The Annette Funicello Research Fund For Neurological Diseases Funds Promising Neurovascular Research

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases, Inc. (AFRFND) has partnered with the International Society for Neurovascular Disease (ISNVD) to target the most promising research projects in the field of neurodegenerative disease. Novel approaches to understanding the complex failures of the blood-brain-barrier that result in neurodegeneration are welcome. Innovation should lead to the cure therapies that do not exist today, for diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), ALS, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. AFRFND will announce this year's research grant recipients at ISNVD's annual meeting 3/28.

ISNVD uses a mutidisciplinary collaboration and 21st century technology to look for the cause of neuro-degeneration in a completely new way; through the veins that serve the brain. With the energy and optimism of a VC looking for the next start-up company, AFRFND seeks to fund emerging, disruptive innovations. These often seem controversial at first, but neurological disease research could benefit from new perspectives. The "big payoff" for AFRFND will be having effective cure therapies that are FDA approved and widely available.

Prof. Robert Zivadinov, MD, PhD, past president of ISNVD, and director of Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center said: "The ISNVD is very excited to partner with AFRFND. The mission of the ISNVD is to advance the diagnosis, understanding and therapy of neurovascular disease with particular attention to the role of extracranial venous vasculature. There is an intense interest in better understanding the role of the extracranial venous system [veins outside the head] in the pathophysiology [cause] of neurological disorders. This grant program seems to focus exactly on this area. I hope that the funded projects will advance the scientific knowledge of the neurological disorders and will contribute importantly to the current understanding of the role of extracranial venous vasculature in neurodegenerative diseases."

AFRFND is a 501(c)3 non-profit. All AFRFND staff and advisors donate their time, eliminating overhead costs common to most charities.  Nearly all funds go to research, as Annette Funicello intended. In addition to its own fundraising activities, like the successful "Penny" campaign, and a Walt Disney tribute album, AFRFND relies on direct donations and fundraisers held by fans and friends. Visit www.AnnetteConnection.com for more.

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv1sRGUEA0c

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