American Brain Coalition

The American Brain Coalition is a non-profit organization comprised of some of the United States’ leading professional neurological, psychological, and psychiatric associations and patient organizations. Together, we seek to advance the understanding of the functions of the brain, and to reduce the burden of brain disorders through public advocacy.

With an established presence in Washington, DC, the ABC will be a strong and powerful voice for the 50 million people with disabling brain disorders, bringing together organizations that represent concerned and interested patients, families, and professionals. This voice will be used to advocate for increased support of research that will lead to better treatment; services and support that will improve patients’ quality of life; as well as a national commitment towards finding cures for individuals with disabling neurological and psychiatric disorders.

On behalf of the 50 million patients who live with neurological and psychiatric disorders, we invite organizations that share our concerns and goals to join us in our advocacy efforts.

 Please view the ABC's Strategic Plan.  We encourage you to share this Plan with your boards and membership.

ABC is proud to announce the ABC Best Practices Award.  ABC's Advocacy Committee believes this is a unique way to recognize member organizations that engage in advocacy, whether it’s one activity per year or many activities over the year.  This is our way of welcoming all of our members to share your small and large advocacy activities with us and inspire other ABC member organizations.

 The Qualifications:

-All of our member groups are eligible and encouraged to participate.

-Whichever group engages in advocacy activities that prove effective because of a concrete outcome.  For instance, perhaps your group had a successful letter-writing campaign to Members of Congress that resulted in support for legislation.  Or maybe your organization hosted an educational activity in your home district that a Member of Congress attended.  Perhaps your organization presented a Member of Congress with a recognition award.  Maybe you educated your own members about the importance of advocacy or providing them with resources to do so (e.g. talking points).  These are examples of the kind of activity that we want to hear about that was successful for your organization.

-The activity being mentioned must have taken place anytime during March 2008-March2009.

-Each group is welcome to submit a 1-2 page story telling:

1) How your members organized, coordinated, and carried out their activity

2) What made your activity a success? (high participation, Member of Congress attended, number of letters sent, etc.)

3) Your members' experience during the visit or activity

4) Tips for other groups looking to do visits based on what your members learned during their experience

5) Pictures of the visit or event

The Deadline:

The deadline for applications to the ABC Advocacy Committee (AC) is WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2009.  Please e-mail them to Allison Wainick Kupferman, Governmental & Public Affairs Director, at akupferman@americanbraincoalition.org. The committee will select the winning group, which will be presented with the award at the Spring 2009 ABC meeting in Seattle on April 27, 2009.  The winning group's story will also be featured in the ABC newsletter.

ABC is pleased to provide our members with resources for meeting with your Members of Congress.  Our position papers succinctly state our positions on four key issues: federal science funding, chronic care, stem cell research, and the ethical use of animals in research.  The position papers can be located on the following web page:

http://www.americanbraincoalition.org/go/advocacy/position-papers

If you have any questions about meeting with your
Members of Congress, please feel free to contact Allison Wainick Kupferman
at akupferman@americanbraincoalition.org or at 716-625-6761.

Neuroscience Funding Opportunities for Young Scientists

The ABC feels it is important for young scientists to know about the various funding opportunities available to them, particularly from alternate funding resources. 

Below, we have compiled some listings from the National Institutes of Health, from patient advocacy groups, and from professional organizations, whose websites provide this information.

NIDA:   http://www.nida.nih.gov/funding/
             http://www.nida.nih.gov/funding/rfa.html
             http://www.nida.nih.gov/funding/resfundslist.html

NINDS:  http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/funding_announcements/funding_opps.htm

American Headache Society: https://www.americanheadachesociety.org/about/Awards.asp

International Essential Tremor Foundation: http://www.essentialtremor.org/research/index.php

National Ataxia Foundation:  http://www.ataxia.org/research/ataxia-research-grants.aspx

National Headache Foundation:  http://www.headaches.org/For_Professionals/Research_Grants_%26_Fellowships

Society for Neuroscience:  http://www.sfn.org/index.cfmpagename=FellowshipAndAwards§ion=professionalDevelopment