News Release

AAN Foundation, the ALS Association partner to finance Clinician Scientist Development Award

Grant and Award Announcement

American Academy of Neurology

ST. PAUL, Minn. – In collaboration with The ALS Association, the American Academy of Neurology Foundation has announced the Clinician Scientist Development Award to support research in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The Clinician Scientist Development Award will provide $75,000 per year for two years to an investigator who will focus on clinical research for ALS. At this time, only one drug (riluzole) is approved by the FDA for treatment of ALS. The ALS Association recently launched a major initiative to prioritize and bring promising compounds into clinical trials in a focused approach called Translational Research Advancing Therapy for ALS, or TREAT ALS.

Also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS is characterized by the gradual degeneration and death of motor neurons. Many people with ALS usually die within three to five years from the onset of symptoms.

The AAN Foundation is seeking applications from neurologists who have completed residency training and are less than five years from completion of residency when funding would begin. Applicants must be licensed to practice medicine in the United States.

Award applications are due October 5, 2005. The recipient will be announced in January 2006.

The Clinician Scientist Development Award is funded by The ALS Association and the AAN Foundation. Funding for the inaugural award has been made possible by the generous donation from Hope for ALS in memory of its founder, Peter Rostworowski Clark.

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The ALS Association is the only national not-for-profit voluntary health organization dedicated solely to the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. For more information, contact the Association at 800-782-4747 or visit www.alsa.org.

More information about the Clinician Scientist Development Awards and application forms are available from the AAN Foundation at www.neurofoundation.org or by calling 651-695-2712. The AAN Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing support for public education and research in neurology.


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