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This prize, presented biannually, was originally set up to stimulate
epilepsy research among young scientists (under 40 years of age)
in Germany. It is now an international award for the best scientific
and clinical research promoting the further development in epileptology.
The prize is awarded biannually and consists of DM 20.000,-.
The award is presented during the International Epilepsy Congress
following the election.
Heinz Beck, Germany: His scientific interest focuses on
the function and regulation of voltage dependent calclum channels
in human temporal lobe epilepsy. The data obtained in humans are
compared with those from epilepsy models in animals. Electro-physiological
and molecular studies are combined in an effort to further understand
the mechanisms leading to the initiation of seizures in temporal
lobe epilepsies.
Marco de Curtis, Italy: The centre of his scientific interest
is the cellular mechanisms underlying interictal spikes including
the role played by gap junctions and their modulations by activity
dependent pH-changes, propagation of epileptiform activity, induction
of secondary epileptogenesis, and, last but not least, interactions
of neuronal activity and cerebro-vascular activity.
Istvan Mody, USA: His scientific efforts are primarily devoted
to the role synaptic inhibition in epileptogenesis. Using a combined
anatomical and electro-physiological approach, it was demonstrated,
for the first time, that the number of synaptic GABA-A receptors
is significantly increased in an experimental model of temporal
lobe epilepsy. This finding favours a much more complex scenario
of epileptogenesis than previously thought from animal studies with
blockers of inhibition. There are already some strong hints about
how neuronal synchrony can be generated by more GABA-A receptors
at synapses.
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