PAVING THE WAY TO A LIFE SEIZURE-FREE

By joint research, discoveries and innovation we seek to open the paths to new and effective methods of prevention, diagnostics and treatment of epilepsy and thus to fundamentally improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

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Invitation to Symposium on Drug-resistant epilepsy

Congress Centre Prague
June 20, 2023

Symposium titled Drug-resistant epilepsy in the 21st century: From molecular mechanisms to precision therapies is organized by the Epilepsy Research Centre Prague under the auspices of the European Paediatric Neurology Society, International League Against Epilepsy and the European Reference Network EpiCARE.

Symposium will directly precede the opening of the 15th Congress of European Paediatric Neurology Society.
Among the renowned speakers of the PreCongress Symposium will be most distinguished guests, namely Helen Cross, the President of International League Againts Epilepsy (ILAE), Jo Wilmshurst, President of International Child Neurology Association (ICNA), as well as Alexis Arzimanoglou, Coordinator of the European Reference Network EpiCARE.

Detailed Programme

Registration for both PreCongress Symposium and EPNS Congress is now open. It is possible to register for each event separately, however, there are reduced fees for the combined registration.

Registration

Prof. Pavel Krsek, MD, Ph.D.
Head of Czech Paediatric Neurology Society
EPNS 2023 Congress Chair

We look forward to seeing you in Prague!

THE EPIREC PROJECT

Current exponential technological advances combined with the extraordinary multidisciplinary synergies foster unique opportunities for innovative breakthroughs in the research and treatment of epilepsy.

Modern research of epilepsy, improved quality of diagnostic methods, development of novel medicines and their successful and fast translation to clinical practice all require close and efficient cooperation. Such collaboration is needed not only between the experimental and clinical epileptologists, but also among the molecular biologists, mathematicians, bioengineers, biochemists, pharmacologists and many other professionals united by the common research topic – epilepsy.

THE EPILEPSY RESEARCH CENTRE (EpiReC)

represents a multi-institutional consortium specialized in basic, clinical, and translational epilepsy research
is a transdisciplinary organization composed of multiple teams with a shared purpose
fosters close collaboration between academia and industry to promote joint Research & Development activities
represents a team of teams structure designed to tackle the most challenging aspects of epilepsy
provides an attractive environment for the top scientific teams, talented young investigators, and clinicians with the common passion for epilepsy

CENTRAL AIMS

gain insights into the causes and mechanisms of the most severe epilepsies in children and adults
foster the discovery of novel diagnostic tools and innovative treatments for epilepsy to improve the quality of life for people with epilepsy and their families
create an internationally recognized centre performing high-profile epilepsy research
educate and train future generations of scientists and clinicians interested in epilepsy research and epileptology

PARTNERS

Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences is a leading scientific institute of 400 employees and 60 principal investigators organised in 21 scientific and 7 service departments. Its mission is two-fold: to improve fundamental knowledge on the physiological and pathophysiological processes associated with the function of neuronal and brain system, cardiovascular system and specific areas of metabolism; and to apply its findings in biomedicine for better prevention, diagnosis and treatment of serious diseases.

Its experts collaborate with the clinical and academic units of EpiReC on various aspects of the research of epilepsy.

Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, is a top medical school in the Czech Republic. Its rigorous six year programme in general medicine is complemented by the paediatric and developmental aspects. Both language tracts (Czech and English) maintain favourable student-teacher ratios. Second Faculty of Medicine has a strong reasearch focus. Attached to the biggest hospital in Central Europe, it excels in many research areas including neurology and paediatric neurology.

Robust epilepsy research units composed of the investigators from the Department of Physiology, Pathophysiology, Adult and Paediatric Neurology and Neuroimaging are involved in basic, pre-clinical and clinical research of EpiReC Prague.

Motol University Hospital, with its 2238 beds, 6000 employees and over 70 000 hospitalizations per year is the largest hospital in the country and No.1 children’s hospital in Central Europe with 607 beds and more than 2700 births per year. Its departments cover all areas of adult and paediatric care including organ transplants and specialized care of chronic diseases, rare diseases and complex pathologies. Teamed with academic and research centres, Motol University Hospital is both a prestigious medical institution and a huge research enterprise.

Specialists at the Paediatric Neurology and Adult Neurology Departments equipped with the Electrophysiology and Neurogenetics Laboratories and an outstanding Epilepsy Surgery programme on site, advance the clinical aspects of research and care within EpiReC Prague.

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague educates students from 28 different countries in electrical engineering, communication technology, automation and robotics, informatics and computer science. Its research for medical application, civil protection and military institutions represents nearly one third of the top Czech technical university’s scientific outcome.

Colleagues from the Department of Circuit Theory study the interconnectivity of brain circuits and combine digital signal processing and image processing, statistics, graph theory and AI to supplement and enhance the standard evaluations of EpiReC neuroimaging experts.

MANAGEMENT

The project management structure consists of the Management Board, the Project Management Team and the Scientific Board.

The Management Board oversees the purpose, vision and mission, and the proper management of the project. Its seven members represent all partner institutions.

The management (project management team) is the executive body of EpiReC. It consists of two members—the Project Manager and the Deputy Project Manager.

The main purpose of the Scientific Board is to provide feedback on Centre’s scientific vision and to recommend and prioritize its research topics. The Scientific Board of EpiReC is an eight member body.

Chair of the Management Board

Prof. Vladimír Komárek, M.D.

Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University

Deputy Chair of the Management Board

Prof. Jakub Otáhal, M.D., Ph.D.

Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University
Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences