For the Media:

Epilepsy Research Foundation Issues New Million Dollar Epilepsy Research Funding Challenge

Effort Sparked by Success of First Million Dollar Challenge for Research Advancing Novel Therapies and Devices for Treatment of Seizures

Reston, Va., Landover, Md., June 22, 2005 -- The Epilepsy Project and the Epilepsy Foundation, non-profit organizations dedicated advancing innovative new therapies for people afflicted with epilepsy, announced today a new million dollar fundraising challenge to finance the New Therapy Grants Program—an initiative of the two organizations' collaborative Epilepsy Research Foundation. The effort, which will support cutting edge translational research in academic and commercial centers, is the second match challenge offered by Warren Lammert, Chairman of The Epilepsy Project and Board Member of the Epilepsy Foundation, and family on behalf of the Epilepsy Research Foundation. Building on the successful completion of the first-round million dollar match goal established in May, 2004, the new challenge seeks to raise $2 million in individual donations against a fresh Lammert Family pledge of $1 million.

"We were very pleased with the response from individual donors meeting the milestone of the Lammert family's initial dollar-to-dollar match opportunity for the Epilepsy Research Foundation. The good news is that in our most recent funding cycle we were able to support several outstanding research projects. However, the bad news is that we could only fund 3 out of 43 excellent grant applications," said Warren Lammert. "To meet the many complex treatment challenges presented by epilepsy, we need to bring more innovative and effective therapies out of the laboratory and into commercialization," he added.

In a related development, the Epilepsy Research Foundation announced today the three most recent New Therapy Grants recipients, each of whom are pioneering radical new treatments for managing epileptic seizures including: a revolutionary antiepileptic drug-delivery system via injection using nanoparticles designed to target specific epileptic regions in the brain; a new therapeutic agent formulated specifically for the treatment of neonatal seizures; and a new method of predicting and controlling seizures through electrical stimulation.

"We are enormously grateful to the Lammert family and to individual donors for their continued contributions to epilepsy research and to furthering our mission of condensing the time it takes to develop and commercialize new epilepsy therapies for those suffering the devastating effects of the disease," said May Liang, President of The Epilepsy Project. "Ultimately, the New Therapy Grants Program will bring us closer to providing successful treatment options for those living with epilepsy, and that can only be accomplished with much needed financial support to advance our understanding of epilepsy treatment and clinical medicine."

More than 2.7 million people in the United States and an estimated 50 million worldwide have epilepsy. In addition, up to ten percent of the population will experience at least one seizure at some time in their lives. While available treatments help many people with epilepsy, they are ineffective for one million Americans, approximately half of whom have persistent seizures under existing therapies, and the remainder experience severely debilitating treatment side effects. Further, people with epilepsy face significant barriers to independence and the enjoyment of life, including such obstacles as limitations on driving, unfair discrimination in school, social stigma, and an unemployment rate five times the national average. Epilepsy's medical and social cost to Americans each year exceeds $15.5 billion in current dollars. The personal cost is incalculable.

"We are very pleased to be able to facilitate the review of scientific grants for research that will bring us closer to a cure," said Eric R. Hargis, President and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation. "We are indebted to the Lammert Family for their initiative and generosity in making these grants possible."

All pledges to the Epilepsy Research Foundation directly fund breakthrough translational research designed to advance new products and treatments for epilepsy; all administrative costs are covered by the two parent organizations, The Epilepsy Project and The Epilepsy Foundation.

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About The Epilepsy Research Foundation

The Epilepsy Research Foundation was formed as a joint venture between the Epilepsy Project and the Epilepsy Foundation to fund new, innovative translational research to speed the search for a cure for epilepsy. Pledges to support the Epilepsy Research Foundation can be extended over a period of up to five years. All money raised will directly fund research programs aimed at discovering a cure for epilepsy and seizures. For further information, or to contribute, please visit http://www.epilepsyproject.org, http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org, or contact the Epilepsy Research Foundation at (800) 470-1655.

About the Epilepsy Foundation

The Epilepsy Foundation, a national non-profit with affiliated organizations throughout the United States, has led the fight against epilepsy since 1968. The Foundation's goals are to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; and to prevent, control and cure epilepsy through research, education, advocacy and services. For additional information, please visit http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org.

About The Epilepsy Project

The Epilepsy Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance new therapies for people living with epilepsy. Founded in 2002 by a group of parents, distinguished physicians and researchers, The Epilepsy Project's mission is to advance new therapies for people living with epilepsy. The organization supports the commercialization of new therapies through direct grants and investments in promising academic and commercial projects. Since its founding, The Epilepsy Project has raised over five million dollars towards its mission. For further information, please visit http://www.epilepsyproject.org.

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