Intellectual Disability
Epileptic
Encephalopathies
Epilepsy
Autism Speaks (AS)
International League against Epilepsy (ILAE)
The purpose of the ILAE-AS collaborative agreement is to establish
a bridge of communication between clinical and research
professionals working with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and
those working with epilepsy spectrum disorders (Epilepsy).
ILAE-AS Task Force Members:
Roberto Tuchman (USA) (Chair)
Eduardo Barragan (Mexico)
Anne Berg (USA)
Roberto Caraballo (Argentina)
Daniel Coury (USA)
Michael Cuccaro (USA)
Dana Craiu (Romania)
Hatem El-Shanti (Doha – Qatar)
Varda Gross-Tsur, MD (Israel)
Marilisa Guerreiro (Brazil)
Makiko Kaga (Japan)
Daniel Lightfoot (USA)
Fernando Mulas (Spain)
Eliane Roulet-Perez (Switzerland)
Camilla Stoltenberg (Norway)
Virginia Wong (Hong Kong)
Lonnie Zwaigenbaum (Canada)
Andy Shih (Vice President for Scientific
Affairs Autism Speaks) and Autism Speaks
leadership
Members of Global Autism Public Health
Initiative (Autism Speaks)
Solomon (Nico) Moshe (President ILAE) and
ILAE leadership
Members of Pediatric Commission and
Liaisons from other Commissions (ILAE)
The task force has been asked to identify clinicians, research scientists,
national and international organizations that can facilitate the
development of a clinical and scientific agenda that fosters and
supports:
Clinical and basic science research common to both
epilepsy and ASD.
Promotes services and care of children with both ASD and
epilepsy.
Research on ASD and ESD common issues and concerns
Epidemiology
Epilepsy in Autism versus Autism in Epilepsy
Common Risk Factors
Communicating Complex Results
Neurobiology: epileptogenesis/sociogenesis/biomarkers
Genetic: risk genes
Neuroimaging: temporal lobe epilepsy/socio-cognitive
Neurophysiology: interictal epileptiform discharge (IED)
circadian rhythm dysfunction
Neurochemistry: GABA regulation; mitochondrial dysfunction
Animal models
Drug studies/Epilepsy surgery
SUDEP (Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy)
ILAE-AS TASK FORCE GOALS:
Identify potential shared initiatives between the ILAE and AS that
foster awareness and research on common etiologies and
mechanisms of ASD and Epilepsy.
Develop collaborative efforts between the WHO Global Campaign
Against Epilepsy and the Global Autism Public Health (GAPH)
Initiative.
Organize a consortium meeting of clinicians, clinical and basic
science researchers, national and international stakeholders to
develop research benchmarks and address the clinical needs of
individuals with Epilepsy and ASD.