Cindy’s family established the Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research through the auspices of the Brain Aneurysm Foundation to honor Cindy’s life. Since inception, we’ve distributed more than $500,000 in research grants. These grants specifically fund scientific research directed at the early detection and prevention of brain aneurysms.
Each Chair of Research provides funding for one grant recipient for one year. Grant awards are presented at the Brain Aneurysm Foundation’s Annual Research Grant Awards Symposium during the month of September. Each year, the Research Grant Committee, a team of world-renowned neurosurgeons from The Brain Aneurysm Foundation’s Medical Advisory Board, carefully reviews all the research grant requests from neuroscience leaders and determines which projects merit funding.
The Brain Aneurysm Foundation has become the world’s leading source of private funding of brain aneurysm research. When possible, the research grant awards are presented by the grant donor. Researchers are honored to receive a Chair of Research and they are inspired by the personal stories behind each Chair.
A second Chair of Research was established in 2015 to recognize the fundraising efforts of the Escape from Alcatraz team led by Mr. Kevin Brennan. The grant is the TeamCindy-Escape from Alcatraz Chair of Research.
2023
Khalid Malik, Ph.D.
Oakland University
Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research (in conjunction with NYC Marathon Chair of Research) : $35,000
Awarded for: Integrating Federated and Neuro-symbolic AI for Improved Aneurysm Detection and Rupture Prediction
2022
Mark D. Johnson, MD
University of Cincinnati, Ohio
Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research: $30,000
Awarded for: Morphological Analysis Through the Use of Fractal Dimension as a Predictor of Cerebral Aneurysm Behavior
2021
John Thompson, Ph.D.
University of Miami
Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research : $30,000
Awarded for: Surface Modification of Flow Diverting Stents for Improved Cerebral Aneurysm Repair
Vincent M. Tutino, Ph.D.
The State University of New York Buffalo
Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research (in conjunction with Carol W. Harvey Chair of Research) : $30,000
Awarded for: Blood-Based Biomarkers Associated with Aneurysm Vessel Wall Enhancement of Post-Contrast MRI
2020
Ethan A. Winkler M.D., Ph.D.
University of California San Francisco
Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research (in conjunction with Buzz for BAF Chair of Research) : $40,000
Awarded for: Cell-specific Gene Expression Signatures in Human Brain Aneurysms
2019
Naoki Kaneko, M.D., Ph.D.
The Regents of the University of California Los Angeles
Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research: $30,000
Awarded for: Three Dimensional Correlative Mapping of Endothelial Gene Expression with Intracranial Aneurysm Hemodynamics
Adam Khan, M.D.
University of Minnesota
TeamCindy – Alcatraz Chair of Research: $30,000
Awarded for: Evaluation of Oral MicroBiome in Human Cerebral Aneurysm Growth and Rupture
2018
Khalid Mahmood Malik, Ph.D.
Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan
Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research: $40,000
Awarded for: NeuroAssist: An Intelligent Decision Support System for Prediction of Brain Aneurysm Rupture
Robert M. Starke, M.D., MSc
University of Miami
TeamCindy – Alcatraz Chair of Research: $40,000
Awarded for: Endothelial Cell Dysfunction and Differentiation in Cerebral Aneurysm Progression and Healing
2017
Steffen-Sebastian Bolz, M.D., Ph.D.
Governing Council of the University of Toronto
Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research: $25,000
Awarded for: Surge Protection: Blocking Catecholamine Signaling in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Prevents Secondary Hypertension and Reduces Brain Injury
Koji Hosaka, Ph.D.
University of Florida
TeamCindy – Alcatraz Chair of Research: $40,000
Awarded for: Mechanism of Aneurysm Progression and Healing: Telomere and Telomerase Activity in Cerebral Aneurysm
William “Caleb” Rutledge, M.D.
University of California San Francisco
Fight Like Frank Chair of Research: $15,000
TeamCindy – Alcatraz Chair of Research: $5,000
Awarded for: Role of ADAM17 and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Pathway Signaling in Aneurysm Rupture
2016
Ahmed J. Awad, M.D.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Health System
Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research: $20,000
Awarded for: The role of Epigenetic and Genetic Variants in the Molecular Pathogenesis of Intracranial in Humans
Matthew Alexander, M.D.
University of California San Francisco
TeamCindy – Alcatraz Chair of Research: $20,000
Awarded for: Genetic Analysis of Cardiovascular Disease and Inflammation in Individuals with Cerebral Aneurysms: Toward Propensity Scores for Predicting Development and Risk of Rupture
2015
William Gibson, M.D.
The University of British Columbia , Child & Family Research Institute
Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research: $25,000
Awarded for: Exome Sequencing Study of Dominant Mutations in Familial Brain Aneurysms
Hui Meng, Pd.D.
The State University of New York at Buffalo
Carol W. Harvey Memorial Chair of Research: $25,000
TeamCindy – Alcatraz Chair of Research: $10,000
Awarded for: Development of Blood-Based Biomarkers for Brain Aneurysm Detection: Stage II Model Development
2014
Pina C. Sanelli, M.D., MPH, FACR
North Shore – Long Island Jewish Health System
Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research: $25,000
Awarded for: Evaluating Microvascular Dysfunction as a Predictor of Delayed Cerebral Ischemia and Poor Outcomes after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
2013
Yunxia Tao, Ph.D.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research: $25,000
Awarded for: Pilot Study – Evaluate the Potential of using PKD1 Expression and Function Level as a Risk Marker for Intracranial Aneurysm Rupture
2012
Michael Chen, M.D.
Assistant Professor in Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Radiology
Rush University Medical Center, Chicago
Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research: $20,000
Awarded for: Timed Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women with Cerebral Aneurysms
2011
William Ashley, Jr., Ph.D. MBA
Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, Texas
Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research: $20,000
Awarded for: Neuroproteomic Analysis of CSF-derived Microparticles in Cerebral Vasospasm Following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
2010
Javier Provencio, M.D.
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research: $20,000
Awarded for: Timing Neutrophil Inactivation to Prevent Vasospasm in Murine Model
2009
Tom Schweizer, M.D.
St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada
Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research: $15,000
Awarded for: Neurocognitive, Neuroimaging, and Functional Profile of Patients after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage