Interviews

Elena Moro (EM): As incoming co-chair of the Scientific Panel “Neuropathies” can you briefly introduce yourself and your specific field of expertise to the Neuropenews readers. Davide Pareyson (DP): It is a great pleasure and honour to co-chair the Panel. I am a clinical neurologist working at the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C.Besta of Milan, Italy, where I am Head of the Functional Department on Rare Neurological Diseases and Chief of the Unit of Clinic of Central and Peripheral Degenerative Neuropathies.

DV (David B. Vodušek): Can you please illustrate the European Chapter of IFCN to the readers of the EAN pages? What is the formal relationship of the European chapter to IFCN? WP (Walter Paulus): The European Chapter (EC-IFCN) is one of four chapters of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology (IFCN), with the others being North America, South America and Oceania.

Elena Moro (EM): As incoming co-chair of the Scientific Panel “Neurogenetics” can you briefly introduce yourself and your specific field of expertise to the Neuropenews readers. Prof. Th. Klopstock (TK): I am Professor of Neurology at the University of Munich, Germany. My main interest, from the beginning of my career, has been in neurogenetics, with a particular focus on mitochondrial disorders and on neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation.

Prof. David B. Vodušek (DV): The European Association of Neurosurgical Societies’ structure is somehow similar to that of the EAN as both societies have European member societies as well as individual members worldwide. Can you please illustrate to the EANpages readers how the EANS structures its work with the member societies? Prof. Andre Grotenhuis (AG): Originally founded in 1971 as a federation of the national neurosurgical societies of Europe, the EANS embarked upon an individual membership programme some twelve years ago. 

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.

Pierre MAQUET qualified as an MD at the University of Liège (Belgium) in 1986 and as a Neurologist in 1991. He received his PhD degree in 1990. He worked as Research Fellow, then Research Director at the National Fund for Scientific Research (Belgium) in the Cyclotron Research Centre of the University of Liège. His research work focuses on functional neuroimaging of human sleep, using positron emission tomography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, TMS and electro-encephalography. His work follows several main streams, including the characterization of the cerebral correlates of human sleep, the relation between sleep and the offline processing of memories, the circadian and homeostatic regulation of sleep and wakefulness, the effects of light and non-classical photoreception on human brain function and functional neuroanatomy of unconscious patients. He is now appointed Professor of Neurology at the University of Liège and Head of the Department of Neurology at the Academic Hospital of Liège.

Elena Moro (EM): As incoming co-chairs of the Scientific Panel “Infectious diseases” can you briefly introduce yourself and your specific field of expertise to the Neuropenews readers. Prof. Israel Steiner (IS): Graduated Hebrew University, Jerusalem. Fellowship in molecular virology Wistar Institute, Philadelphia. Currently: Professor & Chairman, Department of Neurology, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel Research interests and projects: neurological infections, immune mediated peripheral and central neurological conditions, Herpes virus infections of the nervous system.

Elena Moro (EM): As incoming co-chair of the Scientific Panel “Palliative Care” can you briefly introduce yourself and your specific field of expertise to the EAN Pages readers. Prof. David Oliver (DO): I have been a Consultant in Palliative Medicine for 32 years, and I am now working part time.  I became interested in ALS when training at St Christopher’s Hospice in London, with Dame Cicely Saunders, and I have been able to continue this interest over the years – both clinically and in research and writing within the University of Kent, where I have just become an Honorary Professor.

Elena Moro (EM): As incoming co-chair of the Scientific Panel “Neuroimmunology” can you briefly introduce yourself and your specific field of expertise to the EANpages readers? Luca Massacesi (LM): I am a neurologist with special interest in Clinical Immunology. I have been appointed Professor of Neurology at the Department of Neurosciences, University of Florence, Italy, in 2005.

Elena Moro (EM): As incoming co-chair of the Scientific Panel “Dementia and cognitive disorders” can you briefly introduce yourself and your specific field of expertise to the EANpages readers? Sandro Sorbi (SS): I am a neurologist and psychiatrist by training, professor of Neurology and Chair of the First Neurology Clinic University of Florence, Careggi Hospital, Florence, and the scientific coordinator of the IRCSS Don Gnocchi, Florence, Italy.

Elena Moro (EM): As incoming co-chair of the Scientific Panel “Coma and chronic disorders of consciousness” can you briefly introduce yourself and your specific field of expertise to the Neuropenews readers. Karin Diserens (KD): Specialised in Neurology and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation I have focused my activity on developing Neurorehabilitation by creating the first Neurorehabilitation centres in the French part of Switzerland.

Elena Moro (EM): As incoming co-chair of the Scientific Panel “Muscle and NMJ disorders” can you briefly introduce yourself and your specific field of expertise to the EANpages readers. Benedikt Schoser has more than 20 years’ experience as a neurologist and myopathologist in a variety of areas of neuromuscular disorders, including myopathological, structural, biochemical and molecular genetic muscle research, and clinical trials.