These awards are funded by the American Brain Foundation
Awards
Below are our 2021 recipients. View previous award winners here.
Advocacy Awards
Public Leadership in Neurology Award
Dr. Sanjay Gupta is honored with the Public Leadership in Neurology Award for his role in raising public awareness of brain health. As a neurosurgeon and neuroscientist who has become America’s doctor, and through his new book, Keep Sharp, Dr. Gupta has made a massive contribution to the public’s awareness of brain health for overall health.
2021 Recipient
Sanjay Gupta, MD
Ambassador Award
Khloé Kardashian is honored for her work raising awareness for migraine, a disabling disease that impacts more than 39 million people in the U.S. alone. For more than 20 years, she has lived with migraine, and knows first-hand that it is so much more than just a headache. Now, she is empowering those living with the migraine by sharing her story.
2021 recipient
Khloé Kardashian
Commitment to Cures Award
Cindy McCain is honored for the awareness-building and philanthropic work she has initiated for glioblastoma. She joined the American Brain Foundation board of directors in January 2020 to help raise disease awareness in the public conscience. Her fundraising work has helped advance neuroscience research and patient care.
2021 Recipient
Cindy McCain
Ambassador Award
The National Football League Players Association’s Mackey-White Health & Safety Committee is being honored with the Ambassador Award for its role in protecting players from and raising awareness of sports concussion. Formed in 2009, the Committee has led the effort to develop safety policies for past, present, and future NFL Players. Recent accomplishments include developing and instituting a comprehensive concussion management protocol in the NFL as well as informing COVID-19 policy that resulted in a completed 2020 NFL season.
2021 Recipient
NFLPA Health & Safety Committee
Scientific Awards
Scientific Breakthrough Award
The Scientific Breakthrough Award is given to an individual or group whose research has led to meaningful advances for the care of patients living with neurological disease. Funded by the American Brain Foundation.
Professor Goadsby’s basic and translational research over the past three decades led to the seminal discovery of the role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the pathophysiology of migraine and its identity as a target for drug development. He then led the design of a number of clinical trials that demonstrated the efficacy and safety of both small-molecule CGRP receptor antagonists (gepants) and monoclonal antibodies targeting the CGRP ligand or its canonical receptor. As a result, within the past three years, four monoclonal antibodies and two gepants have been approved for the preventive and acute treatment of migraine, respectively, and the lives of countless patients around the world have been changed.
2021 Recipient
Peter Goadsby, MD, PhD
American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Scientific Awards
Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick’s, Alzheimer’s, and Related Diseases
The Potamkin Prize is the highest honor in Alzheimer’s research that recognizes premier scientific research in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Funded by the Potamkin Family through the American Brain Foundation.
Dr. Ken Kosik, a neurologist, is the Harriman Professor of Neuroscience at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He trained at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, then Tufts and Harvard Medical Schools. He was on faculty at Harvard, achieving the rank of Professor in 1996. He is well known for his many contributions to neurodegenerative disease research and leadership in the field. Dr. Kosik’s career includes contributions to seminal biochemical discoveries such as the role of tau in neurofibrillary tangles as well as his current extraordinary work highlighting the efforts of the team in Columbia to characterize and learn from the PS1 kindred of patients—the largest genetically defined group of Alzheimer patients in the world.
2021 RECIPIENT
Kenneth S. Kosik, MD
Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick’s, Alzheimer’s, and Related Diseases
The Potamkin Prize is the highest honor in Alzheimer’s research that recognizes premier scientific research in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Funded by the Potamkin Family through the American Brain Foundation.
Dr. Giovanna Mallucci is the van Geest Professor of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Cambridge, UK and the Center Director of the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cambridge. Her scientific accomplishments have been extraordinary and field-changing. Mallucci has been one of the leaders in the growing research area of protein-misfolding disorders and modulation of proteostasis. She was the first to describe the role of PERK signaling over-activation in driving synapse loss and neuronal loss through repression of global protein synthesis rates. Her work has shown how neuronal death can be prevented by blocking this process with drugs in mouse models of frontotemporal dementia and prion disease.
2021 RECIPIENT
Giovanna Mallucci, MD, PhD
Sheila Essey Award: An Award for ALS Research
The Sheila Essey Award recognizes an individual who has made significant research contributions in the search for the cause of, prevention of, and cure for ALS. Funded by the Essey family through the American Brain Foundation.
Jan Veldink’s contributions to European ALS epidemiology and occupational exposure and genomics, including discovery of multiple new at-risk genes through Project MinE; his observation of genomic overlap between ALS and schizophrenia; and his explorations of gene/environment interactions move us closer to precision medicine in ALS.
2021 RECIPIENT
Jan Veldink, MD, PhD
Additional AAN Scientific Awards:
Bruce S. Schoenberg International Award in Neuroepidemiology
Dreifuss-Penry Epilepsy Award
Founders Award
Harold Wolff-John Graham: An Award for Headache/Facial Pain Research
Irwin Schatz Award for Autonomic Disorders
John Stolk Award in Movement Disorders for Young Investigators
Neuro-oncology Investigator Award
Neuro-oncology Scientific Award
Norman Geschwind Prize in Behavioral Neurology
Michael S. Pessin Stroke Leadership Prize
Mitchell B. Max Award for Neuropathic Pain
Movement Disorders Research Award
Neuroendocrine Research Award
Sleep Science Award
S. Weir Mitchell Award
Wayne A. Hening Sleep Medicine Investigator Award
Lifetime and Humanitarian Awards
Ted M. Burns Humanism in Neurology Award
The Ted M. Burns Humanism in Neurology Award recognizes the influence of the most benevolent and innovative in the field of neurology, celebrates neurologists whose work embodies humanism, and inspires neurologists to improve health care delivery and the lives of their colleagues and patients. Funded by the Ted M. Burns Humanism in Neurology Award Fund of the American Brain Foundation.
Dr. Quinlan is one of those rare individuals who has accomplished a tremendous amount in all domains of teaching, patient care, and research. Over the past 33 years, he has been an outstanding neurologist, exceptional scholar, and an educational leader within the neuromuscular field, as well as a leader in general within the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Medical Center. Dr. Quinlan’s charismatic and self-effacing style has made him a perennial favorite of students. His numerous recognitions point to his exceptional qualities, not only as a teacher, but also as a wonderful human being who inspires students, colleagues, and patients with his knowledge, integrity, down-to-earth style, and self-deprecating humor.
2021 Recipient
John Quinlan, MD
Association of Indian Neurologists in America Lifetime Achievement Award
The Association of Indian Neurologists in America Lifetime Achievement (AINA) Award recognizes a leader in neurology by their peers. The recipient will be a North American neurologist chosen based on their dedication to advancing the training of North American neurologists of Indian origin and promoting innovation and research in the field of neurology. Sponsored by the Association of Indian Neurologists in America Fund of the American Brain Foundation.
Dr. Seemant Chaturvedi is the endowed professor of neurology at the University of Maryland. He is board certified in neurology and vascular neurology and is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, the American Heart Association, and the American Neurological Association. A distinguished stroke neurologist, he serves on the Stroke and Vascular Neurology editorial board and is an ad hoc reviewer for multiple other journals. He has provided several CME programs, has been course director for several programs, and has mentored several stroke fellows including many from India. Dr. Chaturvedi has served on the executive committee of AINA, is the President of that body and is also an honorary member of the Indian Stroke Association. Dr. Chaturvedi has been invited to give multiple presentations around the world including at the Asian American international conference in Goa, India; Indian Stroke Association meeting in Pune, India; and the TS Srinivasan presentation in Bangalore and Chennai, India.
2021 Recipient
Seemant Chaturvedi, MD
Association of Indian Neurologists in America Lifetime Achievement Award
The Association of Indian Neurologists in America Lifetime Achievement (AINA) Award recognizes a leader in neurology by their peers. The recipient will be a North American neurologist chosen based on their dedication to advancing the training of North American neurologists of Indian origin and promoting innovation and research in the field of neurology. Sponsored by the Association of Indian Neurologists in America Fund of the American Brain Foundation.
Dr. Manmohan Nayyar is a board-certified neurologist with additional master’s degrees in business administration and healthcare administration. He is a fellow of the American Academy of neurology and has served as president of San Bernardino medical society and was awarded the president’s award by that society. Dr. Nayyar was also recognized with the legacy award by today’s women’s foundation. As to his service to the Indian community, he has served as the president of the Association of Indian Neurologists in America. He was also instrumental in establishing the lifetime achievement award while working in collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology. He has done charitable work and provided neurology services free of charge in Vrindavan, India through the Vishwa Shanti Seva charitable trust. He also established a computer science lab at Vatslya Graham at Mathura India in which the lab was named after him and has also established an endowed fellowship at SUNY Buffalo.
2021 Recipient
Manmohan Nayyar, MD, FAAN, MBA, MHA
Mridha Spirit of Neurology Humanitarian Award
The Mridha Spirit of Neurology Award is a humanitarian award for a neurologist or neuroscientist working in an impoverished community of the world. Funded by the American Brain Foundation and the philanthropy of Dr. and Mrs. Mridha, and endowed by gifts to Dr. Debasish and Chinu Mridha Endowment Fund.
For advocacy, mentorship, and leadership in providing sustained, compassionate neurologic care and leadership for vulnerable populations throughout the world—from First Nation persons in Canada and the USA, to the Syrian conflict and Iraq War. Her work includes introducing public health neurological needs and advocating for global perspectives with neurologists’ broader vision.
2021 Recipient
Farrah Mateen, MD, PhD
Mridha Spirit of Neurology Humanitarian Award
The Mridha Spirit of Neurology Award is a humanitarian award for a neurologist or neuroscientist working in an impoverished community of the world. Funded by the American Brain Foundation and the philanthropy of Dr. and Mrs. Mridha, and endowed by gifts to Dr. Debasish and Chinu Mridha Endowment Fund.
For selfless and compassionate leadership which has led to the transformation of neurological care in Zambia, a country of 18 million people which had no neurological resources for local people when Dr. Saylor moved there in 2018. She established the first in patient neurology service at the University Teaching Hospital and launched Zambia’s first post-graduate neurology training program. Today 15 neurologists have graduated from the program and are providing local neurological care. Moreover, Dr. Saylor leads a research consortium that has uplifted residents in the training program and from other African countries.
2021 Recipient
Deanna Saylor, MD, MHS
Mridha Spirit of Neurology Humanitarian Award
The Mridha Spirit of Neurology Award is a humanitarian award for a neurologist or neuroscientist working in an impoverished community of the world. Funded by the American Brain Foundation and the philanthropy of Dr. and Mrs. Mridha, and endowed by gifts to Dr. Debasish and Chinu Mridha Endowment Fund.
For his kindness, compassion, care, and caring in his contributions to serving the impoverished patients in India. He has led free CME programs every year to local physicians in India, at his own expense, so that they can provide excellent neurologic care to the underserved. As President of the Association of Indian Neurologists, Dr. Singh has also led efforts in the U.S. and in India to serve the under-served.
2021 Recipient
