News Archive: May – June 2007
Latest News | 2008 January - June | 2007 July - December | 2007 May - June
June 29, 2007
The organisers of the 12th ANZAN Clinical Neurophysiology Workshop have announced the establishment of an award of $5000 for the best free
communication presented at the meeting.
The award is open to affiliates-in-training and research affiliates who are
members of ANZAN. The
prizemoney is designed to cover the costs of attendance at an international
meeting for presentation of the award winning studies.
The cut-off date for abstract submission is July 31.
Further enquiries and abstract submission can be directed to:
Ms Mary Sweet
Ph: 02 9036 3091
Email: m.sweet@chs.usyd.edu.au
June 29, 2007
From July 1st, telephone or written approval from Medicare or DVA will no longer be necessary when prescribing gabapentin, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, tiagabine and vigabatrin for approved indications in approved quantities and repeats. Instead, neurologists will need only to write the PBS Streamlined Authority Code for the drug and indication on the authority prescription. These codes will apparently be listed in the new PBS schedule and soon available online at http://www.pbs.gov.au/.
June 29, 2007
The Australasian Tuberous Sclerosis Society is holding a conference, Advances in Tuberous Sclerosis: From Pathway to Therapy, on November 3-4. Please see check the Conferences page for details.
June 25, 2007
Subscription renewals for ESA Membership 2007-8 were posted to existing members this week. Those whose postal address details are correct will receive these shortly. If you do not receive a renewal notice, please download one from the Membership page. Please consider recommending membership to your medical, nursing, allied-health and scientist colleagues working in epilepsy-related fields. Remember, a special group rate exists for several professional and student groups.
June 22, 2007
After reviewing previous ESA Annual Scientific Meeting venues, and receiving generous offers from members to host upcoming annual meetings, the ESA Committee has decided that the 23rd ESA Annual Scientific Meeting will be in Sydney in 2008 (Convener: Dr Andrew Bleasel) and the 24th ESA Annual Scientific Meeting will be in Perth in 2009 (Convener: Dr Lakshmi Nagarajan).
June 22, 2007
It is two weeks to the ILAE-IBE International Epilepsy Congress, Singapore. Hopefully the congress will be well supported by ESA members and prove to be an excellent scientific and educational event in our region. Full registration and program details can be found at http://www.epilepsysingapore2007.org/.
Click here to see the list of ESA members speaking in the main program.
June 8, 2007
New rebate codes have been published in the Federal Government’s Department of Health Prostheses List (formerly known as Schedule 5). The VNS Pulse Generator’s [model 102/102R] new rebate code is RA001 (previously TB300) and the VNS Lead’s [model 302] new code is RA002 (previously TB301). The full rebate value of each is $12,670 (exGST) and $3,400 (exGST) respectively. Further information can be obtained on the Prosthesis List website.
June 8, 2007
Medical Services Advisory Committee has deemed the ESA/Aurora Bioscience submission “Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Therapy for Epilepsy”, eligible to be passed onto the MSAC committee for full review. The submission has been given a reference number (1118) and its progress can be tracked at http://www.msac.gov.au/internet/msac/publishing.nsf/Content/home-1.
June 8, 2007
ESA Travel Scholarships were recently awarded to Ms Sarah Velissaris, Ms Sophia Halley, and Dr Carlo Solinas to present their research at the IEC in Singapore. Congratulations to the recipients!
June 7, 2007
The membership of the Drugs and Devices Committee has changed. Dr Simon Harvey, Dr Mark Newton and A/Prof Christine Kilpatrick have stepped down. Dr Geoff Herkes, Dr Joe Frasca and A/Prof Terry O’Brien have joined the committee. Dr Dan McLaughlin (Chair) and Prof Ingrid Scheffer remain on the committee. We thank the retiring members for their work on the committee.
If you have any issues or questions related to antiepileptic drugs or VNS, please contact Dan McLaughlin.
June 1, 2007
Information on the 7th Asian & Oceanian Epilepsy Congress in 2008 has been posted on the Conferences>Forthcoming Conferences page.
May 28, 2007
Registration for Neuroimaging and Clinical Neuroscience Research Short Course open. Check the Education>Courses page for more information.
May 23, 2007
Prof Sam Berkovic, one of the ESA’s most respected clinicians and researchers, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, in recognition of his significant scientific contributions to epilepsy research. This is a prestigious honour, bestowed upon less than 1500 scientists (including many Nobel Laureates) over the 350 years since the Royal Society’s inception. The ESA extends congratulations to Prof Sam Berkovic, FRS and his research team.
May 21, 2007
Keppra® Oral Solution is now available in Australia, though not yet on the PBS. Keppra® Oral Solution is 100mg/ml levetiracetam in a clear-coloured, grape-flavoured solution. It comes in 300ml bottles, equating to about a months supply at 500mg (5ml) twice daily. For more information, check with your pharmacy or UCB product representative.
May 21, 2007
Online abstract submission has opened for the ESA Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide November 7-9, 2007. Closing date for abstract submission is July 27. To review abstract requirements and access the online system, go to http://www.sapmea.asn.au/conventions/esa2007/abstracts.html.
May 11, 2007
The new-look ESA website was launched. Please report any problems to enquiries@epilepsy-society.org.au. Comments and suggestions also welcome!
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