Aut

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Epilepsy

Intellectual Disability

EpilepticEncephalopathies

Autism Speaks (AS)

International League against Epilepsy (ILAE)

The purpose of the ILAE-AS collaborative agreement is to establish a bridge of communication between clinical and research professionals working with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and those working with epilepsy spectrum disorders (Epilepsy).

ILAE-AS Task Force Members:

Roberto Tuchman (USA) (Chair)Eduardo Barragan (Mexico)Anne Berg (USA)Roberto Caraballo (Argentina)Daniel Coury (USA) Michael Cuccaro (USA) Dana Craiu (Romania)Hatem El-Shanti (Doha – Qatar) Varda Gross-Tsur, MD (Israel) Marilisa Guerreiro (Brazil) Makiko Kaga (Japan)  Daniel Lightfoot  (USA) Fernando Mulas (Spain) Eliane Roulet-Perez (Switzerland) Camilla Stoltenberg (Norway) Virginia Wong (Hong Kong)Lonnie Zwaigenbaum (Canada)

Andy Shih (Vice President for Scientific Affairs Autism Speaks) and Autism Speaks leadership

Members of Global Autism Public Health Initiative (Autism Speaks)

Solomon (Nico) Moshe (President ILAE) and ILAE leadership

Members of Pediatric Commission and Liaisons from other Commissions (ILAE)

The task force has been asked to identify clinicians, research scientists, national and international organizations that can facilitate the development of a clinical and scientific agenda that fosters and supports:

Clinical and basic science research common to both epilepsy and ASD.

Promotes services and care of children with both ASD and epilepsy.

Research on ASD and ESD common issues and concerns

EpidemiologyEpilepsy in Autism versus Autism in EpilepsyCommon Risk FactorsCommunicating Complex Results

Neurobiology: epileptogenesis/sociogenesis/biomarkersGenetic: risk genesNeuroimaging: temporal lobe epilepsy/socio-cognitive Neurophysiology: interictal epileptiform discharge (IED)

circadian rhythm dysfunctionNeurochemistry: GABA regulation; mitochondrial

dysfunctionAnimal modelsDrug studies/Epilepsy surgerySUDEP (Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy)

ILAE-AS TASK FORCE GOALS: Identify potential shared initiatives between the ILAE and AS that foster awareness and research on common etiologies and mechanisms of ASD and Epilepsy. Develop collaborative efforts between the WHO Global Campaign Against Epilepsy and the Global Autism Public Health (GAPH) Initiative. Organize a consortium meeting of clinicians, clinical and basic science researchers, national and international stakeholders to develop research benchmarks and address the clinical needs of individuals with Epilepsy and ASD.