U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
<http://www.ninds.nih.gov/>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, March 26, 2007
CONTACT: Margo Warren, <e-mail: warrenm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Marian Emr,
<e-mail: emrm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, 301-496-5924
SCIENTIFIC MEETING ON EPILEPSY MARCH 29-30, 2007
Leading Scientists to Discuss Latest Research and New Therapies
WHAT:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is convening a scientific conference to evaluate and explore the latest research on epilepsy. "Curing Epilepsy 2007: Translating Discoveries Into Therapies" is sponsored by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). The meeting will include presentations from scientists, academic researchers, physicians, and patient advocates from around the world.
Why:
Epilepsy is a disabling and often fatal disorder, which affects people of all ages -- from newborns to seniors. There are approximately 3 million people with epilepsy in the United States and each year about 200,000 new cases are diagnosed. The goal of the meeting is to foster research to improve diagnosis and treatments that might one day lead to a cure.
WHEN:
Thursday, March 29, 2007 (7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) and Friday, March 30, 2007 (7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
WHERE:
Natcher Conference Center, NIH Campus, Bethesda, Maryland
The meeting will include:
-- Welcome by Story C. Landis, Ph.D., Director, NINDS
-- Keynote Address by Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., Director, National Institutes of Health
-- Patient introductions to scientific sessions
Scientific sessions will cover:
-- Epilepsy's effects on the entire patient including mental health and cognitive abilities
-- The various causes and progression of the disorder
-- New and more powerful diagnostic tests and procedures
-- The promise of gene therapy
-- The continuing social stigma associated with disorder
This conference is sponsored by NINDS in collaboration with: American Epilepsy Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy, Epilepsy Foundation, Epilepsy Therapy Development Project, Finding a Cure for Epilepsy and Seizures, International League Against Epilepsy, Milken Family Foundation, National Association of Epilepsy Centers, Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, and Parents Against Childhood Epilepsy, Inc.
The NINDS is a component of the NIH within the Department of Health and Human Services and is the nation's primary supporter of biomedical research on the brain and nervous system.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- The Nation's Medical Research Agency -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit <http://www.nih.gov>.
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This NIH News Release is available online at:
<http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/mar2007/ninds-26.htm>.
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