Headache basic science prize

Abstract

Headache may appear to be a lonely place for a basic scientist.Compared to related fields, such as pain or epilepsy, the number of basic scientists in headache is small; and attracting and retaining people to the cause can be difficult. Headache disorders are a leading cause of disability, but funding for headache research is disproportionately low. 1 Yet, despite these obstacles, the basic science of headache is expanding. The success of new evidence-based therapies such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) blockers and ditans has renewed enthusiasm for headache research both within and outside the field.Slowly but surely, basic scientists are being drawn by the potential for new discoveries, and by the call of novel problems looking for solutions.We at Headache have been thinking long and hard about how to promote and attract bright minds to the fundamental study of headache. To this end we have launched the Headache Basic Science Prize, which will be awarded for the first time in March 2022. This annual prize will honor the best discovery research