2023 BECAUSE OF YOU
THANK YOU!
Donors like you make our work possible.
In 2023, we marked 25 years since our founding—giving us an opportunity to celebrate our impact on epilepsy research and redouble our commitment to finding a cure.
Last year, with your support, we funded 14 exciting new grants and continued our major research initiatives related to Jeavons syndrome, Post-Traumatic Epilepsy, Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), and Epileptic Spasms. We also hosted major events in Chicago and New York and, with thanks to our Champions, had a record-breaking year for peer-to-peer fundraising.
Your support is critical to our mission, allowing us to continue to invest in cutting-edge epilepsy research. Every donor and every gift makes a difference.
While we celebrate the many advancements in epilepsy research over the last 25 years, we remain laser-focused on our ultimate goal: finding a cure. The collective contributions of our donors enable us to drive epilepsy research forward. Thank you for your support and for being part of our movement.
TOGETHER WE CAN FIND A CURE FOR EPILEPSY
Your 2023 Impact by the Numbers
Research Highlights
Investigator-initiated grants are the cornerstone of our research program. These grants allow us to invest in the work of emerging and leading epilepsy researchers with a selection process that engages thought leaders and lived-experience reviewers to ensure that the most promising projects are selected. We funded 14 new grants in 2023—4 CURE Epilepsy Awards, 3 Taking Flight Awards, 2 Catalyst Awards, and 5 Rare Epilepsy Partnership Awards. Additionally, we continued support of prior-year awardees through the completion of their projects, bringing our total grant portfolio to approximately 30 studies throughout the year.
The CURE Epilepsy Award (2 Years/$250,000) supports research with the potential to transform the lives of people living with epilepsy with prevention and disease modification as critical goals.
Taking Flight Awards (1.5 Years/$125,000) seek to advance the work of early-career investigators to allow them to develop a research focus in epilepsy.
The Rare Epilepsy Partnership Awards (1 Year/$100,000) support the development of research tools, techniques, model systems, and data collection platforms to stimulate and accelerate research on rare epilepsies. Each award is co-funded by CURE Epilepsy and one or more rare epilepsy advocacy partners.
The CURE Epilepsy Catalyst Award (2 Years/$250,000) supports researchers seeking to develop new interventions for epilepsy.
Along with our grants programs, we have organized multiple research teams and steering committees focused on Post-Traumatic Epilepsy, Epileptic Spasms, SUDEP Data Standards, and Jeavons/Epilepsy with Eyelid Myoclonia. These research initiatives include dozens of experts in each research area—identifying key questions and obstacles in knowledge gathering and developing research strategies to drive understanding forward.
2023 Awardee Spotlight
CURE Epilepsy Award
Gemma Carvill, PhD
- Northwestern University
In collaboration with: Elizabeth Gerard, MD (Northwestern University); Alica Goldman, MD, PhD (Baylor College of Medicine); Nuri Ince, PhD (Mayo Clinic)
Dr. Carvill’s team will test novel techniques to change how patients are evaluated for surgery and to make surgery more effective. This grant was funded by the Joseph Gomoll Foundation.
Taking Flight Award
Vishnu Cuddapah, MD, PhD
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
“Harnessing the Fly Model Systems to Understand How Sleep Disruption Worsens Seizure Burden”
Dr. Cuddapah will use a fruit fly model to identify mechanisms that tie sleep disruption to increased seizure severity.
SHARING INFORMATION AND HOPE
Educational Webinars
CURE Epilepsy presented seven webinars in 2023, engaging with hundreds of community members, researchers, and practitioners, on topics ranging from stem cell research breakthroughs, surgical treatment options, and the potential for utilizing cannabis and cannabinoids in treating epilepsy.
SHARING INFORMATION AND HOPE
Seizing Life Podcast
The Seizing Life podcast and videocast shares stories from the people living with epilepsy, caregivers, researchers, and medical practitioners, to inspire empathy and give hope as we continue our quest for a cure. To date, we have shared more than 130 stories through this platform, reaching an audience of more than 780,000 people. Featured below is an episode from July 2023 where our host, Kelly Cervantes, spoke with Hailey Yoon about the emotional impact of a pediatric epilepsy diagnosis—and how she learned to love her whole self.
Hailey Yoon on Emotional Impact
“Shame can make you feel small and invisible, but remember there are so many people out there just like you, feeling the same emotions as you. You are not alone in this. Learn to be proud of who you are. Every part of you is special.”
SIGNATURE EVENTS
25th Anniversary Chicago Gala
On Saturday, May 6, 2023, more than 500 guests joined us to celebrate the advancements of the past 25 years and looked excitedly toward the future of epilepsy research. Thanks to our generous supporters, we raised a record-breaking $3.1 million for critical epilepsy research.
SIGNATURE EVENTS
Hamilton Unplugged
Our New York City benefit, Hamilton Unplugged, raised more than $275,000 to advance epilepsy research. Our 200 guests enjoyed a phenomenal performance by Miguel Cervantes and his castmates Andrew Call (pictured here), Tamar Greene, Ebrin Stanley, Johanna Moise, and Cherry Torres, including never-before-seen musical mashups, hilarious behind-the-scenes stories from Hamilton, and more.
CURE EPILEPSY COMES TO YOU
Champions
In 2023, CURE Epilepsy Champions raised more than $460,000!
Champions hosted fundraisers ranging from lemonade stands to fun runs and house parties.
Kris Sadens
- Glenview, IL
Kris Sadens ran, biked, and swam in honor of his son Silas and the
10-year anniversary of Silas’ diagnosis by participating in the Chicago Triathlon.
Erin Monast
- Paoli, PA
Erin Monast, her daughter Reagan, and her family hosted the second annual Reagan’s Run, a 5K and
1-mile fun run in Eastern Pennsylvania.
Michelle Hart
- Happy Valley, OR
Michelle Hart cohosted the third Annual Epilepsy Awareness Golf Tournament at Willamette Valley Country club in honor of Colton Grothe and Joey Hart.
CURE EPILEPSY COMES TO YOU
Team CURE Epilepsy 2023
Team CURE Epilepsy took to the streets with 33 runners in the Chicago, New York City, and Marine Corps Marathons. Our team raised more than $107,000 while representing our organization during their extraordinary athletic accomplishments.
CURE EPILEPSY AWARENESS
Chicago White Sox
On Saturday, September 2nd, nearly 100 CURE Epilepsy community members and staff attended Epilepsy Awareness Night at the Ballpark hosted by the Chicago White Sox. In a stadium of more than 21,000 fans, our group came together to mark our 25th anniversary, uniting in our shared commitment to find a cure for epilepsy.
CURE EPILEPSY AWARENESS
Epilepsy Awareness Day at Disneyland
CURE Epilepsy joined nearly 4,000 members of the broader epilepsy community for the annual Epilepsy Awareness Day at Disneyland in Anaheim, where we connected with families from around the country and shared updates on critical developments in epilepsy research.
