked dystonia parkinsonism, neurodevelopmental impairment/congenital heart disease, alzheimer's dementia, and epilepsy. We co-funded these grants with our research partners: alzheimer's association american academy of neurology, american epilepsy society, american heart association, consortium of multiple sclerosis centers, epilepsy foundation, muscular dystrophy association, myasthenia gravis foundation of america, national ataxia foundation, national multiple sclerosis society, parkinson's foundation, society of vascular and interventional neurology, and tourette association of america.

awards: the american brain foundation also honored and provided financial support to leaders in the fight against brain disease-both scientists and members of the public. Public leadership in neurology award: b. Smith and dan gasby received the american brain foundation's prestigious public leadership in neurology award. The award honors an individual or group outside of the medical profession. Honorees are known for advancing public understanding and awareness of neurologic disease, being effective advocates for neuroscience research, and making significant contributions to improve patient care. B. Smith, a nationally-recognized celebrity chef, restaurateur, supermodel, and lifestyle maven, was diagnosed with early onset alzheimer's in 2013. Smith and dan gasby, her husband and business partner, have crisscrossed the country, making appearances at alzheimer's educational and fundraising events. They co-authored the book before i forget: love, hope, and acceptance in our fight against alzheimer's, released by random house in january 2016. Dan gasby recently joined the american brain foundation's board of directors to help amplify our voice in making curing brain disease a public cause. Board chair award: our board chair kevin goodno presented the board chair award to francis kittredge, md, faan, the first president of the american academy of neurology foundation which later became the american brain foundation. Dr. Kittredge pioneered the clinical research training scholarship program which remains the cornerstone of the american brain foundation. Eighty-seven percent of award recipients have gone on to receive nih and other funding-an outcome on target with the foundation's research focus. Association of indian neurologists in america lifetime achievement award: through its fund at the american brain foundation, the association of indian neurologists in america presented its lifetime achievement award to kapil sethi, md. The award recognizes a leader in neurology by his or her peers. Dr. Sethi was honored for his dedication in advancing the training of north american neurologists of indian origin and promoting innovation and research in the field of neurology. American academy of neurology scientific awards: the american brain foundation underwrote the american academy of neurology's prestigious scientific awards, including the internationally-known potamkin prize in pick's, alzheimer's, and related diseases, and the sheila essey award for research in als. Other awards included: dreifuss-penry epilepsy award, norman geschwind prize in behavioral neurology, wayne a. Hening sleep medicine investigator award, herzog neuroendocrine research award, mitchell b. Max award for neuropathic pain, movement disorders research award, michael s. Pessin stroke leadership prize, bruce s. Schoenberg international award in neuroepidemiology, sleep science award, jon stolk award in movement disorders for young investigators, founders award, and s. Weir mitchell award.

public outreach: the foundation invested in several public awareness-building projects, including an inspirational video about our mission, a marketing plan, refreshed branding, and a new, educational website. The website incorporates the world's first neuroscience crowdfunding platform. Crowdfunding builds awareness of our mission and of the connections between the various diseases of the brain, which most of the public thinks of as distinct and unconnected. It is also a fundraising tool. The foundation also built awareness of our cause through several events and projects, including: brain health fair: provided educational materials on brain disease to nearly 2,000 patients, families and caregivers affected by neurological disease in the boston area, at this event organized by the american academy of neurology. Standing strong: a special event which drew the connection between alzheimer's disease and our mission through a professionally-produced play at park square theater in st. Paul, minnesota. Commitment to cures: an awards dinner at the american academy of neurology's annual meeting. Bike helmet give-away: helping to distribute 3,000 free bike helmets to adults, children and nonprofits in minneapolis, minnesota. Traumatic brain injury(tbi) media campaign: a media campaign on concussion and tbi in the twin cities market, as part of run-up to the super bowl, undertaken through a media partnership with the twin cities nbc affiliate, kare11, including broadcast spots, homepage banner, and social media campaign. American academy of neurology conference: the foundation staffed a booth at the american academy of neurology's weeklong annual conference, which drew 14,000 members of the neurology community, and whose purpose was to build awareness of the foundation and our work.

crowdfunding for cures: to expand support for research, the american brain foundation built and tested the world's first neuroscience crowdfunding platform, with the aim of formally launching campaigns in 2018. Crowdfunding advances our mission by bringing researchers and donors together online in campaigns to raise needed research dollars and raise public awareness. Scientific investigators may qualify their projects for crowdfunding through a two-part online application process. In a vetting process developed by the foundation's research advisory committee, projects are approved for posting by review panels the american academy of neurology experts. Once a research project is posted on our platform, the foundation works with the researcher to launch a crowdfunding campaign in its support. Patients, caregivers, and others can sort through the projects on the crowdfunding platform by disease, and then give directly to projects they care about most. One hundred percent of donations go directly to project support.