National Epilepsy Awareness Month Congressional Briefing Calls for Increased Funding for Research, Surveillance, and Improved Access to Care

Other Key Focus Areas Include Enhanced Collaboration & Better Data Sharing

WHAT

The Congressional Caucus and organizations focused on the epilepsies are hosting a National Epilepsy Awareness Month congressional briefing to urge increased investment in research and surveillance and better translation to improve outcomes for those living with the epilepsies.

WHO

The event will feature epilepsies experts and champions for systemic change: 

• Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD-5)
• Congressman Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC-3) – Epilepsy Caucus Co-Chair 
• Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA-21) – Epilepsy Caucus Co-Chair 
• Walter Koroshetz, MD – Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Bernice Martin Lee – President and Chief Executive Officer, Epilepsy Foundation 
• Dave Clarke, MD – Chief of the Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Program, University of Texas at Austin, Dell Children’s Hospital  
• Scott & Jillian Copeland – Parents of a Son with Epilepsy & Co-Founders, Epilepsies Action Network  
• Gardiner Lapham, MPH, RN – Parent who lost a child to Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy & Co-Founder, Partners Against Mortality in Epilepsy (PAME)

WHEN

Tuesday, November 14: 

• 8:30am Doors Open – Enjoy Coffee and Breakfast 
• 8:45am Congressman Steny Hoyer welcome remarks 
• 9:00am Epilepsy Caucus Co-Chairs opening remarks 
• 9:05am National leaders, parent advocates, and epilepsy specialists give remarks 
• 10:15am Briefing concludes

WHERE

2045 Rayburn House Office Building

U.S. Representatives Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-3) and Jim Costa (CA-21) launched the Congressional Epilepsy Caucus in February 2023 and since, membership has grown to 32 bipartisan members of Congress. The Epilepsy Caucus is working with organizations dedicated to improving resources, research, surveillance, data-gathering and data-sharing, collaboration, and outcomes for those living with, and affected by, the epilepsies. Organizations are united in the belief that with increased government investment, critical gains can be made in the understanding of, and support for, these various epilepsies, the development of more effective and targeted therapies, and establishment of new, transformative patient care models.