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Apply by October 1 for 2022 AAN Research Program Grants
Apply by October 1 for 2022 AAN Research Program Grants
The American Academy of Neurology is committed to supporting researchers because we know that when you make a profound difference in the lives of researchers you ultimately make a profound difference in the lives of patients with brain disease. The 2022 AAN Research Program grants exemplify this commitment to promoting neurology and neuroscience research training across a wide range of career levels and discovery stages, and we encourage you to visit AAN.com/ResearchProgram to learn more about the following opportunities, the new application process, and to apply by the October 1, 2021, deadline. Career Development Award Funded by the American Academy of Neurology Clinical Research Training Scholarship Funded by the American Academy of Neurology Neuroscience Research Training Scholarship Funded by the American Academy of Neurology Practice Research Training Scholarship Funded by the American Academy of Neurology Clinical Research Training Scholarship in ALS Funded by The ALS Association and American Brain Foundation In collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology Richard Olney Clinician Scientist Development Award in ALS Funded by The ALS Association and American Brain Foundation In collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology Robert Katzman, MD, Clinical Research Training Scholarship in Alzheimer's and Dementia Research Funded by the Alzheimer's Association and American Brain Foundation In collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology Clinical Research Training Scholarship in Lewy Body Diseases Funded by The Mary E. Groff Charitable Trust, the Alzheimer's Association, and American Brain Foundation In collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology Clinical Research Training Scholarship in FTD Funded by the Holloway Family Fund of The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration and American Brain Foundation In collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology Clinical Research Training Scholarship in Muscular Dystrophy Funded by the Muscular Dystrophy Association and American Brain Foundation In collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology Clinical Research Training Scholarship in Parkinson's Disease Funded by the Parkinson's Foundation and American Brain Foundation In collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology
OCTOBER
Clinical Research Training Scholarship in Migraine Funded by Amgen, Inc., and American Brain Foundation In collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology Clinician Scientist Development Award in Myasthenia Gravis Funded by the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America and American Brain Foundation In collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology McKnight Clinical Translational Research Scholarship in Cognitive Aging and Age-related Memory Loss Funded by the McKnight Brain Research Foundation through the American Brain Foundation, and the American Academy of Neurology Susan S. Spencer, MD Clinical Research Training Scholarship in Epilepsy Funded by the American Epilepsy Society, Epilepsy Foundation, and American Brain Foundation In collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology
In partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, The
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and the American Academy of Neurology, the American
Brain Foundation's 2022 Cure One, Cure Many Award is a new $3 million research award created to improve the diagnosis of Lewy body dementia (LBD), the second most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia after
Alzheimer's disease.
Pre-proposals due July 30, 2021.
Learn more at AAN.com/COCM.
Axon 13 Updates: Treatment Prescribed for Acute Migraine Attack
The AAN Headache Quality Measurement Set underwent an update and published in Neurology® in September 2020. With this update, there were changes made to Axon measure 13 that are being implemented in Axon Registry® for the 2021 reporting year. These updates have expanded the ways in which a clinician can meet the measure. Numerator: Patients who were prescribed a guideline-recommended or FDA approved/cleared treatment for acute migraine attacks once during the measurement period. In addition to prescribing a guidelinerecommended medication or treatment to meet the numerator, the new numerator statement now allows non-guideline-recommended treatments to be provided if they are approved for use in migraine patients by the FDA. Clinicians can also prescribe other treatments such as neuromodulation to meet the numerator. Denominator: Patients > six years of age diagnosed with migraine. The new denominator statement expands the measure to children as young as six years old. Exclusions: All guideline-recommended or FDA approved/cleared treatments are medically contraindicated or ineffective for the patient Patient is already on an effective over-the-counter (OTC) medication or an acute migraine medication prescribed by another clinician Patient has a history of acute migraine medication overuse and additional medications contraindicated at time of visit Patient has minimal or no pain with migraine Patient and/or caregiver decline The first exclusion listed above was better defined so that a patient needs to have contraindications to all guidelinerecommended or FDA approved treatments rather than just one. The exclusion for OTC medications changed to better specify the difference between OTC and an NSAID that could be prescribed. Lastly, an additional exclusion was added for patients with medication overuse headache. There are changes to the keywords to reflect the new measure components. Some examples for practices to consider implementing are listed below: Keywords examples to meet the numerator: Imitrex 25mg* gammaCore prescribed Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator prescribed
* Note that there are many medications that can meet the numerator.
Medication names will only be searched in the medication field in the EMR, and not in the free form encounter documentation.
Keyword examples that satisfy the exclusions: All guideline-recommended or FDA approved/cleared treatments are medically contraindicated Patient has history of acute migraine medication overuse Patient is currently taking effective medication You can find more keywords on AAN.com/Axon or by contacting AAN staff at registry@aan.com or your Axon Registry account manager for current Axon Registry users.
AAN Takes Stand Against Neck Restraints
In May 2021, the AAN Board of Directors approved the following new position statement on the use of neck restraints in law enforcement.
Neurology and neuroscientist professionals have a responsibility to work toward improving the health of all members of society and educating the public on how to prevent neurologic injury. The deaths of George Floyd, Eric Garner, and other instances where neck restraints were used by law enforcement have called into question whether these restraints are controllable, safe, and nonlethal.1 In an editorial in JAMA Neurology, the authors review carotid artery physiology and the neurological sequelae that result from restricting blood flow or oxygen to the brain—conditions that occur with the neck restraints commonly used by law enforcement.1 The two neck restraint techniques used by law enforcement are chokeholds (“a physical maneuver that restricts an individual’s ability to breathe for the purposes of incapacitation,” by using pressure on the trachea to restrict oxygen to the brain) and “vascular neck restraints” or strangleholds (“a technique that can be used to incapacitate individuals by restricting the flow of blood to their brain” by using pressure to the carotid arteries).2 The medical literature and the cumulative experience of neurologists clearly indicate that restricting cerebral blood flow or oxygen delivery, even briefly, can cause permanent injury to the brain, including stroke, cognitive impairment, and even death. Unconsciousness resulting from such maneuvers is a manifestation of catastrophic global brain dysfunction. In addition, individuals with underlying cardiovascular risk factors are more vulnerable to suffering significant neurological injury from neck restraint techniques, and the burden of cardiovascular disease in the United States, particularly in communities of color, remains high.3 In sum, the neurological sequelae that result from limiting blood flow or oxygen to the brain due to the use of neck restraints are potentially irreversible and entirely preventable. Because of the inherently dangerous nature of these techniques, the AAN strongly encourages federal, state, and local law enforcement and policymakers in all jurisdictions to classify neck restraints, at a minimum, as a form of deadly force. Furthermore, because there is no amount of training or method of application of neck restraints that can mitigate the risk of death or permanent profound neurologic damage with this maneuver, the AAN recommends prohibiting the use of neck restraints. The American Academy of Neurology is the world’s largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, with 36,000 members. The AAN 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, concussion, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy.
References:
1. Berkman, J.M., et al. (2020). "Carotid Physiology and Neck Restraints in Law Enforcement: Why Neurologists Need to Make Their Voices Heard." JAMA Neurol. 2. National Consensus Policy and Discussion Paper on Use of Force [online]. Available at: https://www.theiacp.org/sites/ default/files/2020-07/National_Consensus_Policy_On_Use_Of_ Force%2007102020%20v3.pdf. Accessed April 9, 2021. 3. Carnethon, M.R., et al. (2017). "Cardiovascular Health in African Americans" Circulation (2017); 136:e393-e423.
AANe-news. Because Your Time Is Valuable.
Sent to your email address the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, AANe-news™ delivers the latest top headlines and resources from the Academy so you can quickly scan and connect directly with the information you need to know. Another members-only solution from your AAN.
Neurologists Press Congress on Telehealth, Research Funding, and Medicare Access
Due to COVID-19 precautions, the 2021 Neurology on the Hill was a virtual event on May 19, connecting 185 AAN members with the congressional offices of 46 states. Members urged representatives and senators to take action on three specific “asks” from the AAN: the permanent expansion of telehealth access following the end of the pandemic public emergency; research relief and recovery funding to the NIH and other scientific agencies to mitigate the adverse financial impact of the pandemic on scientific research, including neurologic disorders; and to avert the upcoming “Medicare cliff” that will adversely affect reimbursements and cause a substantial negative impact on patient access to care.
