Deadline Approaching for AES Early Career Funding Opportunities

The American Epilepsy Society (AES) is currently accepting applications for multiple early career funding opportunities, with awards ranging from ≤$20,000 to $150,000 to conduct epilepsy research. Applications will be evaluated by reviewers who are selected based on the research type, classification, and type of epilepsy/seizure under investigation in the proposed project. Submitted proposals are due by 5:00 PM EST on January 16, 2025.

The grant funding is provided by AES members, funding partners, and philanthropic donations. The grants are intended to support trainees, fellows, and newly independent investigators who are conducting basic science, translational, and clinical research to investigate the treatment, causes, and consequences of epilepsy and related conditions. In addition to research stipends, the grants also include 1 year of complimentary membership in the AES and complimentary registration for the AES Annual Meeting and, in some cases, support for travel to the AES Annual Meeting.

Applications are currently open for the following funding opportunities:

• Predoctoral Research Fellowships: These grants of up to $30,000 will be awarded to predoctoral students pursuing epilepsy-focused dissertation research under the guidance of a mentor.
•  Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: These grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded to postdoctoral trainees conducting research under the guidance of a mentor.
• Research and Training Fellowship for Clinicians: These grants of up to $75,000 will be awarded to clinical fellows or clinical faculty who are pursuing an independent research career.
• Junior Investigator Research Awards: These grants of up to $75,000 will be awarded to recently independent investigators who plan to subsequently pursue longer-term support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or other sources.
• The Epilepsy Study Consortium Mini-Grant Program: This mini-grant of up to $20,000 will be awarded to epilepsy fellows who plan to conduct a 6-month to 1-year, mentored research project investigating an anti-epileptic drug therapy as a part of their fellowship training.
• The Sergievsky Award for Epilepsy Health Equity and Diversity: These grants of up to $150,000 will be awarded to physicians and scientists who identify as underrepresented populations to support the launch of their careers of leadership in academic clinical research, with a preference for research focused on health equity and underserved individuals with epilepsy or seizures.

For more information and details about the grants and their eligibility criteria, please visit the AES website: https://aesnet.org/research-funding/funding/early-career