Judith Hoyer Lecture on Epilepsy

December 3, 2011
Baltimore, MD

• About the Lecture

This 2011 Judith Hoyer Lecture on Epilepsy is the ninth in a series highlighting the promise of epilepsy research. It is held in memory of Mrs. Judith Hoyer, an active member of the Board of Directors of the Epilepsy Foundation and the late wife of Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD). Mrs. Hoyer spent her life both helping families cope with epilepsy and promoting research into a cure and a better quality of life for those with the disorder. The purpose of the lecture is to raise awareness of epilepsy among researchers and the public and provide intellectual stimulation that will encourage continuing progress toward finding a cure for epilepsy.

• Past Lectures

On December 4, 2010, Dr. Dennis D. Spencer, the Harvey and Kate Cushing Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Yale University School of Medicine, presented the eighth Judith Hoyer Lecture on Epilepsy at the annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society in San Antonio, TX. The title of his NINDS-sponsored lecture was "Clinical Research in Epilepsy: Lost in Translation." In his lecture, Dr. Spencer reviewed the development of NINDS-sponsored antiepileptic drug development program and Phase III clinical trials. He also described challenges facing investigators seeking to advance future translational and clinical research on the epilepsies.

• View the slide presentation by:
  Keynote address from Dennis D. Spencer, MD

On December 5, 2009, Dr. John W. Swann, Professor of Pediatrics, Neuroscience and Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, presented the seventh Judith Hoyer Lecture on Epilepsy at the annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society in Boston, MA. The title of his NINDS-sponsored lecture was "Battling Epilepsy with Models and Molecules." In his lecture, Dr. Swann described the breadth of basic and translational research on the epilepsies. In addition, he highlighted the promise that recent insights from animal models may hold for the development of treatments.

• View the slide presentation:
  Keynote address from John W. Swann, PhD

On December 5, 2008, Dr. Gregory L. Holmes Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics and Chairman of the Department of Neurology at Dartmouth Medical School, presented the sixth Judith Hoyer Lecture on Epilepsy at the 2008 meeting of the American Epilepsy Society in Seattle, WA. The title of his NINDS-sponsored lecture was "Epilepsy in Children: Listening to Mothers." In his lecture, Dr. Holmes reviewed recent research that addresses an important question often raised by mothers - What are these seizures doing to my child's brain? It is now well recognized that the brains of children differ considerably from adults in both seizure susceptibility and consequences.

• The 2008 Judith Hoyer Lecture. Epilepsy in Children: Listening to Mothers.

(Keynote address from Gregory Holmes, MD)

On November 30, 2007, Joan K. Austin, DNS, RN, FAAN, Distinguished Professor and Sally Reahard Chair in the School of Nursing at Indiana University, Indianapolis, presented the fifth Judith Hoyer Lecture on Epilepsy at the 2007 meeting of the American Epilepsy Society in Philadelphia, PA. The title of her NINDS-sponsored lecture was "Epilepsy Comorbidities: Lennox and Lessons Learned." In her lecture, Dr. Austin presented an overview of the comorbidities associated with epilepsy and its treatments - which include cognitive and memory dysfunction, depression, anxiety, and attention disorders. She reviewed early descriptions of mental health and cognitive problems that were written by key historical figures in epilepsy, and discussed some of the important lessons that we have learned from recent research as well as the challenges that lie ahead.

• The 2007 Judith Hoyer Lecture. Epilepsy comorbidities: Lennox and lessons learned.

(Keynote address from Joan Austin, DNS, RN, FAAN)

On December 1, 2006, Daniel H. Lowenstein, M.D., Professor and Vice Chairman in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco, presented the fourth Judith Hoyer Lecture on Epilepsy at the 2006 meeting of the American Epilepsy Society in San Diego, California. The title of his NINDS-sponsored lecture was "Pathways to Discovery in Epilepsy Research: Rethinking the Quest for Cures." In his lecture, Dr. Lowenstein presented an overview of limitations of current therapies for epilepsy, reviewed accomplishments in the past 100 years of epilepsy research, and closed by discussing the importance of large, collaborative projects and advancing technology in solving many of the research questions that remain.

• Pathways to Discovery in Epilepsy Research: Rethinking the Quest for Cures.

(Keynote address from Daniel Lowenstein, M.D.)

On December 2, 2005, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) opened the 2005 Hoyer Lecture at the AES annual meeting in Washington, DC, speaking to an audience of over 300 epilepsy researchers, caregivers, and patients. The keynote speaker, Jeffrey L. Noebels, M.D., Ph.D. (Baylor College of Medicine), presented "New Tools to Cure Epilepsy: Genes, Pixels, Patterns and Prevention.” The lecture focused on advances in science and technology that are beginning to change the way we think about why people develop epilepsy, when the precise causes can be pinpointed in the brain, and how we can more accurately personalize treatment for every patient.
Transcripts available for download from ScienceDirect:

• Genes, Pixels, Patterns and Prevention (Keynote address from Jeffrey Noebels, M.D., Ph.D.)

On December 3, 2004, Thomas P. Sutula, MD, PhD (University of Wisconsin - Madison Medical School), delivered the 2004 Hoyer Lecture at the AES annual meeting in New Orleans. Dr. Sutula's presentation, "Epilepsy After the Decade of the Brain: Misunderstandings, Challenges, and Opportunities," explored some of the reasons why epilepsy is challenging for healthcare professionals and scientists and how it is often misunderstood by the public.

Dr. Sutula's remarks were published in the journal Epilepsy & Behavior, and are available to the public through a partnership between the journal and the Epilepsy Foundation. To download a copy of this article, please visit the Epilepsy & Behavior Content Preview section of the Epilepsy Foundation website.