General Information

The Curing the Epilepsies 2026: New Horizons Conference will be held on June 8-10, 2026 at the Natcher Conference Center, building 45, NIH Campus.

This two-and-a-half-day conference aims to bring together all stakeholders within the epilepsy research community and will serve as a critical forum to assess recent advances in basic, translational, and clinical science; identify persistent and emerging gaps in knowledge; and explore high-impact opportunities to accelerate progress across the epilepsy spectrum.

As with earlier Curing the Epilepsies conferences, the Epilepsy Benchmark Stewards Committee, coordinated by the American Epilepsy Society, will revise the Epilepsy Research Benchmarks, reflecting recent advances and stakeholder input. These reevaluated Benchmarks are intended to anchor research over the next 5-7 years in the issues that are key to understanding the epilepsies and improving meaningful outcomes for people with epilepsy through research. Participants will be encouraged to articulate transformative research priorities aimed at four overarching goals:

  • Achieving cures for all forms of epilepsy with no disabling side effects
  • Mitigating or eliminating the often-overlooked comorbidities that compromise quality of life
  • Developing strategies to prevent epilepsy in individuals at risk due to genetic, structural, or acquired factors.
  • Fostering collaboration among scientists, clinicians, people living with epilepsy, and advocacy communities

 

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS - NOW OPEN

Priority for selection will be given to early career scientists.  Selected presenters will receive an honorarium. 

Up to 48 Abstracts will be selected for Poster presentations and Flash-Talks at the conference. 

Abstract Submission Deadline extended to April 13, 2026

For more information scroll down to the Call for Abstracts tab  

 

svg Meeting Contacts

svg Sponsored By

  • American Epilepsy Society (AES)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Sessions/Agenda

Curing the Epilepsies 2026: New Horizons - Hybrid Session
Monday, June 8, 2026-Wednesday, June 10, 2026
08:00 AM-05:00 PM(EST)
Natcher Conference Center
45 Center Drive,
Bethesda, MD - 20892
Max. In-Person Capacity: 500 In-Person Participants: 202 Max. Virtual Capacity: Unlimited Virtual Participants: 86
Agenda:

Curing the Epilepsies 2026: New Horizons

June 8-10, 2026

 Day 1:

9:00 - 9:45 AM             Session I: Introductions, Setting the Stage for Transformative Epilepsy Research Priorities

Moderator: Vicky Whittemore, PhD; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), NIH

9:00 - 9:10 AM                             Welcome

                                                            Amy Adams, PhD; Acting Director, National Institute of Neurological Disorders

                                                             and Stroke (NINDS), NIH

                                                           Jack Parent, MD; President, American Epilepsy Society (AES)

9:10 - 9:15 AM                             Personal Perspective

                                                            Laura Lubbers, PhD; Chief Scientific Officer, CURE Epilepsy

9:15 - 9:30 AM                             History of the Epilepsy Research Benchmarks

                                                            Lori L. Isom, PhD; University of Michigan Medical School

9:30 - 9:45 AM                             Introduction to the Transformative Epilepsy Research Priorities 

                                                            Eric Marsh, MD, PhD; Children¿s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute

9:45 AM - 12:00 PM      Session II:  Understanding the Mechanisms of the Epilepsies

Moderator: Annapurna Poduri, MD, MPH, FAES; Boston Children¿s Hospital/Harvard 

9:45 - 9:50 AM                              Personal Perspective

                                                            TBD

9:50 - 10:05 AM                            Epilepsy Genetics Research in 2026 and Beyond

                                                            Gemma Carvill, PhD; Northwestern University

10:05 - 10:20 AM                          Neonatal Screening

                                                            Alissa D'Gama, MD, PhD; Boston Children¿s Hospital

10:20 - 10:35 AM          Break 

10:35 - 10:50 AM                           Post-traumatic Epilepsy

                                                            Aristea Galanopoulou, MD, PhD; Albert Einstein College of Medicine

10:50 - 11:05 AM                           Late Onset Unexplained Epilepsy

                                                            Alice Lam, MD, PhD; Massachusetts General Hospital

11:05 - 11:20 AM                           FLASH TALKS- 3 talks 5 min each (selected from submitted abstracts)

11:20 - 11:40 AM                           DISCUSSION

11:40 AM - 12:45 PM      Lunch 

12:45 - 1:30 PM               Poster Session

1:30 - 3:15 PM                 Session III: Disease Modeling of the Epilepsies

Moderator: Karen Wilcox, PhD; University of Utah

1:30 - 1:35 PM                                  Personal Perspective

                                                              TBD

1:35 - 1:50 PM                                  Role of Animal Models of the Epilepsies: What are we modeling and why?

                                                               Christopher McGraw, MD, PhD; Northwestern University

1:50 - 2:05 PM                                  Disparities in Genomic Data and Human Model Development

                                                               Heather Mefford, MD, PhD; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

2:05 - 2:20 PM                                  New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for Research on the Epilepsies

                                                               Jenny Hsieh, PhD; University of Texas, San Antonio

2:20 - 2:35 PM                                  Modeling Epilepsy Mortality

                                                                David Auerbach, PhD; SUNY Upstate Medical University

2:35 - 2:50 PM                                  FLASH TALKS- 3 x 5 minutes (Selected from submitted poster abstracts)

2:50 - 3:20 PM                                  DISCUSSION       

3:20 - 3:35 PM               Break

3:35 - 4:35 PM               Breakout Groups

4:35 - 5:00 PM               Day 1 Wrap Up

Day 2:

8:30 - 10:20 AM             Session IV- Translation and Implementation of Treatments for the Epilepsies 

Moderator: Alice Lam, MD, PhD, Massachusetts Geneal Hospital/Harvard                                                

8:30 - 8:35 AM                                 Personal Perspective 

                                                               Leah Schust Myers, Executive Director and Founder FamilieSCN2A Foundation

8:35 - 8:50 AM                                 Rigor and Reproducibility of Preclinical Data

                                                               Devon Crawford, PhD; Program Director Office of Research Quality, NINDS

8:50 - 9:05 AM                                 Clinical Trial Readiness - Measures and Biomarkers

                                                                TBD

9:05 - 9:20 AM                                 Challenges in Access to Clinical Trials

                                                                 Dave Clark, MD; University of Texas at Austin

9:20 - 9:35 AM                                 Global Health Research on the Epilepsies: Lessons Learned to Apply to Rural

                                                         Healthcare Issues in USA

                                                                  Edwin Trevathan, MD, MPH; Vanderbilt

9:35 - 9:50 AM                                 FLASH TALKS- 3 x 5 minutes

9:50 - 10:20 AM                              DISCUSSION

10:20 - 10:35 AM          Break

 

10:35 AM - 1:00 PM      Session V: Treatments for the Epilepsies

Moderator: Gemma Carvill, PhD; Northwestern University

10:35 - 10:40 AM                            Personal Perspective

                                                               TBD

10:40 - 10:55 AM                            Disease Modifying Therapies

                                                               Julie Ziobro, MD, PhD; University of Michigan

10:55 - 11:10 AM                            Emerging Small Molecule Therapeutics

                                                                Karen Wilcox, PhD; University of Utah

11:10 - 11:25 AM                            Drug Repurposing

                                                                 Alexander Bassuk, MD, PhD; University of Iowa

11:25 - 11:40 AM                            Devices and Neuromodulation

                                                                 Gregory Worrell, MD, PhD; Mayo Clinic

11:40 - 11:55 AM                             Surgical Approaches and Multi-modal Evaluation

                                                                  Kathryn Davis, MD; University of Pennsylvania

11:55 AM - 12:10 PM                        FLASH TALKS- 3 x 5 minutes

12:10 - 12: 40 PM                             DISCUSSION       

12:40 - 1:30 PM               Lunch Break

1:30- 2:30  PM                 Poster Session

2:30 - 3:45 PM                 Session VI:  Data Integration to Accelerate Research

Moderator: Brian Litt, MD, PhD; University of Pennsylvania

2:30 - 2:35 PM                                 Personal Perspective

                                                             TBD

2:35 - 2:50 PM                                  Data Integration

                                                              Joost Wagenaar, PhD; University of Pennsylvania

2:50 - 3:05 PM                                  Big Data in Epilepsy Research

                                                               Brandon Westover, MD, PhD; Stanford University

3:05 - 3:20 PM                                  The Use of AI in Epilepsy and Neurological Disease

                                                                Samden Lhatoo, MD; University of Texas, Houston

3:20 - 3:35 PM                                  FLASH TALKS- 3 x 5 minutes

3:35- 3:55 PM                                  DISCUSSION

3:55 - 4:10 PM                                  Break                                                  

4:10 - 5:00 PM                                  Breakout Groups

Day 3:

8:30 - 10:00 AM                               Session VII: Defining the critical priorities for epilepsy research? 

Moderator: Annapurna Poduri, MD, MPH, FAES; Boston Children¿s Hospital/Harvard 

  Panel:

=         Jenny Hsieh, PhD; UTSA

=         Alice Lam, MD, PhD; Massachusetts General Hospital

=         Joost Wagenaar, PhD; University of Pennsylvania

=         Karen Wilcox, PhD; University of Utah

=         Greg Worrell, MD, PHD; Mayo Clinic

10:00 - 11:00 AM                             National Plan - what are the next steps?

Moderator: Daniel Lowenstein, MD: University of California San Francisco

                                                                Panel:

=         Katie Collins; G2G Consulting/EAN/AES             

=         John Ingram, MD, University of Mississippi

=         Jaideep Kapur, MBBS, PhD; University of Virginia

=         Walter Koroshetz, MD

=         Katy Lalor, MD; University of Alabama at Birmingham

=         Laura Weidner; EFA

11:00 - 12:00 PM                              Wrap up -- What Comes Next?

Moderators: Lori Isom, PhD and Eric Marsh, MD, PhD

 

12:00 PM                                            Conference Adjourns

Logistics

Visitor Information

The conference will be held in the Natcher conference center, building 45 on the NIH Campus, Bethesda, MD.

For planning a visit to the main NIH campus: You can find maps and other helpful travel-related information on the NIH Visitor Information page.

Security

All NIH visitors must go through a security clearance at the NIH Gateway Center to receive a visitor's badge. Visitors may be required to pass through a metal detector and have bags/purses inspected or x-rayed. All visitors must present a government-issued photo ID to enter the campus. Please allow 1 hour to get through the security clearance.

 

 IMPORTANT INFORMATION: VisitNIH is focused on implementing updated security requirements for non-U.S. person visitors, while respecting the NIH mission and improving the overall visit experience for all visitors.

Non-U.S. person visitors (those without U.S. citizenship or Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card) status) are required to complete the VisitNIH pre-registration process and be approved to visit.  It is recommended that non-U.S. persons complete pre-registration 30 days in advance of your planned visit. This allows enough time for review and approval. See Visitors | Coming to NIH for more detailed information.

 

Directions

The Natcher Conference Center (Building 45) is located on the NIH main campus. Natcher Conference Center is a 5-minute walk from the NIH Gateway Center visitor entrance or a campus shuttle is available (stop at Building 45).

Paid visitor parking is extremely limited at the National Institutes of Health.  Please consider other options, such as public transportation, taxi and uber/lyft. If arriving by rideshare or taxi, ask to be dropped off at the Medical Center Metro stop.

Public Transportation

The Washington D.C. Metrorail system has a station on the NIH campus called Medical Center. Upon exiting the station, it is a short walk to the NIH Gateway Center. Metrorail service is available from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and from Union Station (access to Amtrak and other commuter trains). Take Metro's Red Line to the Medical Center station.

Parking

If you must drive, take the Wisconsin Avenue exit from the Capital Beltway (Interstate Route 495) and go about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) south on Wisconsin Avenue toward Bethesda, staying in the right lane. Do not turn onto South Drive, instead go another approximately three-tenths of a mile (500 meters) and turn right onto "NIH Gateway Drive". This one-way road leads directly to the Gateway Center Vehicle Inspection Station. Limited parking is available for a fee. Vehicles should enter via NIH Gateway Drive off Route 355-Rockville Pike (southbound only) and park in the MLP 11 garage (see map). Cost: $2 per hour for the first three hours, $12 daily maximum. For more details see Gateway Center Map

View Full Version >>
Epilepsy Research Benchmarks

Epilepsy Research Benchmarks

 

The Curing the Epilepsies conference is held every 5-7 years to critically examine the progress in epilepsy research and to help set an agenda for years to come. An important and fruitful outcome of the discussions from the previous conferences (2000, 2007, 2013 and 2021) has been the production of the Benchmarks for Epilepsy Research, which reflect current priorities shared across the epilepsy community for clinically meaningful research advances in understanding and treating epilepsies. Since their introduction in 2000, the Benchmarks have served as guideposts in the epilepsy research community by bringing attention to goals such as preventing epileptogenesis, addressing features of epilepsy beyond that of seizures, and confronting the challenge of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).

 

Conference Breakout Sessions

In 2025, the AES Epilepsy Benchmark Stewards Committee started the process for revising the 2021 benchmarks. Recent progress has been assessed across the 2021 benchmarks to inform a set of new research priorities. And with revisions to be made based on public comments received through a crowdsourcing campaign to be conducted this spring before the conference.  More information on the ideascale campaign to come soon!

On the first two conference days we have planned in-depth discussion breakout sessions inviting all meeting attendees to provide further input for updates to the Epilepsy Research Benchmarks. Breakout groups will meet to discuss potential updates to the content and organization of these goals to set new research priorities. On the third and final conference day, a full group session will develop a formal summary of the proposed new research priorities. It is our aim that discussions are guided by the presentations and general discussions had during the conference sessions. 

 

2021 AES/NINDS Benchmarks for Epilepsy Research

Area I: Understand the causes of the epilepsies and their relationship to epilepsy-associated neurologic, psychiatric, and somatic conditions.

Area II: Prevent epilepsy and its progression.

Area III: Improve treatment options for controlling seizures and epilepsy-related conditions while limiting side effects.

Area IV: Limit, treat, or prevent co-occurring conditions associated with epilepsy across the lifespan in general and special epilepsy populations.

Click here for an overview of the 2021 Benchmarks and the AES Benchmarks Stewards Committee 

 

Read More >>
Call for Abstracts

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Abstract Submission Deadline is April 13, 2026.

 

 Investigators are invited to submit abstracts for selection for a flash-talk or poster presentation at the conference. Investigators, especially early career investigators, are encouraged to submit abstracts addressing novel or innovative research priorities and/or demonstrate progress towards the 2021 epilepsy research benchmarks. The poster session will provide an important venue to discuss big ideas on the Epilepsy Research Benchmarks moving forward.

 Eligibility: Abstracts will only be accepted from individuals who are currently doing research in the USA. Please note: Priority for poster and flash-talk presentation selection will be given to Graduate students, medical students, postdoctoral fellows, research associates, medical residents/fellows, and junior professors within 10 years of their terminal degree. 

 Posters: Abstracts will be reviewed by a Program Selection Committee for suitability of content focused on an area of epilepsy research addressed in the benchmarks or an identified gap area. Up to 48 abstracts can be selected for poster presentations at a dedicated poster session on the first day of the conference.

 Flash talks: In addition, the Program Selection Committee will select up to 15 abstracts for 5min flash-talks,  3 talks at each of the 5 main sessions of the conference.

 Conference  Sessions:

  • Understanding the Mechanisms of the Epilepsies 
  • Disease Modelling of the Epilepsies
  • Treatments for the Epilepsies
  • Translation and Implementation of Treatments for the Epilepsies
  • Data Integration to Accelerate Research

 

You can submit your abstract when you register for the conference.

If you want to be considered for the flash talks, indicate this by selecting platform presentation or both under preference

All selected abstract presenters, poster and poster/flash talks, will receive an honorarium

 

Abstract Submission Instructions

Title

Enter the title of your abstract/poster in Title Case (i.e. capitalize the first letter of each word, except prepositions)

 

Author Names

Enter the author names in order, formatted as follows:

Author Last Name, First Name Middle Initial (if desired)

The First Author MUST be the presenter
If authors have different affiliations, use a superscripted number (e.g., 1, 2, 3) to indicate each unique affiliation

 

Author Affiliations

List the affiliations of all authors beginning with the presenter

Include the Department/Division, Institution, City, and State

If superscripted numbers were used after Author Names to denote different affiliations, use them to correlate the name with an affiliation

 

Abstract

Abstracts are limited to 300 words, not including the title, authors, and affiliations.

Each abstract should contain: the research objective (unless given in the title); methods used; a summary of the results obtained; and the conclusions.

The abstracts may include presentations about basic, translational or applied (clinical) research, patient-oriented research, and health services, epidemiological, or implementation sciences research.

Novel and innovative posters are encouraged, though submissions must be based on sound principles of rigorous research. 

All abstracts should address an appropriate topic of scientific discussion. Presentations should not include commercial messages or inappropriate references to specific products, services, or commercial concerns.

Read More >>
Lodging

Lodging

Please contact hotels directly to make your own reservations. The following hotels are located in the area and near Metro Red Line stations.

 

The Bethesdan Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

There is a general attendee courtesy sleeping room block at The Bethesdan Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton,  Use this link to book or use group code: 90T when booking on the hotel website. 

(near Bethesda metro station; hotel is 0.8miles from the NIH Gateway Center security entrance)
8120 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814

301-652-2000

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/wasbaup-the-bethesdan-hotel

 

Hyatt Regency Bethesda
(near Bethesda metro station)
One Bethesda Metro Center, Bethesda, MD 20814
301-657-1234
http://bethesda.hyatt.com

 

Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ

(near Bethesda metro station)

7707 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

301- 276-7707

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/wasbd-marriott-bethesda-downtown-at-marriott-hq/overview/

 

Hilton Garden Inn Bethesda Downtown

(near Bethesda metro station)

7301 Waverly Street, Bethesda, MD 20814

301-654-8111

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/wasbtgi-hilton-garden-inn-bethesda-downtown

 

Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center

(near North Bethesda metro station)
5701 Marinelli Road, Bethesda, MD 20852
301-822-9200
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasbn-bethesda-north-marriott-hotel-and-conference-center/

 

Canopy by Hilton Washington DC Bethesda North

940 Rose Avenue, North Bethesda, MD 20852 

301-882-9400

https://www.canopybethesda.com/

PLEASE NOTE: NIH has no affiliation or preference for any hotel listed, and this is not an exhaustive list.

Read More >>