Jerzy P. Szaflarski, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Neurology and director of the Division of Epilepsy in the Department of Neurology in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, has been named to the American Epilepsy Society/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Research Benchmarks Stewards committee. This group, newly established as an AES committee, is charged with promoting and tracking progress in areas targeted as potential epilepsy benchmarks by NINDS.
Szaflarski will serve a three-year term from 2014-2016 as a steward. The stewards will prepare a midcourse review of overall progress relevant to the new 2014 benchmarks. Szaflarski will have individual responsibility to follow progress of one benchmark, improving treatment options for controlling seizures and epilepsy-related conditions without side effects. That effort will identify biomarkers for assessing or predicting treatment response, including markers that may identify specific populations that are likely to have good outcomes or develop adverse responses.
Stewards participate in an annual stewards meeting, held in December in conjunction with the AES Annual Meeting, and in any other meetings or calls that might be planned. Stewards may also choose to initiate additional activities, such as symposia or other publications.