I just got back from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Advisory Council meeting in Bethesda, MD. At the meeting, Story Landis, PhD, Director of NINDS, NIH and Brandy Fureman, PhD, Program Director of NINDS, NIH, announced a major, cutting-edge new initiative—“Accelerating Research in the Epilepsies”—which recognizes the critical need to advance research efforts. Resulting from CURE’s discussions with the late Senator Kennedy and his staff, together with Drs. Landis, Fureman, others from NINDS and the broader epilepsy community, we are incredibly pleased and excited to see the new focus on epilepsy research funding and collaboration!

The Advisory Council, of which CURE’s Scientific Consultant Vicky Whittemore, PhD is also a member, approved the initiative, which has three main components:

• NINDS Centers without Walls Program to Promote Collaborative Research in the Epilepsies, which will be “virtual” centers focused on specific topics in areas of epilepsy research that are ready for multi-disciplinary, collaborative efforts;
• The Cooperative Program in Translational Research, focused on critical areas such as the development of models of anti-epileptogenesis and treatment-resistant epilepsy; and
• The Epilepsies Exceptional, Unconventional Research Enabling Knowledge Acceleration (EUREKA) Program, a special grants program supporting highly innovative and potentially transformative approaches to epilepsy research.

The initiative also includes an Interagency Epilepsies Working Group to advise and inform the initiatives and progress moving forward. Vicky and I are honored to have been invited to participate in this process, too.

As details are flushed out, I can’t help but reflect on what a monumental occasion this is for individuals with epilepsy. This is perhaps the greatest sign to-date that our efforts to raise public awareness about the devastating effects of epilepsy are paying off. We salute all of you who over the years have helped us by advocating, volunteering, donating, and sharing your stories of heartbreak, hopes, and dreams.