PERF: Career Development Grants - CNS Elterman Research Grant

PERF: Career Development Grants - CNS Elterman Research Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Pediatric Epilepsy Research Foundation
Amount: US $150,000
Last Updated: February 27, 2026

Summary

The PERF: Career Development Grants - CNS Elterman Research Grant, established by the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Foundation in partnership with the Child Neurology Society, supports early-stage investigators in pediatric neurology. Eligible candidates can receive $150,000 over two years to conduct clinical or basic science research. This initiative aims to foster the development of researchers focused on pediatric epilepsy and related conditions, enhancing the field through innovative studies and collaboration.

Overview

About PERF® The Pediatric Epilepsy Research Foundation® (PERF®) was established in 2004 as a not-for-profit foundation to support research in pediatric epilepsy and other pediatric neurologic conditions. In 1994, two pediatric neurologists, Roy D. Elterman, MD (1) and W. Donald (Don) Shields, MD (2) filed an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate a study of vigabatrin for the treatment of newly diagnosed infantile spasms. They organized a national collaborative group, the Vigabatrin Infantile Spasms Study Group (VISSG) to allow participating child neurologists access to vigabatrin for patients with infantile spasms until the drug was approved by the FDA. Drs. Elterman and Shields received approval from the FDA to proceed with a single-blind, high dose versus low dose vigabatrin in newly diagnosed infantile spasms, which the members of the VISSG conducted between 1996-2001. The drug manufacturer, Aventis, later decided not to seek approval for vigabatrin in the United States (US). A start-up company, Ovation Pharmaceuticals, eventually purchased US rights for vigabatrin with the plan to seek FDA approval. The VISSG data proved to be essential for FDA approval. Because the VISSG study was not included in the purchase from Aventis, Ovation agreed to pay royalties for the data. It was decided that the highest and best use of that money would be to establish the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Foundation® as a not-for-profit foundation to support pediatric neurology research. PERF® funded it first grant in 2010. Since that time, more than $18 million has been awarded to support more than 65 research projects. Career Development Grants The Pediatric Epilepsy Research Foundation® (PERF®) in partnership with the Child Neurology Society (CNS) supports two opportunities for early-stage investigators (ESI) who are a legal resident of the United States or Canada and a Junior or Active member of the Child Neurology Society. These are the PERF®-CNS Elterman Research Grant and PERF®-CNS Shields Research Grant. An ESI is an individual who is within 10 years of completing their terminal degree or end of post-graduate clinical training, whichever date is later, and as a Principal Investigator has not received an independent grant, such as an R01 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or equivalent major support from another funding organization. CNS Elterman Research Grant This research grant supports clinical or basic science research by a child neurologist or developmental pediatrician early in his/her academic career. The selected investigator will receive a $150,000 grant of $75,000 per year for two years

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The applicant completed training in child neurology or neurodevelopment disabilities in an ACGME-approved program no more than eight years prior to application.There are no citizenship requirements however the research must be conducted in the United States or Canada.The applicant is a Junior or Active member of the Child Neurology Society. You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member. The applicant is a Junior or Active member of the Child Neurology Society

Ineligibility

Currently funded research is disqualified except for an NIH KL2, K12, T32, or R25 grant. Research does not need to focus on epilepsy.