Will you be joining us at our National Conference on September 20th?Have a look at our agenda for the day and be sure to get your tickets before its too late!
Agenda
The confirmed agenda for our conference is outlined below:
- 9.45am
Registration
Get ready for the day with a cuppa, say hello to fellow members of the epilepsy community and have a chat with some of the EI team! - 10.20am
Official Opening of Conference - with our Training & Quality Manager, and MC for the day, Edel Curran
Edel will give an overview of the day's proceedings - and warn speakers about her famous/infamous stopwatch to help ensure everything runs smoothly on the day! - 10:30am
How do we select new drugs for people with epilepsy? - with Prof. Jaqueline French,
We are delighted to welcome an internationally renowned speaker to our conference this year, with Professor Jacqueline French from the NYU School of Medicine joining us for our first input of the day. Prof French is an epileptologist at the NYU Langone Comprehensive Epilepsy Center in the US and specialises in clinical trials for new epilepsy therapies and devices - with over 30 years experience in serving as Principal Investigator for trials of new epilepsy medications. At our conference, Prof French will present a fascinating insight on this process and share her experience on how new drugs are selected for people with epilepsy - and provide her expertise on what might be coming in the future! - 11:10am
The Microbiome as a trigger for autoimmune epilepsy - with Prof. Gianpiero Cavalleri
Our next speaker of the day will be a bit closer to home, but is equally internationally renowned - with Professor Gianpiero Cavalleri from the RCSI/FutureNeuro joining us to share his expertise in the world of genomics. Prof Cavalleri is a Professor of Human Genetics and is Deputy Director of FutureNeuro - the Research Ireland Centre for translational brain research. With our latest research call recently launched, Prof Cavalleria will speak about an Epilepsy Ireland funded project that investigated the microbiome as a trigger for autoimmune epilepsy, while also providing attendees with an overview on the evolving role genomics is playing in epilepsy in order to enhance diagnosis in clinics. - 11:50am
Comfort Break
Following our first two inputs, we will take a short comfort break. - 12:00pm
Is it time for Epilepsy to be added to the Chronic Disease Management Programme? - with Dr. Cormac Sheehan
In a change of from the morning inputs, we are delighted to be joined by Dr. Cormac Sheehan who is a Primary Research Officer in the HSE Southwest and also works within the Department of General Practice in University College Cork. Dr. Sheehan will be presenting findings from his Epilepsy Ireland supported research which investigated the relationship between people with epilepsy and their GPs. The research and its findings will feed into our campaign to have epilepsy added to the Chronic Disease Management Programme - and will provide vital insights on how we can enhance the role of primary care for people with epilepsy, helping to better support people on their respective journeys with the condition. - 12:30pm
Epilepsy Ireland Updates and Volunteer of the Year awards presentations - with our CEO, Peter Murphy
A fixture of our national conferences since 2016 has been the presentation of our Volunteer of the Year awards - which acknowledges the contributions of an individual or group of volunteers. We are privileged to always be spoilt for choice when deciding on our volunteer of the year and this year is no different - and we look forward to naming our volunteers of the year for 2025! Alongside presenting the volunteer of the year awards, our CEO Peter will also provide some organisational updates on the work of Epilepsy Ireland - including service developments, our latest research call, advocacy campaigns and how you can continue to help support our work - 1:00pm
Lunch!
Digest all the information you've heard from the morning while enjoying a two-course lunch alongside fellow attendees of our National Conference - 2:15pm
Epilepsy Mortality in Ireland - with Professor Yvonne Langan & Epilepsy Ireland Patron, Rick O'Shea
Professor Yvonne Langan speaks to our Patron Rick O'Shea about her Epilepsy Ireland supported research which investigated the incidence of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy and all epilepsy-related deaths in Ireland. Prof Langan is a Consultant Clinical Neurophysiologist St James’s Hospital and the publication of her research in conjunction with the Health Research Board on the incidence of SUDEP in Ireland made national headlines in Ireland last year. The publication of the study is the foundation for one of Epilepsy Ireland's key advocacy campaigns and was a watershed moment in driving forward conversations about SUDEP and epilepsy risk in Ireland. In conversation with Rick, Prof Yvonne Langan will speak about the process involved in the study and why it is so important to help potentially save future lives. - 2:45pm
Seizing Control: Winning with Epilepsy – with Dr. Michael McKillop MBE
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Michael McKillop MBE to our National Conference this year. Amongst many accolades, Michael won 4 Paralympic Gold medals for Ireland as a middle distance athlete. Michael is also a person living with epilepsy, and as part of his input, Michael will share his experiences of competing at the highest level level of sport while managing his condition. For anyone who has joined us at the My Moving Brain series that has been led by FutureNeuro and supported by Epilepsy Ireland, you will know how inspirational Michael's inputs have been at these events - and if you haven't, you are in for a treat! - 3:15pm
The Brain Doctor - with Professor Donnacha O'Brien
Professor Donncha O'Brien is a distinguished Consultant Neurosurgeon and Clinical Director of Neurosurgery at Beaumont Hospital - and also serves as the Lead Neurosurgeon for the National Epilepsy Surgery Programme. Many of the people we have supported over the years are very familiar with the work of Professor O'Brien but this was extended to a national audience through the incredible documentary "The Brain Doctors" which was aired earlier this year on Virgin Media TV. Professor O'Brien will join us to speak about "when" surgery is considered for patients with epilepsy and the steps that follow when this decision is made. He will also discuss surgical developments within the National Epilepsy Programme - and what the future may hold in this space! Anyone who watched the documentary will know what a fascinating input this promises to be! - 3:50pm
Questions and answers
There will be an opportunity to put questions to our evening speakers before we begin to wrap up the day! - 4:00pm
Community Meet-Up - with you, fellow attendees and the Epilepsy Ireland team!
The day will close with an opportunity to speak to fellow attendees of the conference and the wider Epilepsy Ireland team. This aspect of our conference was introduced last year and proved to be a popular addition to help people made connections with other people living with epilepsy/families supporting a loved one living with the condition. If you're not in a rush to head home, stay around for a while, have a cuppa and meet fellow members of our community! - 5:00pm
Close
The conference will officially close for another year!
If you like what you see included and want to join us on the day for this exclusively in-person event, please do not delay in getting your tickets for the early bird rate of €40 via the button below!
Buy your ticket now on our Shop!
Please note - timings outlined above may be subject to change. Any changes will not affect the overall timings of the day (registration will remain at 9:45am and the conference will end at 5:00pm).
We look forward to welcoming you to our National Conference on September 20th. Key information about the event is outlined below.
WHO?
This event is for people with epilepsy, their families. Healthcare professionals, researchers and interested members of the public are also welcome to attend to learn more about a condition that affects over 45,000 people in Ireland today.
WHEN?
Our National Conference will take place on Saturday September 20th, with registration from 9:45am and the conference set to close at 5:00pm.
WHERE?
This is an exclusively in-person event and will take place at the Gibson Hotel, Dublin - Point Square, North Wall, Dublin - D01 X2P2.
TICKETS?
Tickets for the conference can be purchased at the early bird rate of €40 on our shop via the button below. Tickets include a two-course lunch at the Gibson.
Buy your ticket now on our Shop!
Will the event be livestreamed?
The conference will not be livestreamed on this occasion. However, inputs will be recorded and made available at a later date in the same way as previous conferences have been. Visit the ‘Events & Seminars’ section of our website to watch recordings of previous conferences.
PLEASE NOTE...
If you or your loved one need any information or support about epilepsy, please do not hesitate to get in touch with your local Community Resource Officer. Visit the ‘Our Local Service’ page on our website to find details of your local Community Resource Officer.