Newswise — SAN DIEGO – Nearly two dozen scientific research awards are being bestowed upon researchers around the world this year by the American Academy of Neurology, the world’s largest association of neurologists. The awards will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 65th Annual Meeting in San Diego March 16-23, 2013, at the San Diego Convention Center.

This year’s recipients include: Founders AwardSponsored by the American Brain Foundation and endowed by the Alliance Founders and S. Weir Mitchell Permanent Endowment. Korak Sarkar, MD / Los Angeles

S. Weir Mitchell Award Sponsored by the American Brain Foundation and endowed by the Alliance Founders and S. Weir Mitchell Permanent Endowment. Christopher Janson, MC / Saint Paul, Minn.

A.B. Baker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Neurologic Education Funded by an endowment created by matching funds from the A.B. Baker Family Trust and Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Douglas J. Gelb, MD, PhD, FAAN / Ann Arbor, Mich.

Dreifuss-Penry Epilepsy Award Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by members of the AAN Epilepsy Section; Abbott Laboratories, Inc.; Cephalon, Inc.; Cyberonics, Inc.; Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; GlaxoSmithKline; Novartis Pharmaceuticals; Ortho-McNeil Neurologics; Pfizer Inc; Shire US, Inc; and UCB Pharma. W. Curt LaFrance, Jr., MD, MPH, FAAN / Providence, R.I.

John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research Presented by the American Academy of Neurology and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and made possible through a special contribution from the John Dystel Multiple Sclerosis Research Fund at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. George C. Ebers, MD / Oxford, United Kingdom

Sheila Essey Award: An Award for ALS Research Presented by the American Academy of Neurology and The ALS Association and supported through the philanthropy of the Essey Family Fund and The ALS Association. Rosa Rademakers, PhD / Jacksonville, Fla.Bryan Traynor, MD / Bethesda, Md.

Norman Geschwind Prize in Behavioral Neurology Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and the AAN Behavioral Neurology Section and endowed through Dr. Geschwind's family, friends and colleagues; Pfizer Inc; and the Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology. Bradford Dickerson, MD / Charlestown, Mass.

Mitchell B. Max Award for Neuropathic Pain Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by the United States Cancer Pain Relief Committee, the Mayday Fund and friends of Dr. Mitchell Max. Justin C. McArthur, MBBS, MPH, FAAN / Baltimore

Jon Stolk Award in Movement Disorders for Young Investigators Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by Kyowa Pharmaceutical, Inc., Lineberry Research, Quintiles, and Dr. Dennis Gillings. Rodolfo Savica, MD / Rochester, Minn.

Association of Indian Neurologists in America (AINA) Lifetime Achievement Award Endowed by the Association of Indian Neurologists in America (AINA). Sakkubai Naidu, MD, FAAN / Baltimore

International Scholarship Award Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology International Subcommittee. Cesar Caparo / Lima, PeruAna Coan / Campinas, BrazilMykhaylo Delva / Poltava, UkraineAngela Frank-Briggs / Port Harcourt, NigeriaSamson Gwer / Nairobi, KenyaYousser Hizem / Tunis, TunisiaRaffaele Iorio / Rome, ItalyJuan Carlos Llibre / Havana, CubaLucas Schirmer / Munich, GermanyClaudio Semplicini / Padova, ItalyJohn Tzartos / Athens, GreeceJin-Tai Yu / Shandong, ChinaZhangyu Zou / Beijing, China

Lawrence C. McHenry Award: An Award for the History of Neurology Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology. Douglas J. Lanska, MD, FAAN / Tomah, Wis.

Medical Student Essay Awards Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology.

Extended Neuroscience AwardArmen Moughamian, PhD / Philadelphia

G. Milton Shy Award in Clinical NeurologyElyse Aufman / St. Louis

Roland P. Mackay Award in Historical Aspects Kimmy Su / Portland, Ore.

Saul R. Korey Award in Experimental NeurologyJoshua Siegel / St. Louis

Minority Scholars Program Sponsored by a grant from Allergan Foundation. Nworah Ayogu, MS3L. Nicolas Gonzalez Castro, MS3Alicia Fernanda Henriquez, MS3Thomas Hughes Jr., MS2Armina Omole, MS3/MSTP8Clifford Andre Pierre, CC3Amanda Sandoval, MS2Blanca Valdovinos, MS2

Movement Disorders Research Award Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology, the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation and the AAN Movement Disorders Section and endowed by the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.C. Warren Olanow, MD, FAAN / New York

Neuroscience Research Prize Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society. Samantha Marquez / Midlothian, Va.Brett Roston / Bedford, N.Y.Sarthak Sinha / Calgary, AB, Canada

Child Neurology Neuroscience Research Prize Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology, American Brain Foundation, and the Child Neurology Society.Anna Thomas / San Jose, Calif.

Michael S. Pessin Stroke Leadership Prize Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by Dr. Pessin's family, friends and colleagues. Amy Towfighi, MD / Downey, Calif.

Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick’s, Alzheimer’s, and Related DiseasesSponsored by the American Academy of Neurology, the American Brain Foundation and funded through the philanthropy of the Potamkin Family. William J. Jagust, MD / Berkeley, Calif.Eric M. Reiman, MD / PhoenixMichael W. Weiner, MD / San Francisco

American Academy of Neurology President’s AwardSponsored by the American Academy of Neurology. Jerome B. Posner, MD, FAAN / New York

Bruce S. Schoenberg International Award in Neuroepidemiology Endowed by GlaxoSmithKline, Inc. Mauricio Farez, MD, MPH / Buenos Aires, Argentina

Sleep Science Award Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and the AAN Sleep Section and endowed by Cephalon, Inc. Michael H. Silber, MB, ChB, FAAN / Rochester, Minn.

H. Richard Tyler Award Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and the AAN Archive Committee. Michel C. Shanny, MD / Toronto, ON, Canada

Harold Wolff-John Graham: An Award for Headache/Facial Pain Research Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by Endo Pharmaceuticals. K.C. Brennan, MD / Salt Lake City

Wayne A. Hening Sleep Medicine Investigator Award Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by UCB, Inc., Lilly USA, Elite Home Medical & Respiratory, Inc., Raleigh Neurology Associates, and friends of Wayne A. Hening. Andrew Lim, MD / Toronto, ON, Canada

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 25,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.