News & Events

20th November 2026

2026 Global Mind Brain Health Summit

Following the inaugural Summit in 2025, the Centre for Global Epilepsy will host the second Global Mind Brain Health Summit on 20 November 2026 at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Under the theme ‘Prevention, Progress, Partnerships’, the Summit will bring together researchers, clinicians, policymakers, funders, industry partners and people with lived experience to explore global priorities and challenges in mind-brain health. The programme will feature keynote talks, panel discussions and opportunities for networking and collaboration. Read more and register for the conference here.

8th - 10th October 2026

2026 ILAE British Branch Annual Scientific Conference

The ILAE British Branch Annual Scientific Conference 2026 is taking place from 8-10 October 2026 in Harrogate, United Kingdom. The conference brings together healthcare professionals for a high-quality programme of expert lectures, platform presentations, poster sessions, and networking. It provides a key forum to share research, exchange knowledge and advance clinical practice in epilepsy care. Read more and register for the conference here.

Epilepsy Eras seminar explored epilepsy in the Victorian age (18 June 2026)

The Epilepsy Eras seminar series continued with a session exploring how epilepsy was understood and represented in the Victorian era through medicine, literature and social history. Professor Simon Shorvon, Professor Sara Lodge and Dr Jennifer Wallis examined how nineteenth-century ideas shaped perceptions of epilepsy, with the discussion chaired by Professor Sloan Mahone.

Epilepsy Eras seminar explored epilepsy in ancient times (21 May 2026)

The Centre for Global Epilepsy hosted the first seminar in the Epilepsy Eras series, exploring early interpretations of epilepsy across Mesopotamian, legal and medical traditions. Professor Sophie Démare-Lafont, Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid, Dr Ted Reynolds and Dr Troels Arbøll brought together perspectives from history, medicine and the ancient world, with the discussion chaired by Dr Jacob Dahl. The interdisciplinary seminar examined how epilepsy was understood and interpreted in ancient societies and how these historical perspectives can inform our understanding of the condition today.

Solving Stigma in Epilepsy webinar brought together global perspectives on stigma (20 May 2026)

The Centre for Global Epilepsy hosted a global conversation on understanding and addressing stigma in epilepsy. Mr Action Amos from the International Bureau for Epilepsy, Dr Mary Bitta from Aga Khan University Nairobi and Harvard Medical School, and Professor Sloan Mahone from the University of Oxford explored how stigma affects people living with epilepsy and how research, advocacy and lived experience can contribute to more effective, culturally informed responses.

Oxford Masterclass in Epileptology explored epilepsy and conflict (1 May 2026)

The Oxford Masterclass in Epileptology took place at Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford, with this year’s theme focusing on Epilepsy and Conflict. The programme explored lived experience, post-traumatic epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, forcibly displaced populations and global responses to epilepsy care in conflict-affected settings. Professor Sloan Mahone spoke on lived experience, while Professor Arjune Sen chaired the final session and spoke on global responses to epilepsy and conflict.

Centre for Global Epilepsy shortlisted for Vice-Chancellor’s Award (Spring 2026)

The Centre for Global Epilepsy has been shortlisted for the University of Oxford Vice-Chancellor’s Making a Difference Globally Award. The nomination recognises the Centre’s work in advancing equitable epilepsy care worldwide through research, capacity building, policy engagement and global partnerships. Building on Oxford’s contributions to global epilepsy research, including the Oxford Martin School Programme on Global Epilepsy, the Centre has quickly become a leading convenor in global brain health, working to improve outcomes for underserved communities.

OPEN Seed Fund awarded for Nepal Policy Project (Spring 2026)

We have received an Oxford Policy Engagement Network Seed Fund award for Strengthening Policy Pathways for Epilepsy and Maternal Health in Nepal. Working with the Nepal Public Health Foundation, AIIMS New Delhi and Nepali policy stakeholders, the project will support policy engagement on epilepsy and maternal health through stakeholder consultations, a Kathmandu policy dialogue workshop and the development of policy-facing outputs for senior decision-makers.

New collaboration with Nepal Public Health Foundation (NPHF) explores epilepsy and maternal health (Spring 2026)

We are part of a new collaboration with the Nepal Public Health Foundation (NPHF) to improve understanding of epilepsy and maternal health in Nepal. This study co-led by Professor Arjune Sen and supported by the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, and will bring together partners across Oxford and Nepal. The study will generate the first comprehensive dataset on epilepsy and pregnancy outcomes in the country in nearly two decades, supporting more integrated and culturally appropriate models of care.

'Integrating epilepsy into maternal health systems: lessons from Nepal and global insights' with Deepesha Silpakar (1 December 2025)

Deepsha Silpakar, Oxford Martin Visiting Fellow with the Centre for Global Epilepsy, shared insights from her work on integrating epilepsy into maternal health systems in Nepal. The session was followed by a panel discussion with Mahesh Kumar Maskey (Nepal Public Health Foundation), Jane Hirst (Imperial College London) and Arjune Sen (University of Oxford).

Global Mind Brain Health Summit Held at Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford (28 November 2025)

The first annual Global Mind Brain Health Summit brought together experts in neurology, mental health, public health, health systems, global policy and lived experience from the UK, Zimbabwe, Nepal and international organisations including the World Health Organization. Discussions focused on closing diagnostic gaps in global mind and brain health, meaningfully embedding lived experience, harnessing innovation to advance brain health for all, and sustainable change through cross-sector partnerships.

Equity in Global Health: Reflections from the Humanities (13 November 2025)

This interdisciplinary workshopworkshop brought together experts to explore the contribution that the humanities can make to global health. Speakers discussed ethical, cultural and historical dimensions of equity, stigma, and lived experience, including the role of oral history in epilepsy research. Professor Sloan Mahone presented on the cultural history of epilepsy and the development of a global oral history repository.

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