European Epilepsy Service Award 2026

Isabella Brambilla is an Italian patient advocate and a leading voice in rare and complex epilepsies. Inspired by her experience as the mother of a child with Dravet syndrome, she founded Dravet Italia in 2010 and the Dravet Syndrome European Federation in 2014 to support research, improve care, and strengthen the community.

She contributes to international collaborations and roundtables such as Horizons for Dravet Syndrome, patient registries like RESIDRAS (linked to SCN1A and PCDH19 mutations), and projects within ERN-EpiCARE, where she serves as Chair of Patient Representatives. Her work includes research, publications, and the development of tools such as the D-DAND Scale, the Dravet Diary, and the Emergency Certificate.

A frequent speaker at international conferences and member of several Scientific Advisory Boards, she collaborates with global expert groups to advance understanding of rare epilepsies and their impact on families. In 2021 she founded the Italian Alliance of Associations for Rare and Complex Epilepsies (AERC), and in 2025 the European Alliance for Complex and Rare Epilepsies (E+A) to strengthen advocacy and improve equitable access to care across Europe. Her mission is to connect families, clinicians, researchers, and institutions to build a better future for people living with rare epilepsies.