Migraine Research: Cure For Migraine Headache?

Migraine research is the hope that someday there will be a cure for migraine headache. Because now we know it isn't JUST a headache. It is a disorder, fast approaching acceptance in the medical community as a disease state.

Did you ever wonder why it takes so long for new migraine research to bring results to you the patient? It is partially due to the fact that this issue is tremendously underfunded, not only by the US government but also more recently by the pharmaceutial companies.

In the US, up to 80% of all research is funded by the drug companies, unlike European countries where the governments do most of the funding. In recent years, most of the drug companies who make headache drugs are pulling their funds as these meds go generic. This means Depakote, Topamax, Keppra, and Imitrex.

So who is left? FOUNDATIONS. The American Headache Society has formed the American Migraine Foundation to help fund research. The other new foundation is The Migraine Research Foundation.

migraine research

Finding Migraine Research Trials

You can participate in clinical trials. There are several ways to find these trials:

Ask your headache specialist who is doing research in your area
Visit the foundation sites above
Visit Clinicaltrials.gov and search for "migraine" or "headache"

What You Can Do

The US Government entity responsible for funding public trials is the NIH or National Institute of Health. In 2007 they gave $1,000 million for diabetes research, #297 million for asthma research and a paultry $13 million for headache! This is about $0.36 per patient in the US.

I attended the 2009 International Headache Society meeting where Cindy McCain (wife of Senator John McCain) was the keynote speaker. She too suffers from migraine and has promised to lobby for more funding.

You can donate to funding by visiting the above research foundations and giving some money. Even $5 can make a difference if several thousand people donate!