Interview with:
Prof. Manfred Kaps incoming co-chair of the EAN Scientific Panel “Neurosonology”
Prof. Laszlo Csiba
Elena Moro (EM): As incoming co-chair of the Scientific Panel “Neurosonology” can you briefly introduce yourself and your specific field of expertise to the Neuropenews readers.
Prof. Manfred Kaps (MK): In 1994, I was appointed to a professorship of Neurology in Lübeck and since 1999 I am chairman of the Neurological Clinic of the Justus-Liebig-University in Giessen, Germany. My main research interest is directed since 30 years to cerebrovascular diseases including basic experimental projects as well as clinical research, epidemiology and quality management.
Neurosonology is an important methodological mainstay in all of these activities. Beside active research, teaching and normal daily clinical routine, I am active since many years as a member of different national and international ultrasound advisory boards and commissions. From 2005 until 2013 I was Chairman of the Neurosonology Research Group of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN).
EM: Can you outline the strategic work plan you foresee for the Scientific Panel that you co-chair?
MK and Prof. Laszlo Csiba (LC): Neurosonology is an outstanding diagnostic instrument in the hand of clinical neurologists with unique selling points such as specific imaging technology, high spatial resolution, online observation, noninvasiveness as well as broad and easy availability in the clinical routine. Beside “traditional” vascular neurology, currently new fields of application such as muscle and nerve imaging, orbital ultrasound and online monitoring techniques are booming. Our SP has the mission to seek for further technical progress, to test the usefulness of ultrasound in new fields, to implement it in clinical trials and to foster the application of sonography in daily practice. Basic requirement for all these aims is a profound education and training program. The EAN as the leading neurological society in Europe offers a unique platform to support these mission.
EM: What is the main “deliverable” that you want to achieve for the work the Scientific Panel will address during your term of office?
MK: Together with my co-chair Prof. Csiba and the further supporting members of the management panel Prof. Skoloudik and Prof. Uzuner we have at first assigned different tasks such as congress preparation, guideline production, scientific updates and educational activities. The next demanding step will be to further establish a functioning working and communication platform for the SP in order to involve all SP experts as close as possible into the upcoming SP activities. Essentially, we have to coordinate the new EAN panel with ongoing international activities of the European Society of Neurosonology and Cerebral Hemodynamics (ESNCH) and the Neurosonology Research Group of the World Federation of Neurology (NSRG) in order to achieve maximum synergies.
