ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The HYPERSOMNIA FOUNDATION, a leading nonprofit patient advocacy group dedicated to improving the lives of people with idiopathic hypersomnia and other rare sleep disorders, is pleased to announce the first recipient of its new Research Award program, Dr. Caroline Maness of Emory University.
Idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by an insatiable need to sleep (excessive daytime sleepiness). People with IH sleep normal or long amounts of time each night (often 11 hours or more per night), but still have difficulty waking up and struggle against persistent sleepiness throughout the day. Currently there are no FDA-approved treatments for IH, and persons with IH often suffer for many years before obtaining a correct diagnosis.
Dr. Maness is a second-year neurology resident at Emory University’s School of Medicine, and a 2017 cum laude graduate of Emory’s School of Medicine. She is also a 2011 cum laude graduate of Emory University’s College of Arts of Sciences, where she received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology. Between college and medical school, she was a science teacher at Benjamin E. Mays High School in Atlanta, where she taught biology, microbiology, human anatomy, forensic science and genetics.
Dr. Maness’ research proposal, which is entitled “Investigating Cytokine Profiles in the Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence,” received full funding from the Hypersomnia Foundation. “The more we understand about the causes of IH and related disorders, the better equipped we will be to find more effective treatments,” stated Dr. Lynn Marie Trotti, MD, MSc, the Chairperson of the Hypersomnia Foundation’s Medical Advisory Board. “Dr. Maness’ work will be an important step in understanding the potential role of inflammation as a cause or contributor to excessive daytime sleepiness and other symptoms of hypersomnia,” said Dr. Trotti.
The Hypersomnia Foundation’s Research Award program is designed to encourage research into idiopathic hypersomnia and other rare sleep disorders. The program is targeted towards persons who are in the early stages of their professional careers, such as medical students, graduate students, fellows and post-doctoral students. Applications for the Research Award program are accepted on a rolling basis; more information can be found on the Hypersomnia Foundation’s website https://www.hypersomniafoundation.org/research-award-program/.
The Hypersomnia Foundation’s Research Award program is funded through generous donations from individuals made to the Hypersomnia Foundation. For more information about the Hypersomnia Foundation and how you can make a tax-deductible donation to its Research Award program, go to https://www.hypersomniafoundation.org/donate/.
