Diagnóstico, tratamiento y manejo de las encefalopatías epilépticas y del desarrollo

Simona Giorgi holds a PhD in Health Biotechnology from Miguel Hernández University and a MS in Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies from the University of Bologna. Her career is marked by active collaboration in both basic and translational research projects, with a particular focus on the study of neurons and ion channels. During her doctorate, she led projects centered on the development of a pioneering in vitro model of human sensory neurons, achieving notable advances in the compartmentalized culture of neurons. Additionally, she expanded her experience with a stay at Semmelweis University in Budapest, where she delved into the study of in vitro models of human neurons. Currently, Simona serves as the Scientific Director at the Dravet Syndrome Foundation, where she centralizes and coordinates preclinical and clinical research projects. Her work is aimed at expanding knowledge about this rare disease, with the goal of improving the quality of life for patients and their families. Moreover, Simona is dedicated to scientific dissemination, combating the stigma associated with epilepsy and disability, and providing support to families through the promotion of research.

Jose Ángel Aibar has an international background in both electronics and aerospace engineering, and holds a management position in a leading technology company. One of his children has Dravet syndrome, which gave him the motivation to become involved with the Dravet Syndrome Foundation Spain, where he serves as president and chief executive officer since June 2018.

Jose Ángel Aibar has an international background in both electronics and aerospace engineering, and holds a management position in a leading technology company. One of his children has Dravet syndrome, which gave him the motivation to become involved with the Dravet Syndrome Foundation Spain, where he serves as president and chief executive officer since June 2018.

Ángel Aledo-Serrano MD, PhD is a neurologist and epileptologist, director of the Vithas Madrid Neuroscience Institute. His main focus of clinical and research work is in the area of neurogenetics, precision medicine and developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, including Dravet syndrome and other sodium channelopathies, MOGHE, CDKL5 deficiency disorder or SYNGAP1 encephalopathy, among others. He is very active in the social and educational aspects of DEEs, with a science dissemination platform in social media (@AledoNeuro).

La doctora Fons es la Jefa del área de Neurología y Neurofisiología pediátrica del Hospital Sant Joan de Déu y experta en epilepsias complejas y genéticas de debut precoz y en neurología fetal-neonatal. Es profesora asociada del grado de Medicina de la UB y directora del Master en Neuropediatría y de epileptología del HSJD-UB. Lidera la línea de investigación de Epilepsias neonatales y genéticas del IRSJD. Miembro del Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades raras (CIBERER), del International Consortium for the Research on Alternating Hemiplejia of Childhood (IAHCRC), co-coordinadora del WP-convulsiones neonatales de la European Reference Network en Epilepsias Compleas (EPICARE). Participa como IP en proyectos competitivos nacionales y Europeos relacionados con epilepsias genéticas

Simona Giorgi holds a PhD in Health Biotechnology from Miguel Hernández University and a MS in Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies from the University of Bologna. Her career is marked by active collaboration in both basic and translational research projects, with a particular focus on the study of neurons and ion channels. During her doctorate, she led projects centered on the development of a pioneering in vitro model of human sensory neurons, achieving notable advances in the compartmentalized culture of neurons. Additionally, she expanded her experience with a stay at Semmelweis University in Budapest, where she delved into the study of in vitro models of human neurons. Currently, Simona serves as the Scientific Director at the Dravet Syndrome Foundation, where she centralizes and coordinates preclinical and clinical research projects. Her work is aimed at expanding knowledge about this rare disease, with the goal of improving the quality of life for patients and their families. Moreover, Simona is dedicated to scientific dissemination, combating the stigma associated with epilepsy and disability, and providing support to families through the promotion of research.

Víctor Soto Insuga is a neuropaediatrician, accredited by the Spanish Society of Neuropaediatrics (SENEP). He carries out his healthcare and research work in the Neurology Service of the Hospital Niño Jesús, belonging to the Epilepsy Unit. He holds a PhD cum laude from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, having presented his thesis on genetics and epilepsy. He is a Medical Specialist in Sleep (accredited by the CEAMS). Julián Lara is an Assistant Neuropediatrics Physician at the Puerta de Hierro University Hospital – Majadahonda in Madrid. Specific Training Area in Pediatric Neurology granted by the Spanish Society of Pediatric Neurology. Own Title Specialist in Childhood Disability from the Complutense University of Madrid. Member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Dravet Syndrome Foundation. Currently, he is coordinator of the Epilepsy Group of the Spanish Neuropediatric Society (SENEP). In recent years he has promoted the development of different integration projects in epilepsy and other neurological diseases.

La Dra. Esther Moraleda Sepúlveda es una investigadora y docente especializada en psicología básica y logopedia. Con doctorado en Psicología por la por la Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha con la tesis Perfil morfosintáctico e intervención logopédica en niños con síndrome de Down 2013. Dirigida por Dr. Miguel Lázaro López-Villaseñor, Dr/a. Elena Garayzábal. Se desempeña en la Universidad Compluense de Madrid dirigiendo proyectos sobre alteraciones del lenguaje en poblaciones clínicas. Es docente en el Grado de Logopedia de la UCM y en los másteres de Especialización en Desarrollo Comunicativo y Lingüístico (0‑6 años) y el de Observación y análisis de conducta comunicativa. Su trayectoria combina docencia con la dirección de tesis, amplia producción académica y compromiso con la divulgación científica.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND Degree: Medicine and Surgery from the University of Barcelona (UB) (1996-2002). Specialist degree: Pediatrics and its specific areas. Hospital Sant Pau (2003-2007). Master in Neuropediatrics by the University of Barcelona. Sant Joan de Déu Hospital (2008-2010). Doctorate in the Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Preventive Medicine and Public Health program at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) September 2020. Epilepsy Fellowship at Hospital del Mar (2020 – 2021) PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Pediatrician specialized in Neuropediatrics and Pediatric Critical Care. Management of pediatric neurocritical patient. Coordinator of the Neuropediatrics Unit at Hospital Sant Pau. Coordinator of the Epilepsy Unit’s pediatrics section at Hospital del Mar – Hospital Sant Pau Associate Professor of the Degree of Medicine of the UAB, of the Master of Neuropsychology of the UAB - Hospital Sant Pau and of the Master of Pediatric Nursing of the UB - Hospital Bellvitge.

Vicente Villanueva MD, PhD, is a neurologist in Hospital La Fe, Valencia, since 2004. Since 2005 he also works at the La Fe Multidisciplinary Epilepsy Unit, where he is Head of the Refractory Epilepsy Unit and Epilepsy Surgery Programme. He serves as a representative of the European Reference Network Epi-CARE and is a member of the ILAE Intellectual Disability Task Force. He is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the Univ. of Valencia since 2017. Dr Villanueva undertook his training at Fundación Jiménez Diaz in Madrid (ES), Epilepsy Center of Univ. of Alabama (US), Epilepsy Center of New York Univ. (US) and Hôpital Saint-Vincent de Paul in Paris (FR). His current research interests include refractory epilepsy, video-EEG monitoring, and epilepsy clinical trials and surgery. Vicente is a member of the EEG board and the Epilepsy Guidelines Board of the Spanish Neurological Society, which awarded him in 2014 with the Scientific Prize in epilepsy and author of more than 100 articles about epilepsy.