ILAE and IBE Announce Awards at The 26th International Epilepsy Congress
In a moving opening ceremony, ILAE President Giuliano Avanzini and IBE President Philip Lee presented a number of awards on behalf of the League and the Bureau.

Young Investigator Awards are reserved for delegates under the age of 35 who submitted an abstract which was considered of excellent quality and who required funding in order to present their work at the Congress.

The Award was open to basic scientists, neurologists, neurophysiologists, physicians, biologists, nurses, sociologists and psychologists working in universities, hospitals or specialised epilepsy services. Applicants were required to submit an abstract, which was evaluated by the Scientific Advisory Committee.

• Aoun, Bernard,Stockholm, Sweden
• Asadi-Pooya AliAkbar, Shiraz, Iran
• Balosso, Silvia, Milan, Italy
• Barba, Carmen, Rome, Italy
• Barbiieri, Valentina, Milan, Italy
• Barea, Bianca Menke, Porto Alegre, Brazil
• César da Silva, André, Sao Paolo, Brazil
• Ding Ding, Shangai, China
• Feddersen, Berend, Munich, Germany
• Fernandes, Paula, Sao Paolo, Brazil
• Gardella, Elena, Bologna, Italy
• Kinoshita, Masako, Sakyoku, Japan
• Korff, Christian, Chicago, USA
• Kulkarni, Shilpa, Mumbai, India
• Marchi, Nicola, Milan, Italy
• Meneguelli Bonone, Filipe, Sao Paolo, Brazil
• Molinari, Florence, Paris, France
• Morgade Fonte, Rosa Maria, Havana, Cuba
• O'Dwyer, Rebecca, Munich, Germany
• Parrini, Elena, Pisa, Italy
• Peeters, Kateline, Leuven, Belgium
• Rampp, Stefan, Schnaittach, Germany
• Riol Lozano, Juan Miguel, Pinar del Rio, Cuba
• Sanyal, Sujoy K. Calcutta, India
• Scorza, Carla Alessandra, Sao Paulo, Brazil
• Sen, Arjune, London, UK
• Shcheglova, Yaroslava, Kiev, Ukraine
• Wadia, Pettarusp, Mumbai, India
• Willetts, Sarah, Melbourne, Australia
• Wrench, Joanne, Melbourne, Australia
• Wuttke, Thomas, Ulm, Germany

Michael Prize, Presented bi-annually, this prize was originally set up to stimulate epilepsy research among young scientists in Germany. It has now developed into an international award for the best scientific and clinical research, promoting further development in epileptology.

The Michael Prize 2005 was awarded to Heidrun Potschka, Germany, and Jozsef Janszky, Hungary, during the Opening Ceremony of the 26th International Epilepsy Congress in Paris.

Ambassador Awards are presented in recognition of outstanding international contributions to the cause of epilepsy. These activities have either been performed at an international level or have had international impact.

Twelve people were presented with this honour during the Opening Ceremony of the 26th International Epilepsy Congress in Paris. The award consists of an 'Ambassador for Epilepsy' pin and is intended to reflect peer recognition of individual contributions to the international cause of epilepsy.

AMBASSADOR FOR EPILEPSY AWARDS 2005

• Elinor Ben-Menachem, Sweden
• Samuel Berkovic, Australia
• John Bowis OBE, UK
• Jaderson Costa da Costa, Brazil
• John S Duncan, UK
• Ch E Elger, Germany
• Eric Hargis, US
• Hilary Mounfield, Scotland
• Amel Mrabet, Tunisia, France
• Perrine Plouin, France
• CT Tan, Malaysia

Social Accomplishment Award is given every two years, one person who has accomplished outstanding activities aimed at the social benefit of people with epilepsy, is recognised by the International Bureau for Epilepsy and the International League Against Epilepsy.

Hanneke de Boer, the Netherlands, was awarded this honour during the Opening Ceremony of the 26th International Epilepsy Congress in Paris.