Epilepsy and Bipolar Disorders

Dr.Jera KRUJA is a Member of Scientific Committee at European Academy of Neurology and Professor of Neurology at Mother Theresa University Hospital Center. Since 2014 she is (European representative) at Teaching Course Committee, World Federation of Neurology. During 2013-2014 she is a Rector of University of Medicine, Tirana and Member of editing board of OA Publishing London, WebMed Central Brain Editor, Albanian Medical Journal, Bulletin of Medical Sciences, University of Medicine, Tirana. She worked at Health National Contact Point, European Commission, CORDIS Fp7 programme(2010-2013). From 2003, she is a reviewer of European Journal of Neurology, Clinical Epidemiology, Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Journal of Pediatric Epilepsy. She is a Trainer of European Academy of Epilepsy since February 2003. She is the President of Albanian Society of Neurology (ASN) during 1998-2007.

Neurology, Neuroradiology, Epidemiology

Annamaria Vezzani obtained her PhD degree in Neuropharmacology in Milano at the Mario Negri Institure for Pharmacological Research. She spent her post-doctoral period at the Univeristy of Maryland in Baltimore working on the mechanisms of seizures generation in experimental models of epilepsy. Additional post-doctoral periods were done at the Univeristy of Stockholm and at the Karolinska Institute. She was on sabbatical at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2002 in the laboratory of Developmental Epilepsy. She studies the biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of seizures and epileptogenesis using experimental models. The present research is focused on the role of neuroactive inflammatory mediators in aberrant neuronal excitability underlying seizures. Focus of research is also on the mechanisms of pharmacoresistance. She has published over 160 original papers, several book chapters and reviewes in peer-reviewed high impact scientific journals (h-index 62). Since 1997 she is Head of the Laboratory of Experimental Neurology in the Department of Neuroscience at the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy. She is member of the Editorial Board variuos scientific journals includingf Epilepsy Res, Epilepsy and Treatments and Neuroscience, and she has been for 8 years Associate Editor of Basic Science for Epilepsia. She has been appointed of the Chair of the Commission on Neurobiology of International League Against Epilepsy (2005-2009) which is promoting initiatives for improving translational research in epilepsy. She is now liason member of the Commission on Neurobiology and active member of the CEA of the ILAE and various AES committees. She received the Research Recognition Award for translational research in 2009 by the American Epilepsy Society.

Neuropharmacology,Experimental Neurology,Translational Research in Epilepsy

Dr. Sanjoy Sanyal is Associate Dean, Clinical Neuroscience Professor, Surgeon and Informatician in Texila American University, Guyana, South America. He holds double Master's degrees from India and UK. He has published more than 50 papers in print and online journals. He is a Neuroscience editor and peer-reviewer of WebmedCentral. He has posted more than 300 Neuroscience videos online, accompanied by his running commentaries. He is currently writing a Neuroscience book for medical students. He has presented papers in more than 10 international forums. He holds a provisional patent from USPTO on a computerized program for staging 26 human cancers.

Neuroscience

Mr Mbusomuni Mahlalela (the national director) is the founder and of the Swaziland Epilepsy Organization. The organization was founded in 2002 and registered in 2004. The mandate for the organization is to raise awareness and to help reduce stigmatization associated with people living with epilepsy in the country. In 2006 the SEO affiliated with the IBE. The national director was a vise chairperson in the Road Safety Awareness Council(Epilepsy and Driving). Meetings that have been attended by the national director includes inter alia; Epilepsy Congress in Rome, Dubai 2 times ,Kenya and South Africa.The SEO has worked closely in sharing ideas with the South African Epilepsy Organization which has ensured the introduction of the South African Epilepsy golf in Mpumalanga branch. In Swaziland the national director has ensured the initial start up of the following; 1.epilepsy and driving campaign 2. Swaziland golf day (annual event) 3.Epilepsy yellow valentines 4.Epilepsy marathon 5.Epilepsy happy mother's day 6.Epilepsy cycling 7.Epilepsy support groups initiatives to help sustain the livelihoods for people living with epilepsy. 8. Mbusomuni Mahlalela has worked closely with the Swaziland government and parliament to ensure the availability of epilepsy equipment, and drugs furthermore the rights of people living with epilepsy . and the our website can let what I did for the country about epilepsy.

epilepsy

Dr. Hallowell served more than eight years as Associate Dean for Research and Sponsored Programs in Ohio University’s College of Health and Human Services and six years as Director of the School of Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences. Given her extensive experience in boosting successful publication and extramural funding successes of students and faculty members, she is frequently invited to provide action-focused workshops on research career development and on ways to foster productive interdisciplinary and international collaboration in research and education.

Neurogenic Language Disorders, Global Health, Technology Transfer, Engaged Teeaching/Learning Methods

Jane Paulsen is a Chair in Neuroscience from Roy J. Carver, and Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, Psychology. Her education is BS, Psychology with honours, Simpson College, Indianola, and completed IAMS, Psychology, from Columbia University, New York, NY. She did PhD in Counselling Psychology (APA accredited) from University of Iowa. She got Post Doctorate in Neuropsychology specialization in Alzheimer's disease from University of California, San Diego, and CA. Her Research Summary includes neural basis of cognition; preclinical deficits in dementia gene-carriers; frontal subcortical deficits, particularly Huntington's disease Research in this laboratory uses tools of neuropsychology and cognitive psychology to examine behavioral correlates of brain dysfunction. Topics of current interest include subtypes of Alzheimer's disease, preclinical cognitive deficits associated with gene-carriers of Huntington's disease and clinical/imaging correlates of cognitive measures. Functional MR and PET are used to examine frontal-striatal circuitry dysfunction in these disorders.

Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease , Parkinson's disease, Epilepsy.

Educational Background and Academic Titles 1968 M.D., Tokyo University Faculty of Medicine 1968 Residency at Tokyo University Hospital 1969 Residency at Tokyo Police Hospital 1973 Research Fellow at Sainte Anne Hospital(Professeur J Talairach), 1973-1975 1976 D.M.Sc.,Board of Japan Neurological Surgery 1981 Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, Tottori University 1984 Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, Tottori University 1995 Director, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Tottori University 1998 Chairman and Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Tokyo Women’s Medical University 2009 Emeritus Professor of Tokyo Women’s Medical University Honoured President of Moriyama Memorial Hospital(Tokyo) 2012 Honoured President of Moriyama Memorial Hospital(Tokyo) Honoured President of Shin Yurigaoka Genreral Hospital(Kanagawa) 2016 President of Tokyo Neurological Center Hospital Board ECFMG 1968 Japanese Neurosurgical Society (No 699) Japanese Epilepsy Society (No 33) Japanese Rehabilitation Society (Clinical Board 3718) Japanese Cerebral Stroke Society (No20030046) Japanese Neuroendoscope society (No1) Endoscopy for pituitary adenomas, craniopharyngiomas, and acoustic tumors. Japanese Headache Society, Japanese Dementia Society

Neurosurgery , Epilepsy

My background consists of hippocampal anatomy at light and electron-microscopic levels, in non-human primates and rodents. During PhD my work was focused on experimental models of temporal lobe in rodents. During this time I gained experience in anatomical studies, specially aiming to identify seizure-induced damage in the entire brain and in hippocampal plastic changes caused or related to seizures. My first postdoctoral experience was in the anatomy department under supervision of Ole Peter Ottersen, when I gained abilities to use the electron microscopy as tool to identify the sublocalization of glutamate receptors in the hippocampus. Back to Brazil, now under supervision of Luiz Mello, we focused on the establishment of a new model of temporal lobe epilepsy in non-human primates. I conducted studies examining behavioral and electrophysiological recordings of seizures as well as histological analysis. At the same time I started to use the magnetic resonance imaging as tool to investigate morphological changes in several brain areas after status epilepticus and in chronic epilepsy. In 2006 I got a permanent position as professor at Universidade Federal of Sao Paulo. Since them, I have followed two research lines: (1) experimental models of temporal lobe epilepsy and (2) experimental models of neonatal pain. In both lines I have focused my research on neuroplastic changes caused by these models and its consequences on electrophysiological and behavioral levels. By using Manganese-enhanced MRI, we have been able to demonstrate that hippocampal remodeling after seizures can be followed in both research models. From my research on epilepsy, I was able to demonstrate that thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a valuable tool to reduce cell apoptosis and inflammatory responses after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. By conducting DBS experiments in the chronic phase of pilocarpine, my students and I were able to demonstrate that it causes reduction of spontaneous seizures, reduces the hippocampal excitability and increases adenosine in the same area. The mechanisms underlying the adenosine actions in response to thalamus DBS are still under investigation. I am presently engaged in a number of collaborative efforts between my laboratory and various other laboratories focusing to understand how DBS affects neural networks. These studies include behavioral evaluation, record EEG and ex-vivo electrophysiology and MRI. These collaborations allow me to draw from a broad array of scientific expertise. In summary, my combined research experience in surgical implantation of electrodes, DBS, behavioral neuroscience and MRI will afford me an essential expertise and experience that will facilitate the successful implementation of the experiments outlined in this application.

Epilepsy

Domenico Ursino received the MSc Degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Calabria in July 1995. He received the PhD in System Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Calabria in January 2000. From November 2000 to December 2004, he was an Assistant Professor at the University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria. From January 2005, he is an Associate Professor at the University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria. From November 2015, he is a Vice Rector, Responsible for Information Technology, of his University. He is author of more than 160 papers. His research interests include Neurological Network Analysis, Social Internetworking, Social Network Analysis, Knowledge Extraction and Representation, Source and Data Integration, Multi-Agent Systems, Recommender Systems.

Neurological Network Analysis, Social Internetworking, Social Network Analysis, Knowledge Extraction and Representation, Source and Data Integration, Multi-Agent Systems, Recommender Systems.

Dr. Alberto E. Musto, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.E.S., is an Assistant Professor of Pathology and Anatomy, one of the Module Directors of the CareForward Curriculum, School of Medicine and Director of the Neuroanatomy, School of Health Professionals at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. Dr. Musto integrates an interdisciplinary approach in medical education and mentorship activities in neuroscience research in order to enhance research and diversity in the new medical curricula. Dr. Musto’s scientific goal is to identify potential biomarkers and preventive therapies for epilepsy. He has been bestowed with a lifetime professional honor in recognition of his accomplishments and dedication to excellence in epilepsy by the American Epilepsy Society. He has published in major journals in the field of neuroscience and epilepsy and he has been a member of NIH grant review study sections. Prior to join EVMS, Dr. Musto was at Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, where he completed his postdoctoral fellowship in neuroprotection and worked as an Assistant Professor of research in Neuroscience and Neurosurgery. Prior to that, Dr. Musto started his career in Buenos Aires, Argentina where he received board certifications in both neurology and radiology, completed postgraduate studies in medical education, management in health systems and a doctoral thesis in neurobiology. Dr. Musto has been involved in academic medicine during his entire career and is a regular speaker at national and international conferences.

Neurobiology and Neuroanatomy

Leon D. Iasemidis was born in Athens, Greece, and received the Diploma degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece. He subsequently earned the M.S. degree in Biomedical Engineering, the M.S. degree in Physics and the Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Michigan (1991–1993), a Research Assistant Professor of electrical and computer engineering, neurology, and neuroscience at the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA, the Director of the clinical neurophysiology laboratory, neurology service, Malcolm Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, FL (1993–1997), and a tenured Associate Professor in biomedical engineering at the Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA. Since 2012, he has been the Rhodes Eminent Scholar Chair and Professor of biomedical engineering at the Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, USA, the Founder and Director of the Brain Dynamics Laboratory (http://www.braindynamics.latech.edu), the Director of the multidisciplinary Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Science (http://coes.latech.edu/cbers) at Louisiana Tech University, and a Professor Emeritus of the Arizona State University. He held an adjunct professorship in neurology (2009–2012) at Mayo Clinic Arizona, and currently holds adjunct professorships in neurology (2013) at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, and neurosurgery (2015) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR, USA. His research interests include the areas of biomedical signal processing, complex systems theory and nonlinear dynamics, neurophysiology, monitoring and analysis of the electrical and magnetic activity of the brain in epilepsy and other brain dynamical disorders, intervention and control of CNS. His research has been highlighted in multiple forums, including the New York Times, Discover magazine, the Teaching Company, and the American Society for the Advancement of Science. He is internationally recognized as an expert in nonlinear dynamics, the detection, prediction and control of crises in complex coupled systems, is one of the founders of the field of seizure prediction and of two companies in this area. His research and more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, patents, interdisciplinary conference organizations, presentations, and invited talks have stimulated an international interest in the prediction and control of epileptic seizures and understanding of the mechanisms of epileptogenesis. His research has been funded by National Institute of Health, VA, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, National Science Foundation, DoD, the Whitaker Foundation, the Epilepsy Foundation of America, CURE, the Science Foundation of Arizona, and medical device industry. Prof. Iasemidis is a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers (AIMBE) and a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). He has served on the editorial board of Epilepsia, the IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering and the International Journal of Neural Systems, and currently is an Associate Editor of the Annals of Biomedical Engineering and a member of the editorial board of the journal of Epilepsy Research. He is a reviewer for the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and several other national and international funding agencies and foundations.

Brain Dynamics in Epilepsy