Epilepsy Foundation
/OVERVIEW: This is the largest non-governmental funder of epilepsy research. It supports a broad range of research aimed at finding treatments and cures for epilepsy, as well as fellowships and consortia on seizure disorders.
IP TAKE: The Epilepsy Foundation supports research that aims to develop new treatments and cures for epilepsy and its related disorders. It also funds fellowships for early-career researchers engaged in innovative work in the field. Grantseekers should read the various program pages carefully and consider which of the foundation’s several programs best suits their needs. Eligibility, guidelines and due dates vary by program. That said, this funder welcomes contact and is happy to share upcoming information about grants should you contact them.
PROFILE: The Epilepsy Foundation’s mission is “to lead the fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy and to accelerate therapies to stop seizures, find cures, and save lives.” The foundation has a Strategic Vision for 2020-2025 to lead grantmaking, research and development.
Neuroscience Grants
TEF’s Research Funding invests in research that “leads to better treatments and care.” A largely underfunded field of research, the Epilepsy Foundation’s philanthropy focuses entirely on supporting early-career researcher-investigators through research support that addresses epilesy research. It also offers grants in partnership with the Rare Epilepsy Network.
The Epilepsy Innovation Institute “fosters new approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy” and “explores bold new ideas and combines novel expertise and technologies from other fields of science.”
The Epilepsy Therapy Project “works to bring therapies to people faster” by supporting projects in the later stages of development.
Target Research Programs are currently prioritizing “sudden unexplained death in epilepsy” and “understanding medical marijuana.”
The Rare Epilepsy Network works to “investigate causes and consequences for rare epilepsies in order to improve diagnosis and treatment of these disorders.
The foundation’s Research Roundtable for Epilespy is an “annual research roundtable which brings regulators from United States and Europe with academic neurologists, non-profits, and over 20 companies to discuss regulatory issues on upcoming drug development.”
Established in 2023, the Neuroimpact Fund reflects a partnership between the Epilepsy Foundation and Iaso Ventures, a well-resourced financial institution, to develop the Fund with a goal to “accelerate therapies to stop seizures, find cures, and save lives.”
TEF’s Next Generation of Scientists includes several different early-career awards for “researchers who have recently started their own independent labs to study epilepsy.”
The foundation’s Clinical Research Apprenticeship invests in “clinical fellows who are actively involved in large clinical studies to attend meetings, take additional classes, and do independent scholarship that result in publications.”
The Susan S. Spencer Clinical Research Training Fellowship in Epilepsy Award recognizes researchers who “foster the development of investigators interested in pursuing careers in patient-oriented research.”
Junior Investigators offers support through a partnership between the Epilepsy Foundation and AES to support researchers who have recently started their own independent labs to study epilepsy.
Important Grant Details:
This funder gives away over $1 million a year through its grant and fellowship programs. While its fellowships are awarded in set amounts, the foundation’s grants have ranged from $5,000 to $500,000, with an average grant size of about $25,000.
For additional information about the foundation’s past giving, review its recent tax filings.
The Epilepsy Foundation offers two funding cycles per year, but not every program is available at all times. Grantseekers should review the TEF’s Upcoming Grants page to see if their projects fit the foundation’s current priorities.
Funding inquiries may be submitted to the foundation’s staff via email at grants@efa.org or telephone at 301-459-3700.
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