The First National Epilepsy Research Conference took place at RCSI on Monday, 17 May 2010.

Over 70 delegates, from basic scientists through to practicing nurses and clinicians, attended the conference. The meeting marks the start of National Epilepsy Week in Ireland, and will also incorporate the official launch of a new Irish charity, Epilepsy Research Ireland, which has been established to raise awareness and funds for research on the condition. 

Two highly acclaimed international scientists will present keynote talks – Professor Sanjay Sisodiya (UCL, UK) and Professor Merab Kokaia (Lund University, Sweden).

“Professor Kokaia’s work is a first step towards possible light-based neural prosthetics that could help control seizures by stimulating appropriate electric patterns in the brain,” said Professor David Henshall, RCSI, conference co-organiser with Dr Gianpiero Cavalleri, RCSI.

This is the first time epilepsy researchers from around Ireland have come together at a specific meeting to showcase their scientific and clinical research on epilepsy.