Transforming Health Care through Innovative and Impactful Research

Consumer peer reviewer Nancy Elling is a pediatric neurology nurse recognized for her knowledge of and work in pediatric epilepsy and complex neurocutaneous disorders with special emphasis in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). She is also the mother of an adult child with TSC and has seen many of TSC's manifestations first-hand. Her personal and professional experiences drive her to help further research into this disorder.

Nancy is the coordinator of the Children's National Medical Center TSC Clinic, which serves 150 families throughout the mid-Atlantic region, and she works alongside Dr. William McClintock (attending neurologist at Children's) and other doctors specializing in neurology and other disciplines related to TSC. She runs the full gamut of services offered by the clinic including promotion of TSC awareness in the community and collaboration with the national Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance in research and in fundraising endeavors. She also coordinates the New Onset Seizure Clinic, where families receiving a new diagnosis of epilepsy in their children are provided information on seizure recognition, first aid, medication, and social aspects of epilepsy.

Of her involvement in the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Research Program (TSCRP), Nancy says that "the program not only draws the most talented and focused researchers from around the world, but provides an avenue for patient and other consumer input that is sorely lacking from other research programs." She commends "the positive, productive, and cost-effective manner in which the program staff ... operate the program" and asserts that "it has been both personally and professionally rewarding to serve as a consumer reviewer." The TSCRP too is rewarded by Nancy Elling's involvement-with her breadth of experience and knowledge, and absolute dedication to TSC research, hers is an immense contribution to the success of the program.