The Epilepsy Foundation awards grants and fellowships for cutting-edge research into the causes of epilepsy. Program goals include understanding basic mechanisms, developing new therapeutic approaches, understanding the behavioral and psychosocial aspects of having epilepsy, and encouraging the professional development of scientists and healthcare professionals. The purpose of the Pre-doctoral Research Training Fellowship is to support pre-doctoral students with dissertation research related to epilepsy. Applications from all fields of research pertinent to epilepsy will be considered.
This fellowship provides one year of support for qualified individuals who are pursuing dissertation research with an epilepsy relevant theme, and who are working under the guidance of a preceptor with expertise to supervisein the area of epilepsy investigation. The fellowship carries a stipend of up to $20,000 ($19,000 for stipend and $1,000 to support travel to attend the annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society). The number of awards granted each year is contingenton available funds.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for a Pre-doctoral Research Training Fellowship, an applicant must:
1. Be matriculating in a full-time doctoral (Ph.D.) program with an academic career focus. Areas of interest considered include, but are not limited to neuroscience, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, biochemistry, genetics, nursing, or pharmacy;
2. Have a defined dissertation research project;
3. Have a qualified preceptor with expertise to supervise and provide guidance on the aspects of the research related to epilepsy;
4. Have access to institutional resources to conduct the proposed research project.
The Epilepsy Foundation supports research within the United States and its territories only. Recipients of the fellowships must agree to comply with all relevant policies and guidelines of the Epilepsy Foundation.
U.S.citizenship is not required; however, research must be conducted in the U.S.
Applications from women, members of minority groups, and people with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.
Selection
Applications are evaluated based upon the scientific quality of the proposed dissertation research project, statement regarding relevance of the proposed work to epilepsy, the applicant’s qualifications, the preceptor’s qualifications, adequacy of facility, and the quality of the training environment for research related to epilepsy.
Epilepsy Foundation Support
Successful applicants receive up to $20,000 over the twelve-month period of the award. This includes up to $19,000 as stipend plus $1,000 to support travel to attend the annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society. Quarterly payments are made to the institution for direct salary expense of the fellow and AES meeting travel costs ONLY. Travel must be conducted during the funding period. Submission of scientific and financial reports, no later than 30 days after completion of project, is a requirement.
Support from other Sources An applicant may not apply for, use, or accept Foundation funds for a research project or part of a project already supported by the Foundation or supported by funds from another public or private source. Accordingly, full disclosure of all available and pending funds for research support must be made in the fellowship application. If funds from other sources become available to the applicant during the review or tenure of a Foundation research fellowship, the Principal Investigator must inform the Foundation in writing. The Foundation and its advisors will then make a decision about the continuation of the research award.
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Human and/or Animal Subjects/Tissues
When human subjects or tissues are to be used in a research project, it is the responsibility of the grantee and the institution to ensure that the institution has a complete copy of the research protocol approved by the Institution’s Human Subject Review Board, a copy of that Board’s current approval notice, and a copy of the patient informed consent form(s). If available, a copy of these documents should be submitted with the application. If awarded a grant, these documents must be submitted before funding can begin.
When animal and/or animal tissues are used, it is the responsibility of the grantee and the institution to ensure that the institution has a complete copy of the institution’s animal care and use committee approval. If available, a copy of these documents should be submitted with the application. If awarded a grant, these documents must be submitted before funding can begin.
Epilepsy Foundation Policy on Use of Animals in Research
All entities that receive funding from the Epilepsy Foundation must adhere to the following principles:
1. Animals shall be used in biomedical research only when no other means of obtaining scientifically sound, valid, and useful results are available.
2. The minimum number of appropriate animals required to obtain and validate results shall be used.
3. The acquisition, care, and use of animals must be in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.
4. Certifications must be received from research facilities prior to being approved for a research fellowship that the facility(ies), its researchers, and employees adhere to the Animal Welfare Act, National Research CouncilGuide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and any appropriate U.S. Department of Agriculture or National Institutes of Health regulations and standards.
5. In cases requiring the death of an animal, only the most appropriate and humane form of euthanasia shall be used consistent with the purpose of the research.
Special Instructions to Applicants
* In order to guarantee review, applications MUST BE RECEIVED by the deadline date.
* All assurances regarding human subjects should be included with the completed application, if available. If awarded, failure to provide the required documentation in a timely fashion may result in the award being rescinded.
* For an application to be considered complete, all institutional signatures and approvals must be included on the signature page and uploaded into the application before the time of submission and not submitted separately. A signed, scanned copy of the signature page must be uploaded as a proposal attachment.
* Letters of recommendation must be included with the application and not submitted separately.
* NO additional information for an application will be accepted after the due date including supplemental data to the research plan and letters of recommendation.
Application Procedures
All applications are due by August 31, 2011 for funding to begin either January 1, 2012 or July 1, 2012. A complete application must be submitted via the proposalCentral system by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on August 31, 2011. The proposalCentral system can be accessed at https://www.proposalcentral.altum.com.
Applications will not be accepted, nor any parts of the application, if sent to the Foundation offices by U.S. mail.
Scholarship Application Deadline: August 31, 2011
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