Michael Prize 2021

Katja Kobow is Associate Professor in Molecular Neuropathology at the University Hospital Erlangen, Germany. She is an excellent researcher, who significantly contributed to the field of molecular neuropathology of epilepsy, studying DNA methylation in human brain tissue obtained from epilepsy surgery. Katja already became one of the leading researchers in the field of epigenetics in epilepsy at a relatively young age. Beyond this specific research focus she is also founding member of the Young Epilepsy Section (YES) of the ILAE, as well as an invited member in ILAE task forces and commissions.

Katja has submitted three excellent and highly relevant publications which provide evidence for epigenetic changes as molecular pathomechanism in epilepsy and for disease‐specific methylation signatures of human epileptogenic brain lesions. In particular, her recent studies support an integrated molecular-genetic and histological disease classification of cortical malformations including Focal Cortical Dysplasia and Polymicrogyria. Her relevant and innovative line of research applied to neuropathology of epilepsy paves the way for future developments in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in epilepsy.