New York Researcher Receives $130,000 Award for Stroke Research

Newswise — SAN DIEGO– A New York researcher is receiving $130,000 for her research studying minor and rapidly improving stroke problems through the AHA/ASA/ABF Lawrence M. Brass, MD, Stroke Research Postdoctoral Fellowship from the American Brain Foundation, the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. The award was presented in San Diego during the American Academy of Neurology’s 65th Annual Meeting, the world’s largest meeting of neurologists.

Clotilde Balucani, MD, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at The State University of New York – Downstate Medical Center, was awarded the fellowship for her research to better understand symptoms in stroke patients after the stroke and how they change over time. By examining stroke patients in the ER, Balucani hopes to identify patients who are at a higher risk for worsening symptoms. The two-year award will consist of an annual stipend of $65,000 per year and is designed to encourage stroke clinical research with the goal of providing better treatment, prevention or cure of the disease.

Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the fourth cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. Clinical research is the fundamental transition stage between discovery and treatment. Clinical research provides the scientific basis for all forms of care, addresses patient and caregiver needs and is the backbone for drug development and cost-effectiveness studies needed to improve lives. Fellowships provide recipients with two or three years of postdoctoral research training, under the direction of an established scientist who provides mentorship for the project.

The American Brain Foundation, the foundation of the American Academy of Neurology, supports vital research and education to discover causes, improved treatments and cures for brain and other nervous system diseases. Learn more at http://www.CureBrainDisease.org.

The American Stroke Association is dedicated to prevention, diagnosis and treatment to save lives from stroke—America’s number four killer and a leading cause of serious disability. They fund scientific research, help people better understand and avoid stroke, encourage government support, guide health care professionals and provide information to enhance the quality of life for stroke survivors. For more information about the American Stroke Association, call 1-888-4-STROKE or visit http://www.strokeassociation.org.

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 Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.