Spotlight on the Need for More Research

Ann Marie Gillie, a 43 year-old mother of 3 boys, is a published author and had lived with epilepsy for half of her life. A second opinion by a neurosurgeon changed her life. In December 2002, she underwent Left Selective Amygdalohippocampectomy surgery at the University of Alberta Hospital. Ann has been 100% seizure-free since. She travels to the U.S. and across Canada to speak about her experiences and motivates others to stay positive.

If you would like to engage with Ann, you can visit her website at http://www.anngillieepilepsyspeaker.com/ . Learn more about her experiences in her book called ‘If Walls Could Talk – Don’t Let Epilepsy Control You’.

Brett Newman, 25 years old, from Campobello Island, New Brunswick started a walkathon to raise awareness for epilepsy research. In 2002 he lost his cousin Michael to an epileptic seizure, and suffered more tragedy last year when his brother was paralyzed from the waist down in an auto accident. A few months later he met Chanse Anderson, an epileptic from St. Stephen, whose spirit was so positive it inspired Brett to begin his trek.

Raising Funds for Research

Did you know 57¢* out of every dollar raised by Epilepsy Canada, a non-profit organization, goes to fund epilepsy research? Only 43¢* is used for administration and fundraising efforts like this mailing.

Recently, in a cost-savings move designed to keep 2011 operating costs as low as possible in order to channel more funds into research, we moved our national office from Montreal to Toronto to share space with Epilepsy Ontario.

Our new website was developed and donated by Glacier Digital, of Burlington Ontario. One look at www.epilepsy.ca and you will see an easy to use site packed with stories and information about Canadians afflicted with epilepsy, and the important research being done across Canada to help them.
Donating on-line allows you to make secure one-time or monthly donations from the site. This alone reduces the costs of printing, mailing and return mail envelopes.

Cost efficient measures are also being taken to print and mail letters such as this one. Epilepsy Canada continues to look for ways to make your support dollars stretch even further. Every dollar really does make a difference.

Call For Submissions 2011

Deadline – April 15, 2011

Epilepsy Canada is pleased to announce that it is again accepting submissions to support research trainees in any area of research pertaining to epilepsy. Epilepsy Canada’s mission is to support research (in the biomedical, clinical or social sciences) that is focused on improving the lives of people with seizure disorders. In particular, we are seeking to fund post-doctoral researchers and summer studentships associated with a Canadian university or hospital (research activities must be conducted within Canada).

Postdoctoral Research Award

Epilepsy Canada will award three (3) postdoctoral research awards (each valued at $38,000 CDN) for the time period July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012. This award is for one year only; requests for renewal must be done in the form of a complete new application and are dependent upon availability of funds. Applications are invited from qualified applicants who are within three years of the completion of their PhD at the time of application submission. Applications are invited from all areas of epilepsy research including the biomedical, clinical and social sciences. A complete application will consist of the following:

• a description of the proposed research (including Research Hypothesis, Research Goals, Background, Methods, Proposed Work, Relevance to Epilepsy; 5 pages maximum, 12 pt font, Arial or Times New Roman, single spaced, 0.75 inch borders)
• [2] curriculum vitae of the applicant (common CV, CIHR format)
• [3] curriculum vitae of the proposed supervisor (common CV, CIHR format).

Please submit the original plus four (4) copies (total 5 copies) to Epilepsy Canada postmarked or courier-stamped on or before April 15, 2011. Results will be announced on May 1, 2011. The award is to be held at a Canadian university or hospital.

Summer Studentships

Epilepsy Canada will award four (4) summer studentships (each valued at $5,000 CDN) for the time period June 01, 2011 – August 30, 2011. Applications are invited from students enrolled at a Canadian university or college at the time of application submission. Applications are invited from all areas of epilepsy research including the biomedical, clinical and social sciences. A complete application will consist of the following:

• [1] a description of the proposed research (including Research Goals, Background, Methods, Pro¬posed Work, Relevance to Epilepsy; 2 pages maximum, 12 pt font, Arial or Times New Roman, single spaced, 0.75 inch borders)
• [2] curriculum vitae of the applicant (free format, 3 pages maximum) and [3] curriculum vitae of the proposed supervisor (common CV, CIHR format).

Please submit the original plus four (4) copies (total 5 copies) to Epilepsy Canada postmarked or courier-stamped on or before April 15th, 2011. Results will be announced on May 1st, 2011. The award is to be held at a Canadian university, college or hospital.

Giving Epilepsy Canada a Stronger Voice

During 2010 three volunteer directors were added to the Epilesy Canada Board, each bringing their important areas of expertise to help our mission.

Dr. W McIntyre Burnham
Dept of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, ON

Gary N. Collins
Managing Partner, 4Growth Inc. Management Consultants Markham, ON.
Responsible for Marketing and Fundraising, Epilepsy Canada.

Howard Fletcher, LLB
Lawyer, Richmond Hill, ON

Bill Hutchison, News Anchor/Producer CTV News at 11:30 p.m. was named Epilepsy Canada’s honourary 2011 Spokesperson. His March 27, 2011 Webmania feature helped raise awareness for our fundraising efforts.

Epilepsy Canada Funds $56,000 Towards Research in 2010

For Immediate Release

EPILEPSY CANADA FUNDS $56,000 TOWARDS RESEARCH
Announcing the award winners for the 2010 research grants competition.

Epilepsy is a chronic disorder affecting the lives of more than 1/100 Canadians. For many of these people, research offers hope for better treatments and improved lives. Epilepsy Canada (EC) is pleased to announce the results of its 2010 research grants competition. Epilepsy Canada received numerous applications from across Canada and following a comprehensive review process is able to support multiple young investigators who are focusing their research on the causes and treatment of epilepsy. In par­ticular, Epilepsy Canada is proud to announce the 2010 postdoctoral research awards and summer studentships. In making these awards, EC is investing more than $80,000 towards much needed epilepsy research. In presenting these awards, EC also gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the many Canadians who have contributed to this important program.

Award Winners

There was much anticipation and EC commends all participants in the submission round. Among the numerous proposals for the awards EC has essentially selected those whose scientific results will benefit most from the awards. The recipients of the postdoctoral award will pursue one year of extensive research and training in the area of epilepsy. Winners of the studentship award will gain the opportunity to train in a lab and research over the summer period.

Postdoctoral Award - July, 2010

Lois Miraucourt of Montreal, QC - $30,000

Research Award

Miles Thompson of Toronto, ON - $6,000

Summer Studentship Award - July, 2010

Shelley Huang of Toronto, ON - $5,000
Alexander Dolan of Woodbridge, ON - $5,000
Vashisht Goorah of Toronto, ON - $5,000
Eric John Crawford of Toronto, ON - $2,500
Mirna Guirgis of Mississauga, ON - $2,500

The Goal

Research Fellowships are intended to develop expertise in clinical and epilepsy research and improve the quality of care for epilepsy patients in Canada. The results will prove valuable for medical exploration and push research endeavours forward for Epilepsy Canada. The recipients have the opportunity to set their tribute to epilepsy and leave a milestone perhaps at the comple­tion of the research.

Epilepsy Canada is focused on improving the lives of people with seizure disorders. The mission is to enhance the quality of life for persons affected by epilepsy through promotion and support of research and facilitation of education and awareness initiatives that build understanding and acceptance of epilepsy. Today, Epilepsy Canada depends entirely upon public and corporate support for the continuing development of its research and education programs.

About 2010
AWARDS_EPILEPSY CANADA
Dr. Donald Weaver, President

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS - 2010

Deadline - May 1, 2010
Epilepsy Canada is pleased to announce that it is again accepting submissions to support research trainees in any area of research pertaining to epilepsy. Epilepsy Canada’s mission is to support research (in the biomedical, clinical or social sciences) that is focused on improving the lives of people with seizure disorders. In particular, we are seeking to fund post-doctoral researchers and summer studentships.

Postdoctoral Research Award
Epilepsy Canada will award two (2) postdoctoral research awards (each valued at $30,000 CDN) for the time period July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011.

Summer Studentships
Epilepsy Canada will award three (3) summer studentships (each valued at $5,000 CDN) for the time period June 01, 2010 – August 30, 2010.

Please submit application before May 1, 2010.

TV Medical Dramas present inaccurate depiction of First Aid Management for seizures.

A team of investigators from Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia) speak up at the 2010 American Academy of Neurology Annual Conference to reveal the matter. Toronto, Ontario – While Television drama plays a significant role in conveying information to the general public, the stories are not always told responsibly. Recent TV Medical Dramas have shown viewers the wrong response to seizures. In showing these TV episodes, actors portraying health care professionals performed inappropriate first aid management of seizures in nearly half of all cases. As part of a study, all episodes of the four highest-rated US medical dramas...

Read the press release