The International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) will have a strong presence at the 16th European Epilepsy Congress (EEC 2026), taking place in Athens, Greece, from 5–9 September 2026.
Organised by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), the European Epilepsy Congress brings together clinicians, researchers, healthcare professionals, epilepsy organisations and other stakeholders from across Europe and beyond to share developments in epilepsy care, research and policy.
Across the Congress, IBE staff will contribute to sessions focused on some of the issues at the heart of IBE’s work: meaningful patient and public involvement, person-centred care, continuity of care, seizure response in everyday settings and the role of people affected by epilepsy in research and education.
IBE President Dr Francesca Sofia and Ms Elvira Vacas Montero, Chair of IBE’s European Regional Executive Committee, will also attend and participate in meetings across the programme. They will be joined by IBE Regional Chairs from South East Asia, Latin America and the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as representatives from many IBE chapters.
Saturday 5 September: meaningful involvement in epilepsy research
On the opening day of the Congress, IBE’s Head of Engagement, Claire Nolan will contribute to the half-day teaching course: Beyond participation: co-producing better epilepsy research through meaningful patient and public involvement (PPI). Claire will speak on “Involving patients across the epilepsy research lifecycle”
Monday 7 September: person-centred care and continuity of care
IBE staff will contribute to two sessions on Monday.
In the morning, Claire Nolan will speak during the EEC Forum: Exploring the role of person-centred care in addressing the unmet needs of people with epilepsy in Europe. Claire’s contribution, “What are the unmet needs of people with epilepsy, beyond seizures, in Europe?”, will examine the broader impact of epilepsy and the importance of care that responds to the priorities and experiences of the individual, not solely seizure control.
Later that day, IBE CEO, Donna Walsh will contribute to the Mini EEC Forum: Together for lifelong care: Championing rights for rare and complex epilepsies. Donna will speak on “What good continuity of care looks like: sharing best practices.”
Tuesday 8 September: seizure response in everyday settings
On Tuesday, Donna Walsh will co-chair the EEC Forum: Time is Brain: Rapid Response to Seizure Emergencies in Everyday Non-Medical Settings. The session will bring together practical approaches from across Europe to improving seizure response outside healthcare environments.
Contributions will include perspectives on emergency prevention in non-hospital settings, seizure-safe schools, epilepsy-friendly workplaces and public seizure first-aid awareness. The session is a strong example of how practical initiatives developed by epilepsy organisations at national level can contribute to wider international learning: sharing what works, adapting approaches to different settings and strengthening public understanding of seizure response.
Tuesday 8 September: bringing the IBE perspective to patient and public involvement
Donna Walsh will also speak later on Tuesday in the session: Patient-Public-Involvement in Epilepsy: From ASM-Pipeline to Medical Education.
Donna’s presentation, “Public patient involvement in epileptology – the IBE perspective”, will explore the role that people affected by epilepsy can play across research, treatment development, public-health initiatives and medical education. The wider session will include perspectives on patient involvement in antiseizure medication development, SUDEP prevention campaigns, university teaching and collective advocacy.
Bringing lived experience into the conversations that shape epilepsy care
IBE’s participation at EEC 2026 reflects a consistent principle across its work: people with epilepsy and those who support them should be involved in the decisions, research, policies and services that affect their lives.
The Congress provides an important opportunity not only to contribute to the scientific and policy programme, but also to connect IBE’s global and regional leadership, member organisations and partners.
Throughout the Congress, IBE representatives will participate in meetings and discussions across the programme, bringing together perspectives from Europe and other regions and strengthening connections across the international epilepsy community.
