Scientist Panels

Stefan Evers, Germany

Chairperson:
SP: Headache: 2003-2005

The Headache Panel has been involved in several activities of the EFNS. We published guidelines on the treatment of migraine and of cluster headache which were integrated in the first European Handbook edited by the EFNS.
Further, the Headache Panel contributed courses, seminars, poster sessions, or lectures to nearly every EFNS congress. It was now agreed that the Headache Panel runs a headache teaching course every other year alternating with a teaching course run by the European Headache Federation. Several EFNS fellowships have been awarded in the field of headache which were reviewed by the Headache Panel.

Michel Billiard, France

Chairperson:
SP: Sleep disorders: 1999-2001

Sleep disorders are not a priority for a majority of neurologists. Insomnia is often viewed as a primary psychiatric condition. Hypersomnias are thought exceptional. Circadian rhythm sleep disorders, shift work type and jet lag type, are considered to be the exclusive domain of company doctors, and, last but not least, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, the leading disorder in sleep medicine, is left to chest physicians in spite of the patients having normal lungs and tracheobronchial tree.

However sleep and wakefulness are products of the brain and numerous neurological diseases are associated with sleep disorders. 60% of stroke patients have obstructive sleep apneas. Synucleinopathies are remarkable for REM sleep behaviour disorder. Neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases have an impact on sleep and on respiration during sleep. Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder during sleep affect a large number of individuals.

Thus the efforts of the EFNS scientist panel on sleep disorders were directed towards attracting the interest of our colleagues in neurological diseases associated with sleep disorders, by pushing for oral communications, organizing focused workshops and gathering task forces aimed at preparing guidelines. As a result, three EFNS guidelines were published in 2006 and 2007.

Paul Boon, Belgium

Chairperson:
SP: Epilepsy: 2003-2005

My engagement within the EFNS started with regular attendance of the annual EFNS meetings since the Seville Meeting in 1998. Fed by a strong involvement in daily clinical care for epileptic patients, I developed a personal interest and network in epileptology in Europe. The EFNS, through the scientist panel format, gave me the opportunity to serve the neurological community in the field of epileptology by organizing teaching courses, workshops and sessions during consecutive EFNS congresses and regional teaching courses. We have been able to introduce promising young MD's, mostly from Eastern European countries, in the world of epileptology. With the epilepsy scientist panel we have engaged in setting up guidelines for various conditions related to epilepsy and are currently trying to proceed on a wider basis with more participants from more countries. Watching the growing professional development in epilepsy of many colleagues within the increasingly successful EFNS has shown to be a hugely satisfying experience.

Stefano Cappa, Italy

Chairperson:
SP: Cognitive neurology: 2003-2005

Being Chairman of the EFNS scientist panel on Cortical Function from 1999-2003, and then as Chairman of the renamed Scientist Panel on Cognitive Neurology during 2003-2007 has been an extremely gratifying personal experience. The opportunity to meet new colleagues, who share the same research and clinical interest, but may come from extremely diverse cultural backgrounds, is one of the great European advantages. This aspect was probably particularly evident in the domain of cognitive dysfunctions, in which the approaches in different European countries are heterogeneous. One major effort of the panel was the preparation and update of the Guidelines on Cognitive Rehabilitation, which have circulated widely, also outside Europe, and may prove to be influential, in particular if the Panel will guarantee their update in the future.

Antonio Federico, Italy

Chairperson:
SP: Child and developmental neurology: 2001-2003

My memory of that period:
It was an exiting period in which a tentative to link East and West European Neurology was made and to improve the general quality of neurology research and care.
The congresses were a unique opportunity to meet people, know their activities and to establish possibilities of exchanges. The same was during the meetings and the contact within the different Panels and Working Groups.

Frank Clifford Rose, United Kingdom

Chairperson:
SP: History: 1999-2003

I regarded my main function at the EFNS was to get recognition for the EFNS Research Group on the History of Neurosciences and served as its Chairman for three years, being succeeded by Dr Christopher Gardner-Thorpe. He began an annual "Clifford Rose" Lecture to be given each year at the EFNS Congress. He gave the first lecture, to be followed in Finland by Dr Matilla and by Chris Goetz in Paris. The new Chairman of the EFNS Research Group on the History of Neurosciences is Dr John Galvin of Cork, Ireland.

Philip Scheltens, Netherlands

Chairperson:
SP: Dementia: 2007-2009

I am chair of the scientific panel on dementia since 2006, following the footsteps of Gunhild Waldemar. My goal is to further scientific collaboration within the European countries especially those that were not that involved before. Previously I was the Dutch representative of the panel and as such member of the committee of revising the EFNS guidelines for diagnosis and management of dementia.