Research We Support
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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Glossary of terms
2010 Thomas E. Heftler Migraine Research Award
 Anna Andreou, PhD, University of California, San Francisco
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, Ph.D, 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.
 Teresa Esposito, Ph.D, 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 upcoming pulication about her research.
 Golda Ginsburg, Ph.D, 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, Ph.D, 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.
  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.
  Julie Wieseler, Ph.D & Linda Watkins, Ph.D, 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, Ph.D.
NYU School of Dentistry, New York, NY
The effect of the CGRP receptor antagonist BIBN4096BS on the response to trigeminal nociception, activation andpro-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
MRF congratulates our previous grant award winners.
2008 Grants | 2007 Grants
In 2008, MRF Research Grants were awarded to:
 Nancy Berman, Ph.D.
University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
A Behavioral Model of Menstrual Migraine
Studying how estrogen levels regulate central and peripheral sensitization that lead to chronic pain.
 David Borsook, MD, Ph.D.
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Mapping Functional Brain Circuits in a Rodent Model of Central Sensitization
Using functional MRI to measure changes in brain circuits before and after central sensitization.
 Andrew Charles, M.D.
David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Central Mechanisms of Opioids in the Transformation of Migraine
Investigating the ways in which acute vs. chronic opioid administration may influence migraine by studying their effect on cortical spreading depression.
 F. Michael Cutrer, M.D.
The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Investigation of the Genetic Basis of Migraine: Building a DNA Library in Migraine Sufferers
Establishing a DNA library of well characterized migraineurs and matched controls in a searchable electronic database.
Read Dr. Cutrer's findings in Completed Research
Read more about Dr. Cutrer in Meet Our Researchers
In 2007, MRF Research Grants were awarded to:
 Richard Lipton, M.D.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Towards a Migraine Genetics Population Laboratory: Building on the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention Study
Testing a method of collecting DNA by mail from headache sufferers as the first step to building a genetic database on migraine.
 Michael Oshinsky, Ph.D.
Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
Glial Activation and the Chronification of Headache
Studying the transition of episodic migraine to chronic daily headache, a severely disabling condition affecting 4% of the US population.
Read more about Dr. Oshinsky in Meet Our Researchers
 Frank Porreca, Ph.D.
University of Arizona, Tucson
Behavioral Model of Medication Overuse Headache
Studying how opioid exposure causes changes in the brain which can lead to Medication Overuse Headache in migraine sufferers.
Read more about Dr. Porreca in Meet Our Researchers
Read Dr. Porreca's findings in Completed Research
 Ann Scher, Ph.D.
Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD
Migraine in Middle Age and Late Life: A Longitudinal Analysis of Factors Related to Migraine Prognosis in a Large Population-Based Cohort
Examining the relationship between migraine in middle-age and stroke in a group of Icelandic adults.
Read more about Dr. Scher in Meet Our Researchers
Read Dr. Scher's findings in Completed Research
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