Research

The Matty Fund® awards grants for research projects that are committed to the prevention and advancement of new epilepsy discovery. Over $100,000 has been awarded to CURE, Brown University and The University of Rhode Island.  The Matty Fund® encourages research studies which are not currently funded by the National Institutes of Health or other agencies. The Matty Fund® is committed to funding young scientists at Brown University’s Institute for Brain Science embarking on epilepsy research by establishing The Matthew Siravo Undergraduate Awards in Epilepsy Research.   This annual summer research award provides qualified Brown University undergraduate students with an opportunity to participate in a 10-week summer research program.  Recipients spend 35 hours a week for 10 weeks conducting research related to epilepsy or other seizure disorders in the laboratory of a faculty member of the Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University.  An important part of the program is the education recipients receive related to the clinical realities of how patients live with epilepsy and how doctors treat this disease.  This award encourages work toward improving the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of epilepsy.

The Matty Fund’s® Medical Advisory Board reviews all epilepsy research applications.

The Matty Fund’s ® Epilepsy Research Symposium encourages scientists and clinicians to collaborate on epilepsy research initiatives. There is an essential need for greater funding and the Matty Fund® seeks the support of donors committed to the advancement of epilepsy research.

Medical Advisory Board

John Gaitanis, M.D., Chairman
R. John Davenport, Ph.D.
Roger Fazio, M.D.
David Mandelbaum, M.D.
Mrs. Jessica Mulligan, MS, RD, LDN
Mrs. Maura Taylor
Mrs. Karen Zelano, RN, CPN

Matty Fund® Research Award Recipients

Nicholas Poolos, M.D., Ph.D. – Kinase Mediation of Antiepileptic Drug Action

W. Curt La France, Jr. M.D., Ph.D. – A Lab Test for Differentiating between Epilepsy and Non-Epileptic Seizures

John Gaitanis, M.D. – Applying Information Theory Analysis to the Diagnosis of Epilepsy

Walter G. Besio, M.D. – Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation via Concentric Ring Electrodes for Epilepsy

James Belarde & Carlos Aizenman, Ph.D. – Analyzing the Seizure Behavior of Xenopus Laevis Tadpole Animal Model

Susie Lee & Barry Connors, Ph.D. – Understanding the Basic Mechanisms of Febrile Seizures –the Most Prevalent Type of Seizure in Infancy and Early Childhood

Hannah Johnson & Carlos Aizenman, Ph.D. – The Study of Polymines and their Ant-Seizure Role in the Brain.*  Click here to read an update…

Nicholas Donias & Barry Connors, Ph.D. –Understanding how the Neural Circuits of the Prefrontal Cortex are Modified by a Type of Brain Oscillation.

Maria DeLuca & W. Curt La France Jr., M.D., Ph.D. – Neuroimaging analysis of the epilepsy-depression phenotype

Subhandra Sundaram & Eric Morrow, M.D., Ph.D. – Clinical and statistical genetic studies in autism with epilepsy

Rohan Ramesh & Rebecca Burwell, Ph.D. - Understanding entorhinal-hippocampal interactions in epilepsy

*Matthew Siravo Research Awards in the News:
Matthew Siravo Research Awards to Hannah Johnson & James Belarde of Brown University being recognized. PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — For years brain scientists have puzzled over the shadowy role played by the molecule putrescine, which always seems to be present in the brain following an epileptic seizure, but without a clear indication whether it was click link below to read more:
New role for an old molecule: protecting the brain from epileptic seizures | Brown University News anews.brown.edu