The ICNA is inviting applications from eligible candidates under the ICNA GBOD Fellowship programme. 

GBOD applications can be on any topic in Child Neurology OR could be specific to  COVID-19 (burden that COVID-19 has had on Child Neurology, both globally and particularly in Low and Middle Income Regions)

Ideas for a COVID-19 specific GBOD could include, but are not limited to, developing a registry to evaluate various impacts of COVID-19:

• COVID-19 associated neurological complications in children
• The impact of COVID on developmental and mental health in children
• Covid-19 Vaccination and impact on disease burdenImpact of COVID-19 on health care delivery
• Impact of COVID-19 on health care delivery
• Impact of COVID-19 on child neurology training

Criteria for the GBOD:

Applicants should be members of ICNA and ideally within 5 years of training (although others may be considered based on the discretion of the committee).

The award is up to $5000 USD for one year. Applicants are expected to provide a summary of their work for publication in the Journal of ICNA.

The deadline for applications (all topics) is MAY 1, 2022.

Click here to apply

If you have questions, please email Elaine Wirrell at wirrell.elaine@mayo.edu

The International Child Neurology Association ( ICNA ) is inviting applications from eligible candidates under the ICNA Global Burden of Disease Fellowship Program. 

GBOD applications can be on any topic in Child Neurology. ( Burden on Child Neurology, both globally and particularly in Low and Middle-Income Regions. )

The project should be feasible. It should have significant transferability. 

Criteria for the GBOD:

• Applicants should have valid membership of the ICNA.
• Applicants should ideally be within five years of training ( although others may be considered based on the discretion of the committee ).
• The award is up to a maximum of USD 5000 for an entire project, where an upfront payment of USD 2000 and the remaining USD 3000 will be given based on receipt of the interim progress report within two years of receiving an award. 
• Applicants are expected to provide a summary of their work for publication in the Journal of ICNA within six months after the completion of the project. 
• Selected projects could be presented at the 18th International Child Neurology Congress ( ICNC2024 ), Cape Town, South Africa, upon the acceptance of the committee. Additionally, winners could apply for ICNA-supported Travel Grant to present their research work at the following Congress. 

The deadline for applications ( all topics ) is May 1, 2023. 

You will be acknowledged for the results of applications by June 15, 2023. 

The application should include an Introduction and Background, Current knowledge of the topic, Methodology, Expected results, Timeline ( Gantt diagram ), Transferability and detailed budget. 

In case of any questions or concerns, please reach out to the Chair of the Research Committee, Dr. Nicola Specchio, at nicola.specchio@opbg.net.

Dr Edward Kija, Tanzania
Drs. Jo Wilmshurst, South Africa

Dr Kija completed the study below during his paediatric neurology specialist training through the African Paediatric Fellowship Program based at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, University of Cape Town. He collaborated with the University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy, Madison, WI, USA for analysis of some of the more specialised bone metabolism screens. The completed work formed the thesis part of his masters in paediatric neurology.

The study reviewed the effects of antiseizure medications (ASMs) on bone metabolism of children in a sub-Saharan Africa setting. The project was a hospital based cross-sectional study in a paediatric epilepsy service with a comparison group which assessed vitamin D metabolism. Seventy-five children with epilepsy and 75 comparison group were recruited. Vitamin D deficiency occurred in 11(16.2%) children with epilepsy versus 6 (8.8%) control group (p = 0.29). Vitamin D insufficiency occurred in 30 (44.1%) children with epilepsy compared to 27(39.7%) control group. Children on ASMs had lower mean vitamin D levels than the control group (p = 0.02). Children on enzyme-inducing ASMs had lower mean vitamin D levels (p = 0.08), vitaminD2 (p = 0.0018), vitaminD3 (p = 0.004), serum phosphate levels (p = 0.000), and higher mean parathyroid hormone levels (p = 0.03) compared to controls. There was no difference in dietary intake and ancestry, although the dietary content of both groups was low in vitamin D products. Low vitamin D levels were common in children from both groups, but statistically lower for the children on ASMs. Children on enzyme-inducing ASMs need screening for vitamin D deficiency. The literature supports extending this for all children on ASMs. This is the first study to report that children on enzyme-inducing ASMs have lower levels of Vitamin D2 and D3 levels, probably as result of increased destruction of vitamin D. Improved vitamin D intake for children in vulnerable settings is important.

Publication:

Kija E, Gidal BE, Shapson-Coe A, Cader S, van der Watt G, Delport S, Wilmshurst JM. Vitamin D abnormalities and bone turn over analysis in children with epilepsy in the Western Cape of South Africa. Seizure. 2019 Jul;69:186-192.

The ICNA is happy to announce two exciting research opportunities under the ICNA GBOD Research Trainee Fellowship program.The deadline for receipt of applications is  April 1, 2015

Applications are invited from interested Project Supervisors for Seed Grant Funding under the Global Burden of Disease (GBOD) Research Trainee Fellowship program a new initiative of the International Child Neurology Association (ICNA).