The Migraine Research Foundation is the only organization whose sole purpose is to raise funds for innovative scientific research to further the understanding of the causes and mechanisms of migraine, to develop improvements in treatments for sufferers, and to find the cure.

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In 2012, MRF Research Grants were awarded to:

K. C. Brennan, MD and Dan Kaufmann, PhD
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

Sex, Stress, and Migraine

Testing the effects of stress on cortical spreading depression in mice and examining the effect of the potential anti-migraine compound SPD.

Larus S. Gudmundsson, PhD
The Werber Family Grant
Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD/University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland 

Psychological Stressors and Their Association with the Life-course of Migraine and its Comorbidity – a Longitudinal Study

Developing and validating a migraine-specific questionnaire to add to a comprehensive population-based study on stress and comorbidity of 100,000 Icelanders.

Paul Rolan, MD
School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Australia

Targeting Glial Inhibition to Attenuate Chronic Migraine: an International Double-blind Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial of Ibudilast

Determining the efficacy of ibudilast in the treatment of patients with chronic migraine.

Patric Stanton, PhD
New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY

N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Glycine Coagonist Site Modulation as a Potential Treatment for Migraine in Adolescent and Adult Females

Testing whether GLYX-13 can raise the threshold or prevent spreading depression in female rats and whether its effects are altered by estrogen.

Tony L. Yaksh, PhD
UCSD Medical Center, University of CA, San Diego

Role of TLR 4 and Glial Cells in Histamine and GTN Induced Migraine Mechanisms

Studying the relevance of TLR 4 in histamine and GTN induced pain behavior.

In 2011, MRF Research Grants were awarded to:

Andrea Antal, PhD and Walter Paulus, MD
University Medical Center, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany             
Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation for the Acute Treatment of Migraine

Studying the effects of inhibitory transcranial alternating current stimulation as an effective non-pharmaceutical acute treatment for chronic migraine.

F. Michael Cutrer, MD
The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Whole Exome Sequencing as a  Strategy for Gene Discovery in  a Large Well Characterized Family with Migraine

Using the newest sequencing technology for gene discovery in migraine.

Michael S. Gold, PhD
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Calcium Activated Chloride Channels as a Novel Target for the Treatment of Migraine

Determining the molecular identity of the ion channels that underlie pain receptor sensitization and blocking them as a first step in the development of a novel target for migraine treatment.

Jacki Ochs and Susanna Styron
Filmmakers, Human Arts Assn., New York, NY

The Migraine Project (working title)

Producing a feature-length documentary exploring the subject of migraine headaches.

To watch the trailer, click here.

2011 Thomas E. Heftler Migraine Research Award

Emily Bates, PhD
Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

Finding the Molecular Mechanism of Casein Kinase 1δ  Mediated Migraine

Studying the effect of a genetic mutation responsible for migraine with aura in casein kinase 1δ on estrogen signaling.

In 2010, MRF Research Grants were awarded to:

Trent Anderson, PhD
University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ

Neurosteroid Regulation of Cortical Spreading Depression

Investigating how hormones produced and acting in the brain contribute to the development of migraine.

Brandon Aylward, PhD & Scott Powers, PhD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH

The Multidimensional Impact of Migraine in Adolescents Presenting to Specialty Care

Examining the broad impact of pediatric migraine in adolescents presenting to specialty care.

Alexandre F. DaSilva, DDS, DMedSc
University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI

Endogenous Opioid Mechanisms in Chronic Migraine

Examining the effects of chronic migraine and its influence on neurotransmitter function of the endogenous opioid system, one of the main mechanisms associated with chronic pain modulation.

Richard Kraig, MD, PhD
University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL

Preclinical Development of Nasal Insulin as a Therapy for Chronic Migraine

Studying a mechanism by which brain activity can retard migraine susceptibility

Todd Smitherman, PhD
University of Mississippi, University, MS

Efficacy of Behavioral Insomnia Treatment for Chronic Migraine: A Randomized
Controlled Pilot Study

Testing the efficacy of a brief behavioral insomnia treatment on headache and sleep symptoms among patients with chronic migraine and insomnia.

Patric Stanton, PhD
New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY

N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Glycine Coagonist Site Modulation as a Potential Treatment for Migraine

Investigating new therapies for preventing the wave of neural depolarization associated with migraine

Colin Willis, PhD
University of New England, Biddeford, ME

Mechanisms of Blood-brain Barrier Dysfunction Induced Medication Overuse Headache

Examining changes in the integrity of the blood-brain barrier to see if they explain the increased likelihood of medication induced headache attacks.

2010 Thomas E. Heftler Migraine Research Award

Anna Andreou, PhD
University of California, San Francisco, CA

Corticothalamic Feedback and Trigeminothalamic Sensory Processing During Cortical Spreading Depression-Relevance to Migraine with Aura

Investigating activation of the thalamus during cortical spreading depression to better understand the development of migraine and auras.

Read more about Dr. Andreou in Meet Our Researchers.

In 2009, MRF Research Grants were awarded to:

Yu-Qing Cao, PhD
Washington University Pain Center, St. Louis, MO

The Effects of Calcium Channel Mutations on Trigeminal Ganglion Neurons Innervating the Dura

Studying the effects of calcium channel mutations on nerves in the dura which contribute to migraine.

Read about Dr. Cao's findings in Completed Research

Teresa Esposito, PhD
Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, Naples, Italy

The Role of Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor Genes in Migraine

Identifying glutamate receptor genes which may be associated with migraine with aura.

Read the manuscript of Dr. Espositio's research.
Read about Dr. Esposito's findings in Completed Research

Golda Ginsburg, PhD
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

A Pilot Study of Family-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Treating Chronic Pediatric Headache/Migraine and Comorbid Anxiety

Testing a novel cognitive behavioral therapy model for children with migraine and comorbid anxiety.

Richard Kraig, MD, PhD
University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL

Microglia and Cytokines Modulate Chronic Migraine

Investigating how inflammatory proteins alter brain excitability and lead to chronic migraine.

Read more about Dr. Kraig in Meet Our Researchers
Read about Dr. Kraig's findings in Completed Research

Markus Schürks, MD, MSc & Tobias Kurth, MD, ScD
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA

Identification of Genetic Determinants of the Association Between Migraine and Cardiovascular Events: A Genome-Wide Association Study

Identifying genetic risk factors for cardiovascular events in women with migraine from the Women’s Health Study.

-Read about the findings of Dr. Schurks and Dr. Kurth in Completed Research

Julie Wieseler, PhD & Linda Watkins, PhD
University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO

Why Opioids Enhance Migraine Pain: The Puzzle Points to Glia

Studying whether glial inhibitors improve the effectiveness of opioid treatment for migraine.

2009 Thomas E. Heftler Migraine Research Award

Marcela Romero-Reyes, DDS, PhD
NYU School of Dentistry, New York, NY

The effect of the CGRP receptor antagonist BIBN4096BS on the response to trigeminal nociception, activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine release
Using a new behavioral model of craniofacial pain in mice to expand the understanding of pain regulation and help in the development of improved preventive migraine treatments.

Read more about Dr. Romero-Reyes in Meet Our Researchers

To learn more about MRF's previous grant award winners, click here.

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