Sunny San Diego welcomed us for the2012 AES Annual Meeting. Despite theworldwide economy, attendance wassimilar to last year and session roomswere full.

Attendance was over 4,500 peoplerepresenting 66 different countriesincluding: Chile, Cyprus, DominicanRepublic, Egypt, Honduras, Ireland,Nigeria, Peru, Serbia, Thailand, UnitedArab Emirates, and Vietnam. Fifty-eightpercent of attendees were AES membersand sixty-four percent from the U.S. Asignificant number of attendees are non-members and from other countries. MDsstill make up the largest percentage of attendees, at 53 percent.Other specialty groups such as basic science researchers, nurses,nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacologists,psychologists, psychiatrists, veterinarians and others make up therest of the group. A total of 611 were registered as residents,students or fellows this year.

Attendees were kept busy with 15 lectures and symposia, 15Investigator and Clinical Investigator Workshops, 37 SpecialInterest Groups, six Skills Workshops, 27 Platform Sessions and1,169 Posters. The most popular symposia were the PresidentialSymposium with over 1,400 registered and the Merritt PutnamSymposium with just under 1,400 registered.

The guided poster tours continued to be very popular. Large crowdsfollowed the tour leaders over the three Poster Sessions. The lunchbreak on all three days was dedicated to poster presentations, withno other programming or activities allowed. This ensured that poster

authors had an audience. The Exhibit Hallshowcased 83 commercial and non-profitexhibitors and hosted lunch and snackbreaks each of the three days. Onefeature of the Exhibit Hall was theEpilepsy Resource Center where many ofthe non-profit and patient advocacyorganizations presented on theirprograms. The Exhibit Hall also featuredInnovation Pavilions which companies usedto showcase new technology, patient artand chalk drawings. This was in additionto the Scientific Exhibits which wereelsewhere in the Convention Centerfeaturing the up and coming research ofcommercial entities.

During the meeting, the Society honored several members for theirresearch and service. The Epilepsy Research Recognition Awardsare considered the most prestigious prizes for research inepilepsy. The AES gives two of these awards annually to activescientists and clinicians working in all aspects of epilepsy research.The awards are designed to recognize professional excellencereflected in a distinguished history of research or importantpromise for the improved understanding, diagnosis and treatmentof epilepsy.

Richard Miles, Ph.D., director of the group Cortex and Epilepsy ofthe Institute for the Brain and Spinal Cord, Centre HospitalierUniveristaire Pité-Salpêtrière, Paris, received the 2012 BasicScience Investigator Award on December 1, 2012 during theannual Presidential Symposium. Renzo Guerrini, M.D., Director andProfessor of Pediatric Neurology and Psychology, Department of

Volume 22, No. 1 | Winter 2013w w w. A E S N E T. o r g

AMER ICAN EP ILEPSY SOCIETY

Inside This IssueFEATURES2012 Annual Meeting Recap ........................................1Important Dates ................................................................12013 Board of Directors ..............................................3Seed Grant Program ......................................................6Members In the News ....................................................72012 Annual Meeting ....................................................8Building for the Future ................................................12

COLUMNSFrom the President ..........................................................2NINDS Update ....................................................................4Epilepsy Foundation Update ..........................................5SIGnals ................................................................................10Calendar of Events ........................................................12

2012 Annual Meeting Recap

(continued on page 9)

Important Dates March 1 Abstract Submission Site Opens

May Hotel Reservations Open

June 13 Abstract Submission Site Closes

July Brochure Published and Registration Opens

August 26 Poster Acceptance Notices Sent

Mid-October Early Registration Discount Expires

Early November Deadline for Individual Hotel Reservations

Mid-November Pre-Registration Deadline

December 5 Registration Opens On-Site in Washington, D.C.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

Jacqueline A. French, M.D.

I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the Society as itspresident and am looking forward to an amazing year. I can’t thankDr. Frances Jensen enough for accomplishing so much during herterm. In particular, for the amazing accomplishment of achieving thecreation and release of first IOM report on epilepsy.

My priorities for the coming year include ensuring that AES investsin future talent. This year we will increase our efforts to bring thebest and brightest researchers and clinicians into epilepsy, helpthem get established and get them invested in our organization.Last year we developed the Task Force for Universal FellowshipTraining and launched the TUFT / AES Fellows program. At the 2012

Annual Meeting we hosted 87 fellows who were matched (in small groups) with mentors forthe Annual Meeting. I’d like to thank those mentors for volunteering their time during a verybusy meeting. In addition, ten fellows who have started towards careers in clinical researchwere selected to take part in a brand new, year round on-line training effort called EpiPORTor Epilepsy Patient Oriented Research Training. I hope to expand both programs this year toincrease the number of participants and include more disciplines.

I believe that integration into the world at large is important for AES so I will be encouragingcollaboration with the international community whenever possible. Last Fall we co-sponsoreda very successful translational workshop at the European Congress on Epilepsy in London.This is a perfect model for pooling resources and reducing overlapping efforts. Having servedon the North American Commission, I believe we can broaden that relationship to facilitatethese efforts.

Web, social media and technology are moving fast and we need to stay relevant. The AnnualMeeting app was successfully launched at the San Diego meeting and worked very well. I’dlike to see AES take the lead in providing easy to access content for our members and theepilepsy community. A new project, entitled Q-PULSE (Quantitative Practical Use-drivenLearning Survey in Epilepsy) was launched late last year to survey current practice trends.The Q-PULSE Task Force is developing the first survey and inviting the first expert panel toparticipate. I look forward to reporting results of these efforts later this year. We should belaunching several new online educational tools early this year that I hope you find useful.

Educational initiatives around the newly added qualification requirement are already in theworks. This is a wonderful opportunity to engage lots of people in the Society. The Council onEducation and staff have done a fabulous job so far. We need to continue to move forwardquickly and think about how we can serve other disciplines.

I would like to thank all the amazing volunteers who give their time and energy to making theSociety great, as well as our amazing staff. At present we have approximately 700 AESmembers involved in 60 committees and task forces. The AES is striving to be inclusive, andprovide opportunities for all members who would like to be active in the organization. Weencourage all members who would like to be placed on committees to update your profile andsubmit your CV and interests on the Professional Connection part of the AES website(http://connect.aesnet.org/Home/). It is very helpful if you specify what committee or taskforce you are most interested in, and highlight why / how you feel you could contribute.

My Presidential Symposium at the 2013 Annual Meeting will be on Epidemiology of EpilepsySurgery. There has been a significant shift in the type of patients who are being referred forepilepsy surgery, and who are undergoing resection around the country, and indeed aroundthe world. The shift consists of a reduction in mesial temporal sclerosis and temporal lobeepilepsy, and an increase in neocortical epilepsy cases. Many theories exist on why this maybe occurring, including a change in referral patterns, the development of more epilepsycenters, or a shift in underlying etiologic factors. I hope to explore the evidence for the shift,the data supporting some of these theories, and a discussion of how this might impactclinical practice and research.

I want to encourage all AES members, if you have any concerns about the Society or ideason how to improve things, to contact me and let me know. I am looking forward to a greatyear!

AES News is published three times a year by the American Epilepsy Society, American Branch,International League Against Epilepsy.

EditorDeepak K. Lachhwani, M.B.B.S., M.D.

Executive DirectorM. Suzanne C. Berry, M.B.A., CAEsberry@aesnet.org

Assistant Executive DirectorCheryl-Ann Tubby, IOM, CPPctubby@aesnet.org

Membership ServicesKathy Huckskhucks@aesnet.orgKate Flaherty kflaherty@aesnet.org

Director of EducationJeffrey D. Melin, M.Ed., CMPjmelin@aesnet.org

Assistant Director of EducationSandy Pizzoferrato spizzoferrato@aesnet.orgEducation GroupJoLynn Amsdenjamsden@aesnet.orgCindy Johanssoncjohansson@aesnet.orgPaul Levisohn, M.D.plevisohn@aesnet.org

Annual Meeting GroupElizabeth W. Kunsey, CMPekunsey@aesnet.orgElizabeth Pillsworth, CMP epillsworth@aesnet.org

American Epilepsy Society342 North Main StreetWest Hartford, CT USA 06117-2507 Phone: 860.586.7505Fax: 860.586.7550

Website: www.AESNET.org

Editorial DeadlinesSpring/Summer 2013 – May 6, 2013Fall 2013 – August 19, 2013Winter 2014 – January 13, 2014

Membership consists of clinicians, scientistsinvestigating basic and clinical aspects ofepilepsy, and other professionals interested inseizure disorders. Members represent bothpediatric and adult aspects of epilepsy.

©2013 American Epilepsy Society.All rights reserved.

The American Epilepsy Society promotesresearch and education for professionals

dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of epilepsy.

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2013 Board of Directors

PRESIDENTJacqueline A. French, M.D.New York, NY

FIRST VICE PRESIDENTElson So, M.D.Rochester, MN

SECOND VICE PRESIDENTAmy Brooks-Kayal, M.D.Aurora, CO

TREASURERMichael D. Privitera, M.D.Cincinnati, OH

ASST. TREASURERWilliam D. Gaillard, M.D.Washington, D.C.

PAST PRESIDENTFrances E. Jensen, M.D.Boston, MA

BOARD MEMBERSJanice M. Buelow, RN, Ph.D.Indianapolis, IN

David M. Labiner, M.D.Tucson, AZ

Page Pennell, M.D.Boston, MA

Helen Scharfman, Ph.D.Orangeburg, NY

Shlomo Shinnar, M.D., Ph.D.Bronx, NY

Karen S. Wilcox, Ph.D.Salt Lake City, UT

EX-OFFICIOGregory K. Bergey, M.D.Epilepsy CurrentsBaltimore, MD

Douglas A. Coulter, Ph.D.,Research & Training CouncilPhiladelphia, PA

Philip Gattone, CEOEpilepsy FoundationLandover, MD

Brandy Fureman, Ph.D. NINDS / NIHBethesda, MD

Robert Edward Hogan, M.D.Council on EducationSt. Louis, MO

Cesare T. Lombroso, M.D., Ph.D.Boston, MA

Joseph Sirven, M.D.Epilepsy Foundation PABPhoenix, AZ

Dennis Spencer, M.D.,Development CouncilNew Haven, CT

Sheryl Haut, M.D.North American CommissionLiaisonBronx, NY

William H. Theodore, M.D.Communications CouncilBethesda, MD

James Wheless, M.D.Council on Clinical ActivitiesMemphis, TN

STAFFM. Suzanne C. Berry, M.B.A., CAECheryl-Ann Tubby, IOM, CPPJeffrey D. Melin, M.Ed., CMPMargaret Jacobs

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The American Epilepsy Society installed the 2013 Board of Directors at the 2012 Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA. Pictured here are the combined 2012 and 2013 Board, Ex-Officio members and staff.

AES Past Presidents

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NINDS UPDATEJanuary 2013 NINDS UpdateBy Brandy Fureman, Ph.D.

The National Institute ofNeurological Disorders and Stroke(NINDS) will host the upcomingconference, “Curing the Epilepsies2013: Pathways Forward,” on theNIH campus in Bethesda from April17-19, 2013. Registration is nowopen for this conference, which willinclude scientific sessions on majortopics in epilepsy research and willculminate in a discussion ofupdates to the Epilepsy ResearchBenchmarks. The Benchmarks are meant to engage theentire epilepsy community, and NINDS in particularconsiders the Benchmarks when planning new investmentsin epilepsy research. To inform discussion at theconference, NINDS has issued a Request for Information(RFI) for broad input on advances in epilepsy research,challenges and opportunities in the field, and roles theBenchmarks have played or could play in stimulatingprogress.

The NINDS encourages you to participate in the Curing theEpilepsies conference and to contribute your ideas to the

RFI. More details about the conference, including agendaand registration are available athttps://meetings.ninds.nih.gov/?ID=4069. Responses tothe RFI must be submitted online atwww.ninds.nih.gov/2013epilepsiesRFI and should bereceived by February 15.

The conference will also include a Poster Session.Individuals eligible to submit an abstract include those whomeet or are just beyond eligibility as an NIH-defined EarlyStage Investigator, graduate students and postdoctoraland clinical fellows. Abstracts will be accepted untilFebruary 1, and fifty (50) individuals will be selected toreceive travel awards and to present posters at theconference (45 individuals working in the USA and five fromforeign institutions). These travel awards will be sponsoredby NINDS, the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE),and the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance. Individuals who wouldlike to submit an abstract can do so when they register onthe conference website above. For any additional questionsabout abstract submission, please contact Dr. Miriam Leenders at LeenderM@ninds.nih.gov.

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Save the Date!Curing Epilepsy Conference: Pathways Forward

April 17 – 19, 2013Natcher Auditorium • National Institutes of Health

Bethesda, MD

Co-Chairs Drs. Anne Berg, Sam Berkovic and Kevin Staley askyou to save the date and plan to attend the third Curing EpilepsyConference. The conference will focus on advances inunderstanding both the basic mechanisms of the epilepsies andthe scientific opportunities for identifying effective treatments and“cures” for specific types of epilepsy. Sessions will include a PosterSession for early stage investigators, plenary sessions, andbreakout discussions.

Registration deadline March 24, 2013https://meetings.ninds.nih.gov/?ID=4069

.

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EPILEPSY FOUNDATION UPDATE

Despite recent advances in treating epilepsy, the condition continues to evoke negative stereotypes, fear anddiscrimination. To help people with epilepsy fight discrimination, the Epilepsy Foundation created the Jeanne A. CarpenterEpilepsy Legal Defense Fund (LDF). The goal of the LDF is to advocate for all people with epilepsy nationwide facingdiscrimination in employment, education, public services and other areas. The LDF makes case referrals to a nationwidenetwork of cooperating attorneys, and provides these attorneys extensive case assistance. Our case referrals involvesuch issues as employment discrimination, police misconduct, special education, and benefits entitlement.

Please consider sharing this information within your offices. This is a resource that you and your staff can provide topeople with epilepsy or caregivers who may have been treated unjustly in the workplace, school, or other areas of lifebecause of epilepsy.

For more information or to request assistance, see the Fund’s website, at www.epilepsylegal.org or contact us atlegalrights@efa.org or 800.332.1000.

National Walk for EpilepsyThe National Walk for Epilepsy is on Saturday, April 20, 2013 on the Washington Monument Grounds in Washington, D.C.You can register as an individual or join a team, participate actively or virtually, or just sponsor a friend, patient orcoworker. Joining an AES team means that the money raised comes back to the AES to invest in research. To join a teamgo to the walk website (http://giving.epilepsyfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk/walk?fr_id=1960&pg=entry), select Register Now,and then find the AES Team link.

That link will take you to a list of teams that you can either join or sponsor. Or go directly to the AES Team(http://giving.epilepsyfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk/walk?fr_id=1960&pg=team&team_id=25070).

All AES teams compete for a prize for the most money raised. Last year eight teams directed their donations to AES’sresearch funds. This year AES brought the second biggest group of walkers, and its teams together raised the mostmoney. A total of $41,171 came back to AES to fund research and training. You can help us beat that amount this yearby walking or sponsoring a walker.

Instructions are on the website for registering to walk or to sponsor someone.

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Seed Grant Program

The Research & Training Council is happy to announce anew funding mechanism designed to foster collaborativeinteractions between two or more established epilepsyresearch investigators through small seed grants.*According to Council Chair, Douglas A. Coulter, Ph.D.,“These are designed to enable information exchange /technology transfer, travel of postdoctoral fellows betweenlaboratories, and for small supply budgets. In the fundingenvironment that exists today, this kind of grantmechanism may serve to better leverage existingresources to allow more technically encompassing,multifaceted, multi-investigator proposals to cometogether, and be more competitive in the frenziedlandscape which currently exists at the NIH Study Sectionlevel. This funding mechanism has been implemented as animble process with a short application and a quickturnaround, which can rapidly provide modest funding forearly, fledgling collaborative efforts precisely at the timewhen this is most needed.”

Criteria:

• At least one PI must be an active member of theSociety

• Must be a new initiative that will add value to the fieldor fill a gap in knowledge

• Techniques in a collaborative effort must becomplementary

• Must involve two or more established investigators, atleast one of which is an epilepsy-focused investigator

• Although not required, trans-disciplinary projects,projects integrating clinical and basic research, andresearch directions with translational relevance areencouraged.

*An established investigator is defined as having at leastan Associate Professor or equivalent level appointment,and who has a history of successful NIH / NSF / VA funding.Their work can be focused on basic, translational, or clinicalresearch.

Funding: A maximum of five one-year grants in the amountof $20,000 each will be awarded annually. Grants are non-renewable.

DeadlinesThere are three rounds of consideration each year.Applications will be reviewed by a committee of theResearch & Training Council and results will be announcedwithin six weeks of the application deadline.

Submission deadlines (no extensions):

• March 29, 2013

• June 29, 2013

• September 30, 2013

Details can be found onhttp://www.aesnet.org/research/aes-sponsored-grant/seed-grant-program/.

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A scene from the 2012 Annual Meeting Poster Session

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MEMBERS IN THE NEWSNew Member of the Order of Canada

Warren T. Blume, M.D., FRCP(C), Professorof Neurology Emeritus at the University ofWestern Ontario in London, was recentlyelected as a Member of the Order ofCanada for his long and distinguishedservice to Canadian citizens who sufferfrom epilepsy. The Order of Canada wasestablished in 1967, Canada’s centennialyear by Queen Elizabeth II. It is thecenterpiece of Canada’s honors system

and is one of the country’s highest civilian awards. Electionas a Member recognizes a lifetime of outstandingachievement, dedication to the community and service to thenation. The Order recognizes people in all sectors ofCanadian society who have enriched the lives of many andmade a difference. The Order of Canada’s motto is“Desiderantes Meliorem Patriam” (They desire a bettercountry).In 1977 Dr. Blume, helped establish the first epilepsyprogram in Ontario and the second in Canada. He is knownaround the world for his atlases in electroencephalography,which have contributed greatly to the training of severalgenerations of electroencephalographers and epileptologistsas well as for his numerous publications that have providednew insights into the clinical pathophysiology of epilepsy. Hewas one of the founding members of the Canadian LeagueAgainst Epilepsy and was a leader in creating the EEGcertification examination in Canada. Dr. Blume received theJ. Kiffin Penry Award for Excellence in Epilepsy Care at the2012 AES Annual Meeting.

2013 Dreifuss-Penry AwardThe American Academy of Neurology (AAN)recently announced W. Curt Lafrance, Jr.,M.D., M.P.H., FAAN as the 2013 recipientof the Dreifuss-Penry Award. This awardrecognizes physicians in the early stagesof their careers who have made anindependent contribution to epilepsyresearch. The award is named for twoepileptologists who made outstandingcontributions to the field of epilepsy. The

award will be presented during the AAN’s Annual Meeting inSan Diego on Thursday, March 21 at 12:00 pm during theS48: Epilepsy: Therapy session.

Clinical Trials to Examine Generic Drugs for EpilepsyUniversity of Cincinnati (UC) clinician-researchers have received $2.6 million tostudy generic antiepileptic drugs as partof an effort to provide the U.S. Food andDrug Administration (FDA) with data thatcould lead to new regulations related toapproval of new generic drugs. The funding,from the FDA, the American EpilepsySociety and the Epilepsy Foundation, willbe divided between studies of generic

equivalence for the drug lamotrigine in two differentpopulations. The studies will be phase-4 clinical trials, whichare intended to gather information on an approvedtreatment’s risks, benefits and optimal uses.Michael Privitera, M.D., a professor in the UC Departmentof Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine and a UC Healthneurologist, is the principal investigator at the Cincinnatisite. Privitera is director of the Epilepsy Center at the UCNeuroscience Institute, one of four institutes of UC Healthand the University of Cincinnati. Michel Berg, M.D., isprincipal investigator at the University of Rochester inRochester, NY. Four other academic medical centers arealso enrolling patients. Researchers expect to begin enrollingparticipants early in 2013.One study will examine generic copies of lamotrigine fromtwo different manufacturers, one from the “high” range andthe other from the “low” range. This “chronic dose” studywill test how the generics perform when administered dailyover a several-week period, with the patients divided intotwo groups and switching copies twice over four testperiods for a sequence-randomized study. (Patients will alsocontinue their usual medications, including antiepilepsydrugs.) At the end of each two-week test period, theparticipants will undergo extensive blood level monitoring.The other study will compare the two generic copies withLamictal, the brand-name version of lamotrigine. Participantstake each medicine twice during the study period. This is a“single dose” study, in which patients take a single dose ofgeneric lamotrigine in addition to their regular antiepilepticdrugs and then have rigorous blood level testing over a 96-hour period.The estimated completion date for both studies is June 2014.To read the rest of the University of Cincinatti news releaseor find out how to refer patients to the study, go tohttp://www.healthnews.uc.edu/news/?/21761/.

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2012 Class of Junior Epileptologists from Mexico and their mentors.

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2012 ANNUAL MEETING

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Neuroscience, University of Florence, Anna Meyer Children’sHospital, Florence, Italy, received the 2012 ClinicalInvestigator Award. Drs. Guerrini and Miles also had thehonor of presenting Keynote Addresses about their researchduring the Annual Meeting.

David C. Taylor, M.D., Hon. F.R.C.P.C.H, retired FoundationChair in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and lately Head ofthe Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science, atthe University of Manchester, UK, proudly accepted theSociety’s most prestigious professional award fromPresident Frances Jensen, Lennox and Lombroso FundTrustee Tallie Z. Baram and Research Recognition AwardCommittee Chair, John Huguenard. The William G. LennoxAward is funded through the Lennox and Lombroso TrustResearch & Training and was established to recognizemembers of the Society, usually at a senior level, who have arecord of lifetime contributions and accomplishments relatedto epilepsy.

The 2012 J. Kiffin Penry Excellence in Epilepsy Care Awardwas also presented during the Annual Meeting. Warren T.Blume, M.D., FRCP(C), Neurology Professor Emeritus of theUniversity of Western Ontario, received this recognition onDecember 1. Presented by President, Frances Jensen, Mrs.Sarah Penry and Award Subcommittee Chair, GregoryCascino, the award recognizes Dr. Blume’s lifelong focus onand genuine concern for the patient with epilepsy as well ashaving a major impact on patient care and improving the livesof persons with epilepsy.

Dr. Bruce P. Hermann, Ph.D. received the AES Service Awardon November 30 from President Frances Jensen. This awardrecognizes an AES member who provides outstanding servicein the field of epilepsy and exemplary contributions to thewelfare of the AES and its members.

Nominations for these awards are solicited by the ResearchRecognition Award Committee during the summer.Nomination packages are reviewed early in the Fall and theawardees are selected based on a list of criteria. Theprocess for nominating can be found on the website athttp://www.aesnet.org/go/research/research-awards.

The Education Council, the Annual Meeting Committee andstaff are reviewing your feedback submitted through theonline Evaluator system. Keeping in mind that there aresome things that can’t be changed, your ratings andcomments are reviewed and analyzed each year and as many

as possible are considered in the planning of coming years.As of January 10, 325 meeting attendees have completedthe online evaluation.

A sample of some of the feedback that the Committees needto analyze follows:• A greater diversity of speakers — junior and senior

faculty• More clinical discussions• More complicated subjects for high-level epileptologists• Workshops that are really workshops• Build in more free time, meeting is too intense• Make it more affordable• More audience participation• Make it easier to find food• More controversy and debate format• Move to another time of year• Meeting needs to be longer• Open posters earlier• More pediatric sessions• Fewer evening sessions, need time for dinner.

The vast majority completing the online form are clinicians,so a separate online evaluation was promoted for the non-CME activities. This included the Investigators’ Workshopsand the SIGs.

Their feedback included:• Too early, but refreshing• Very good new information gained• Found the information at this SIG extremely helpful and

beneficial• Need more time for discussion• Liked the diversity and panel format, although more time

could have been set aside for audience participation• Would advocate for more simultaneously scheduled SIGs,

with perhaps different foci• Not enough workshops• Fantastic session — strong organization and execution!

2012 Annual Meeting RecapContinued from page 1

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2012 Basic Science InvestigatorAward — Richard Miles, Ph.D.

2012 Clinical Investigator Award — Renzo Guerrini, M.D.

David C. Taylor, M.D. accepted the William G. Lennox Award

2012 J. Kiffin Penry Excellencein Epilepsy Care Award —Warren T. Blume, M.D., FRCP(C)

AES Service Award — Bruce P. Hermann, Ph.D.

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SIGnals

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(continued on page 11)

SIGnalsFor more on what’s happening with your favorite SIG, log on toProfessional Connections and join the discussion. You will find SIGsunder the Directory Tab.

SleepMark Quigg, M.D.The topic for the 2012 meeting was to review currentknowledge on the types and severity of interruptions ofsleep in the patient with epilepsy. Three speakers coveredbasic and clinical research. Dr. Rama Maganti reviewed hisrecent work on the effects of specific genetic lesions ofthe biological clock on epileptic expression in a mousemodel. His work demonstrated that genes with clockfunction demonstrated diminished amplitude and aberrantcircadian oscillation. Dr. Carl Bazil reviewed aspects ofanticonvulsant treatment on sleep architecture andrelated cognition / memory in the human with epilepsy,noting that seizure control probably trumped changes insleep patterns with different anticonvulsants, but tailoringmedications to help treat daytime sleepiness or insomniaremained important. Finally, Dr. Selim Benbadis reviewedthe wide literature of effects of seizures and the epilepticlesion on sleep architecture in patients with epilepsy,concluding that medically-intractable epilepsy has the mostconsistent effects on sleep architecture, but clinicalsignificance of these effects were not clear. The meetingclosed with calls for ideas for topics for 2013.

Nursing Madona Plueger, M.S.N., RN, CNRN and Gigi Smith, M.S.N., APRN, CPNPThe Nursing SIG provided a wonderful opportunity for theManaging Epilepsy Well Network to present two programsthat had not been presented previously. Shelly Stoll, M.P.H.,presented the FOCUS program (Figure out, Observe,Connect, Undertake, and Study) that she manages at theCenter for Managing Chronic Disease at the University ofMichigan. The FOCUS program combines group discussionand one on one interaction for adults with epilepsy andpromotes self-regulation skills. The Program for ActiveConsumer Engagement in Self-Management (PACES) at theUniversity of Washington, was presented by Erica Johnson, Ph.D.,and Bob Fraser, Ph.D. PACES provides a group interventionfacilitated by a PhD psychologist and co-leader withepilepsy over eight weeks focusing on problem managementand goals setting. In addition, the AES 2012 NurseAwardees were introduced and three presented currentepilepsy research and quality improvement projects. It wasa great and informative meeting regarding current epilepsyinterventions.

The 2013 Nursing SIG will highlight nursing awardee posterpresentations. This forum fosters the development ofongoing nursing participation and collaboration in the fieldof epilepsy. The experience provides the nurses andparticipants more time to discuss posters than timeallotted in the conference hall.

Women’s Issues in Epilepsy Lisa M. Bateman, M.D., FRCPC and Mary L. Zupanc, M.D.This year’s SIG focused on controversies in themanagement of women with epilepsy. Despite the late hourof the session (7:30 p.m. Sunday) and the conflictingscientific and social agendas, turnout was excellent, withapproximately 120 audience participants. Using a case-based format, issues including adolescent care,contraceptive choices, seizure control in pregnancy andbone health for women with epilepsy were discussed. Anexpert panel, including Dr. Cynthia Harden from North

Shore LIJ, Dr. Georgia Montouris from Boston University,Dr. Alison Pack from Columbia University and Dr. PagePennell from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (all AESmembers) facilitated the discussions, with activecontributions from audience participants. Evolving from thecase discussions, introductions to the Epilepsy BirthControl Registry and the MONEAD Study were provided byDr. Andrew Herzog and Dr. Pennell, respectively.

The 2013 Women’s Issues in Epilepsy SIG will becoordinated by Dr. Danielle Andrade from the University ofToronto and Dr. Mona Sazgar from UC Irvine. The topic forthe 2013 SIG is still to be determined.

EpidemiologyAnne T. Berg, Ph.D.This year the Epidemiology SIG focused on terminology fordescribing and “classifying” focal seizures. We consideredthe varied terminology and communication needs fromdifferent perspectives including the epileptologist in aworld-class monitoring unit (Tobias Loddenkemper andSamden Lhatoo), a physician working in a developing, under-resourced setting (Ana-Claire Meyer), a randomized clinicaltrialist (Anthony Marson), and an epidemiologist involved inpublic health surveillance (David Thurman). Each discussedthe needs for precision, communication, and relevancewithin his or her own areas of specialization and alsohighlighted how important it is to be able to communicatein a common language across the entire field of epilepsy.An elegant presentation by Jeffrey Buchhalter onontologies, controlled vocabularies, and informaticsintroduced a way forward that has the possibility toaccommodate specific terminological needs, differences,and preferences for diverse applications while allowingclear, unambiguous translation across these settings. Thesession started off in the EMU with videos of patientshaving seizures and the attendees being asked to votewhether the seizure was simple partial or complex partial.Most abstained. There was a lively discussion, andsuggestions encouraging straight-forward descriptions ofictal events based on what is actually observed (notinferred or assumed), could greatly enhance communicationfor all purposes, and might in fact be easier for thenonspecialist, than trying to decide between “simple” and“complex,” terms which largely failed the attendees fordescribing the seizures in the videos.

Overall, we hope everyone came away with old notionschallenged a bit and with some worthwhile thoughts toconsider as the field moves forward.

Pediatric EpilepsyElaine Wyllie, M.D.The program featured six dynamic case presentations byrenowned faculty. Dr. Jorge Gonzalez-Martinez illustratedthe unparalleled value of stereo EEG with depth electrodesfor surgical planning in non-lesional opercular / insularepilepsy. Dr. Kevin Chapman highlighted the importance ofrecognizing steroid responsive encephalopathy associatedwith autoimmune thyroiditis, aka Hashimoto’sencephalopathy. Dr. Tobias Loddenkemper underscored therole of epilepsy surgery for children with an earlydevelopmental brain lesion and ESES. Dr. Elia PestanaKnight focused attention on the approach to treatment ofobese children with epilepsy. Dr. Elaine Wyllie exploredoptions for epilepsy surgery in children with MRIabnormalities in the contralateral hemisphere. Dr. Ajay Gupta addressed challenges of epilepsy surgery inchildren with tuberous sclerosis complex.

Each of these illustrative cases showcased effective andinnovative approaches to challenging clinical problems.

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Dr. Gupta’s case serves as an example. He presented a 6-year-old girl with very frequent daily complex partialseizures and clusters of epileptic spasms, several irritativeand ictal onset zones identified on video EEG, multiplebilateral tubers on MRI, and multiple regions ofhypometabolism on FDG PET. Through meticulouspreoperative analysis and intraoperativeelectrocorticography, Dr. Gupta and neurosurgeon Dr.William Bingaman were able to identify two predominanttuber clusters for resection, in the right centroparietaland right precentral frontal regions. Their highly gratifyingresults — greater than 90 percent reduction in seizuresand marked improvement in quality of life at three yearfollow up — remind us that surgery may be beneficial forcarefully selected children with TSC.

As the field of pediatric epilepsy continues to expand anddevelop, it is increasingly important that we share ourexperiences and learn from each other. We are grateful tothe incomparable American Epilepsy Society for providingthe ideal forum for these discussions.

NeurostimulationErika Fanselow and Christopher DeGiorgioThe Neurostimulation SIG this year focused on threemodalities for seizure control: Cranial Nerve Stimulation,Deep Brain Stimulation, and Responsive NeuroStimulation.Dr. Erika Fanselow gave an introduction on the mechanismsof action of cranial nerve stimulation, specifically vagusnerve stimulation (VNS) and trigeminal nerve stimulation(TNS), and discussed mechanisms both unique and commonto each. This was followed by a presentation by Dr. MarthaMorrell on what we are learning from intracranialrecordings in subjects implanted with responsiveneurostimulation (RNS) devices. The data indicates thatlong-term response does tend to improve over time andthat responders may require less stimulation over time.Dr. Paul Boon described recent and compelling originalresearch in his lab on the mechanisms of action of VNS,and presented new work on deep brain stimulation of thehippocampus. Dr. Ian Cook spoke about investigationalclinical work on the use of trigeminal nerve stimulation fortreatment of depression. The session ended with anengaging debate led by Dr. Selim Benbadis on whether acenter can be considered “comprehensive” and not includeVNS as a treatment option.

Ketogenic DietSusan Marino, M.D.The 2012 Ketogenic Diet SIG explored “Hypothalamic andHormonal Issues and the Ketogenic Diet.” It was co-organized by Susan Masino and Elizabeth Thiele. The panelincluded Christina Bergqvist, M.D., University ofPennsylvania, Kristina Fenoglio-Simeone, Ph.D., CreightonUniversity, and Liu Lin Thio, M.D., Ph.D., WashingtonUniversity St. Louis. Christina Bergqvist led the sessionwith a clinical perspective on growth, including bonemeasurements, and hormonal issues comparing amongnormal children, children with epilepsy and children withepilepsy on the ketogenic diet. There was a generalconsensus that there is insufficient research in this area,particularly regarding hormonal effects and ketogenic diettreatment. Dr. Kristina Fenoglio-Simeone followed with abasic research perspective on cellular and molecularmechanisms in the hypothalamus, a target of seizure-genicfoci via polysynaptic projections, within the context of aketogenic diet. The kcna1-null mouse lacks potassiumchannels and exhibits seizures and sleep disturbances thatare both ameliorated by the ketogenic diet. She highlightedher emerging evidence for the modulation of kcna1-null

mouse hypocretin neurons in the hypothalamus by theketogenic diet. Dr. Liu Lin Thio finished the session with athought-provoking talk on evidence and hypotheses formetabolic, hormonal, and gut microbiota effects of theketogenic diet on hypothalamic function. There was sometime for discussion, and small discussions continued afterthe session. Audience members were informed about thenext International Symposium on Ketogenic Diet (Liverpool,2014) and they provided suggestions for future KetogenicDiet Special Interest Group topics.

Pregnancy Outcome Autum Klein and Elizabeth GerardThe Pregnancy Outcome Special Interest Group at the AES2012 meeting was an update on the international workbeing done to gather information on pregnancy outcomes inbabies born to mothers with epilepsy, with an emphasis oncongenital malformations. The six speakers in order wereDr. Norman Delanty from the UK Pregnancy Registry, Dr.Torbjorn Tomson from the EURAP Registry, Dr. TerrenceO’Brien from the Australian Pregnancy Registry, Dr.Kimford Meador from the Neurocognitive Effects ofAntiepileptic Drugs (NEAD) Study, Dr. Lew Holmes fromthe North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry,and Dr. Sanjeev Thomas from the Kerala PregnancyRegistry.

Dr. Delanty presented their findings on malformations inpregnancy, specifically their findings on levetiracetam inpregnancy, which was, at the time, in press withNeurology. In addition, he presented their findings onneurocognitive findings in development, their new researchon mechanisms that may cause malformations, and theimpact of their findings on prescribing patterns over time.

Dr. Tomson presented prior published articles on the dosedependence of malformations, and the change in dose ofAEDs across pregnancy. In addition, he presentedinformation on obstetrical outcomes including thedistribution of livebirths, abortions, and stillbirths andmode of delivery by AED and seizure control.

Dr. O’Brien presented the malformation rates of differentAEDs in monotherapy and polytherapy, as well as the risksof major malformations of women treated with AEDs insubsequent pregnancies.

Dr. Meador reviewed findings of the NEAD study includingIQ and other neurocognitive testing in children exposed todifferent AEDs in utero, the effects of folic acid accordingto AED on their IQ, and the handedness of childrenexposed to AEDs in utero. He introduced the MONEADstudy which is an extension of the NEAD study, and looksat obstetrical and neonatal as well as pharmacokineticparameters as well as neurocognitive effects of AEDs inwomen with epilepsy pregnancy and their offspring.

Dr. Holmes reviewed the trends of AED use over time inthe Registry, the latest spring 2012 publication from theRegistry on the rate of malformations with different AEDs,and new research looking at other neonatal effects oftopiramate.

Dr. Thomas presented information on rates ofmalformations by monotherapy and polytherapy AED as wellas average pregnancy dose of individual AEDs. Seizurerecurrence over time during pregnancy as well as seizurerisk by AED dose was discussed. Finally, there was aninteresting discussion on fertility in women with epilepsyand their hormonal profiles.

Finally, the session was completed with a case discussionin which the panel speakers reviewed their management ofAED use in pregnant women with epilepsy in light of thefindings presented.

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March 16 – 23, 201365th American Academy of Neurology Annual MeetingSan Diego Convention Centerhttp://www.aan.com/go/am13

May 18 – 24, 20136th International Epilepsy Colloquium: Epilepsy Acrossthe Lifespan Cleveland, Ohiohttp://iec2013.case.edu

May 25 – 27, 2013European Forum on Epilepsy ResearchDublin, Ireland, Sponsored by IBE and ILAEhttp://www.epilepsyresearcheurope.org/

June 8 – 11, 201323rd Meeting of the European Neurological SocietyBarcelona, Spainwww.ensinfo.org

June 19 – 22, 2013XII Workshop on Neurobiology of Epilepsy (WONOEP 2013)Lake Dupuis, Laurentian Mountains, Quebec, Canadahttp://www.ilae.org/Visitors/Documents/WONOEP-2013.pdf

June 23 – 27, 201330th International Epilepsy CongressMontreal, Quebec, Canadawww.epilepsymontreal2013.org

September 20 – 21, 20132nd International Symposium on HypothalamicHamartomasMarseille, Francehttp://www.sympohh2013.mcocongres.com/en/

September 30 – October 6, 20135th Eilat International Educational Course:Pharmacological Treatment of EpilepsyJerusalem, Israelhttp://www.eilat-aeds.com/

December 6 – 10, 2013AES Annual MeetingWashington, D.C.Registration open in Julywww.aesnet.org

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Building for the FutureHow many ways are there to say that we, your American Epilepsy Society, need your financialhelp to continue to provide fellowships, research grants and training programs that help youto treat and cure epilepsy? Over the past few years, you may have heard that more than 10fellowships and postdocs in epilepsy have been lost due to cuts in corporate or governmentfunding. Now, even the Epilepsy Foundation is decreasing its funding for post-docs andfellowships by half – it is no longer an option for AES to step up and fill the gaps to ensurethat research and training opportunities in epilepsy still exist – it is a necessity.

Imagine what could be accomplished if every member of AES made an annual contribution ofeven $10, $25 or $100! If you have not had the opportunity to make a contribution in thepast, why not start this year. If you are a previous contributor — thank you — and we hopeyou will consider increasing your donation.

Donations can be made by sending a check made payable to the American Epilepsy Societyand indicating the fund of your choice or you can go to our website atwww.AESnet.org/contribute and complete the online contribution form. You may direct yourcontribution to one of the funds listed below or ‘where it is needed most.’

• New Initiative Fund provides support for named awards, lectureships, junior investigatortravel awards. In addition, this Fund supports both pre-and postdoctoral research trainingfellowships that helps strengthen the connection to epilepsy research

• The Fritz Dreifuss Epilepsy Fund – Honoring the leadership and passion Dr. Dreifussbrought to the care of his patients, research and the mentoring of young physicians

• The Rebecca Goldberg-Kaufman Ethical Neuropsychiatry Award Fund – Raising the consciousness of the importance of psychiatry in epilepsy care

• The Lennox and Lombroso Trust supports programs funding fellowships and early careergrants for pre- and postgraduates, and newly independent faculty

• The J. Kiffin Penry Fund – An award recognizing individuals whose work has had a major impact on patient care and improved the quality of life for persons with epilepsy

• The Susan S. Spencer Fund supports a two-year clinical research fellowship designed toprovide clinical lab and methodology experience as well as execution of the research project. These training fellowships are designed for new investigators at the beginning of their career.