AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION
201 Chicago Avenue, Minnapolis, MN 55415 www.americanbrainfoundation.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: The American Brain Foundation brings researchers and donors together to defeat brain disease. We believe that funding research across a broad spectrum of brain diseases and conditions is the best hope for reaching our vision of a world without brain disease. If we cure one brain disease, we will cure many. In 2019 the American Brain Foundation continued to increase its investment in the rising generation of brain disease investigators. We enabled neuroscientists to raise funding for vital research projects on our crowdfunding platform. And we honored outstanding scientists and members of the public who are leading the fight to defeat brain disease.

The American Brain Foundation brings researchers and donors together to defeat brain disease. We believe that funding research across a broad spectrum of brain diseases and conditions is the best hope for reaching our vision of a world without brain disease.

GRANTS: In 2019, the American Brain Foundation funded research projects in ALS, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, neuromuscular disease, Tourette Syndrome, cognitive aging and age-related memory loss, Lewy Body Dementia, stroke, myasthenia gravis and ataxia. We co-funded these grants with our research partners: The ALS Association, Alzheimer's Association, American Academy of Neurology, American Epilepsy Society, American Heart Association, Epilepsy Foundation, McKnight Brain Research Foundation, Muscle Study Group, Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, National Ataxia Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Parkinson's Foundation, International Headache Society, Society of Vascular & Interventional Neurology, Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, and Tourette Association of America.

AWARDS: The American Brain Foundation honored and provided financial support to leaders in the fight against brain disease-both scientists and members of the public. PUBLIC LEADERSHIP IN NEUROLOGY AWARD: The award honors an individual or group outside of the medical profession known for advancing public understanding and awareness of neurological disease, being effective advocates for neuroscience research, and making significant contributions to improve patient care. Ann Romney, former First Lady of Massachusetts received the 2019 award for her tireless advocacy and philanthropy for research on multiple sclerosis and other brain diseases. COMMITMENT TO CURES AWARD: This award honors an individual or group outside the medical profession known for their outstanding philanthropy and advocacy for research on a neurologic disease. Jeffrey Lurie received the 2019 award. A successful filmmaker and owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, Lurie was honored for his outstanding philanthropy for research on autism, in honor of his brother with autism. BOARD CHAIR AWARD: This award recognizes an individual who has played an outstanding role in building the American Brain Foundation. It was presented posthumously to Edgar Kenton, MD, a neurologist who gave generously to the Foundation for research and to promote diversity within the neurology profession. SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH AWARD: This award honors a scientist or team of scientists responsible for a significant research breakthrough in preventing, curing or treating a brain disease or disorder. The 2019 recipient was Jerry Mendell, MD, of Nationwide Children's Hospital. Dr. Mendell was honored for the genetic therapy he developed for spinal muscular atrophy, which has cured children of the disease and is in the beginning stages of use in certain forms of muscular dystrophy. ASSOCIATION OF INDIAN NEUROLOGISTS IN AMERICA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Through its fund at the American Brain Foundation, the Association of Indian Neurologists in America presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Ram Ayyar, M.D., Emeritus Professor of Neurology at the University of Miami. AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY SCIENTIFIC AWARDS: The American Brain Foundation underwrote the American Academy of Neurology's prestigious scientific awards, including the internationally-known Potamkin Prize in Pick's, Alzheimer's, and related diseases, and the Sheila Essey Award for Research in ALS. Other awards included: Dreifuss-Penry Epilepsy Award, Norman Geschwind Prize in Behavioral Neurology, Wayne A. Hening Sleep Medicine Investigator Award, Herzog Neuroendocrine Research Award, Mitchell B. Max Award for Neuropathic Pain, Movement Disorders Research Award, Michael S. Pessin Stroke Leadership Prize, Bruce S. Schoenberg International Award in Neuroepidemiology, Sleep Science Award, Jon Stolk Award in Movement Disorders for Young Investigators, Founders Award, and S. Weir Mitchell Award.

PUBLIC OUTREACH: The Foundation invested in several public awareness-building projects, including an inspirational video about our mission, a marketing plan, refreshed branding, a new, educational website. The Foundation conducted social media awareness campaigns on diseases such as Alzheimer's, Tourette Syndrome, and Parkinson's. traumatic brain injury, stroke, Alzheimer's Disease, and Multiple Sclerosis, featuring projects on its new crowdfunding site. The Foundation also built awareness of our mission through several events and projects, including: BRAIN HEALTH FAIR: provided educational materials on brain disease to nearly 2,000 patients, families and caregivers affected by neurological disease in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, at this event organized by the American Academy of Neurology. COMMITMENT TO CURES: An awards dinner at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting. BIKE HELMET GIVEWAY: Helping to distribute 3,000 free bike helmets to adults, children and nonprofits in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY CONFERENCE: The Foundation staffed a booth at the American Academy of Neurology's weeklong annual conference, which drew 14,000 members of the neurology community, and whose purpose was to build awareness of the Foundation and our work. OTHER CONFERENCES: The Foundation also staffed booths and conducted outreach at conferences of the American Neurological Society, and the International Alzheimer's Association.

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