Submission Requirements

1. Online submission only via the congress abstract portal. No abstracts submitted by post, fax, or email will be accepted. Deadline: 13 June 2025 (midnight GMT)
2. Abstracts must be written, submitted, and presented in English, with a maximum of 300 words (excluding title, authors, and affiliations). Abstracts in other languages will not be considered.
3. Abstract review decisions are final. Authors will be notified by email whether their abstract has been accepted. No correspondence regarding decisions will be entered into.

 Congress Registration Requirements

1. Accepted abstracts require presenting author registration by 18 July 2025 for final acceptance.
2. Presenting authors must register using the same email address used during abstract submission to ensure correct matching in the system and to avoid registration reminders.
3. Abstracts accepted and presented will be listed on the congress website. Pending editorial approval, they may also be published in a supplement to Epilepsia.
4. If the presenting author does not register, the abstract will be excluded from both the programme and publication.

Presentation Instructions

1. Detailed instructions for oral (platform) and poster presentations will be available on the congress website.
• Oral presenters must use Microsoft PowerPoint (PC format only).
2. All communications will be sent to the submitting author only. It is their responsibility to forward information to co-authors and presenters.

Late Breaking Abstract Content Rules

To be considered, late-breaking abstracts must adhere to the following content and formatting guidelines:

Scientific and Eligibility Criteria

1. Abstract must be of exceptional scientific interest and merit.
2. Must include new results only available after 31 January 2025.
3. Content must not duplicate any material already accepted in the congress programme. Review the programme here.
4. Must not have been presented elsewhere.
5. Final version must be submitted by the deadline; no changes are permitted afterward.

Author and Institution Details

1. Institution information must be included for all authors (institution, city, state/province, and country – exclude department, division, lab, etc.).

Abstract Structure & Formatting

1. Select an appropriate topic category during submission.
2. Structure your abstract in four sections:
• Purpose: State the objective(s) of the study.
• Method: Describe the study population/material, interventions, and evaluation procedures.
• Results: Summarize findings, including numerical data (e.g., means ± SD/SEM, statistical significance).
• Conclusion: Clearly state the study's conclusion(s).
3. No figures, tables, or illustrations are allowed.
4. Commercial or other funding should be disclosed in a brief acknowledgment.

Submission Limitations

1. Do not submit multiple abstracts for different components of the same study. Combine findings into one submission.
2. Single case reports will generally not be accepted unless of exceptional scientific or clinical value.
3. Abstracts with insufficient or unclear data will be rejected.

Title and Language

1. Use a concise, informative title with no abbreviations.
2. Abstracts must be in English, max. 300 words (excluding title, authors, affiliations).

Scientific Details

1. For intervention studies, include:
   • Study design (e.g., randomized, observational, prospective)
   • Dosing, assessment methods, duration of follow-up, etc.
2. Use non-proprietary drug names. If proprietary names are used, they must follow the format:
   non-proprietary name (Proprietary name, Manufacturer)

Abbreviations & References

1. Use abbreviations sparingly. First mention must be spelled out with the abbreviation in parentheses.
2. Use references only when essential, in the following formats:
   • Journal article: Hardus P et al. Epilepsia 2001;42:262–267.
   • Book chapter: Levy RH et al. In: Levy RH et al, Antiepileptic Drugs. Lippincott-Raven, 1996;13–30.

Ethical Standards

1. Submission implies that the study complies with all ethical and regulatory standards in biomedical research. Non-compliance will result in rejection.

Wiley offers some guidelines on how to “Prepare your Manuscript” which you can find here: Preparing Your Manuscript | Wiley

1. Adult Epileptology
2. AI and Computational Medicine
3. Basic science
4. Climate Change
5. Clinical Neurophysiology
6. Comorbidities
7. Drug Therapy
8. Epidemiology
9. Epilepsy and Reproductive Health
10. Epilepsy in Crisis Settings
11. Epilepsy in Older People
12. Epilepsy in Resource-restricted Settings
13. Epilepsy Infection and Inflammation
14. Epilepsy Surgery
15. Genetics
16. IGAP Implementation
17. Neuroimaging
18. Neuropsychology
19. Neurostimulation
20. Nursing
21. Paediatric Epileptology
22. Psychiatry
23. Social Issue
24. Status Epilepticus
25. SUDEP and Mortality
26. Terminology and Classification

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

How do I submit an abstract?

Abstracts will only be accepted for review if submitted via the congress abstract submission system which is now closed.

Can I make changes to my abstract after submission?

You may make changes to your submitted abstract until the official submission deadline.

Once the abstract submission deadline has passed, changes are not permitted unless they relate to the results of the study.
In this case only, please contact abstracts@epilepsycongress.org

Can I submit an abstract after the deadline?

Abstracts will not be accepted for review after the deadline.
Please contact abstracts@epilepsycongress.org with any queries.

Can an Encore Abstract be submitted?

Yes, an encore abstract may be submitted, provided that there is no copyright issue with the original publisher.

What is the abstract word count?

Maximum word count is 300.

ABSTRACT ACCEPTANCE

When will I know if my abstract has been accepted?

Authors will be notified of the outcome of the abstract review once completed.

How will I receive the information from the Secretariat?

Contact details provided at the time of submission will be used for all correspondence related to the congress. Please ensure that the correct details are entered.

All correspondence will be sent to the submitting author only. It is the responsibility of the submitting author to forward any relevant correspondence to the presenting author, if different, and any co-authors.

How will my abstract be presented at the congress?

Authors of abstracts which have been accepted for presentation will receive all details by email using the contact details provided at the time of submission.

My colleague has received confirmation of their abstract acceptance, and I did not, is there something wrong?

Please contact abstracts@epilepsycongress.org.

Will my accepted abstract be published?

Abstracts accepted for presentation at the IEC will be considered for publication in Epilepsia.  Those judged suitable by the editorial team based on novelty and scientific impact will be published electronically. Others may be accepted for presentation at the meeting but will not be published.

ABSTRACTS - GENERAL QUERIES

Which reference number should I use when I send a query to the Secretariat?

The personal ID Reference Number that you received when you submitted your abstract should be mentioned in all correspondence.

I am not the first author; may I present the poster on behalf of my colleagues?

Presentation by a second author may be allowed. Once your registration has been completed, please contact abstracts@epilepsycongress.org. Please note however that each author is permitted to present only once during the congress (not including invited lectures).

I am an invited speaker in the congress programme; do I need to submit an abstract?

Invited speakers are not required to submit abstracts to illustrate their talks.

I have been selected for a platform session, but I would have preferred a poster presentation, what can I do?

During the abstract submission process, you were asked if you would prefer poster or oral (platform) presentation, or if you do not have a preference.

The Abstract Review Committee (ARC) took this preference into account and did not select an abstract for platform presentation if the submitter indicated that s/he does not want a platform presentation.

However, if you indicated that you had no preference between poster and platform presentation, then the ARC has selected your work to be presented in a platform session because they felt that it was of high quality and that a large audience would be interested in knowing more about the study. It would be a shame not to use this opportunity to present your work!

However, if you are unable to make an oral presentation, please contact the secretariat at abstracts@epilepsycongress.org for alternative arrangements.

I have been selected for a platform session, what are the guidelines for my presentation?

Please see the “Platform” tab for more information.

I have been selected for a poster presentation session, what do I need to know?

It is important to note that all poster presentations are to be given with a physical poster at the congress.

There will be no facilities for a digital poster display/virtual presentation.

Please see the “Posters” and “In-Person Poster Presentations” tabs for more information.

How do I find information about uploading a digital version of poster to the congress platform?

All information relating to uploading a digital version of your poster will be available on the website after the abstract review is completed.

This is optional and for the benefit of the congress app and on-demand viewing. There will be no facilities to display your digital poster at the congress venue.

When will abstracts be published in Epilepsia?

After the congress, all presented abstracts will be compiled and undergo a series of proofreading. Once finalised, the abstract book is expected to published in the December issue Epilepsia.

In order to encourage young researchers to participate in the congress, bursaries will be awarded to a number of applicants who have submitted an abstract to the congress that stands out for its scientific quality. 

Bursary awards assist awardees with a contribution towards costs in order to attend the congress. Please note this is a limited fund and may not cover all costs incurred in travelling to the congress.  

Applications for bursaries will only be accepted from those who submit an abstract and the application is made via the abstract submission system. 

Please contact the ILAE Secretariat at bursary@epilepsycongress.org with any queries. 

 REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS 

• Applications for bursaries will only be accepted via the online abstract submission system for the congress. 
• The applicant must submit an abstract and receive a score higher than 3.5 out of 5. 
• At the time of application, the applicant must be 45 years of age or under. A copy of the applicant’s passport/ID document must be included with the application to verify date of birth. 
• The applicant must submit a short statement explaining why attendance at the congress would be particularly relevant to his/her present appointment or activity in the field of epilepsy, making sure to indicate the reason he/she requires funding to attend the congress and why he/she feels the application should be considered. 
• The applicant must submit a signed reference from a person supporting his/her application (e.g. local ILAE Chapter representative, Head of Department of hospital or institution, etc.). 
• The applicant must declare if he/she has sourced any other funding to attend the congress and disclose the nature of the funding. 

The ILAE Mentor-Mentee Programme involves the allocation of a mentor to a trainee. 

Applications for the Mentor-Mentee Programme are only available through the congress abstract submission system. Applicants must submit an abstract to the congress in order to be eligible to apply for the programme. 

If selected, the trainee will be allocated a mentor - an experienced individual in the research/clinical area in which the trainee demonstrates an interest. They will have the opportunity to meet with their mentor, as well as to listen to other individuals established in their careers in different regions of the world. The mentor will arrange to attend the trainee’s presentation/poster and offer further consultation. 

Participants in the ILAE Mentor-Mentee Programme do not receive any support to attend the congress.
Attendance at an in-person kick-off meeting the evening prior to the congress is required for participation.

*Please note that applicants must submit an abstract to the congress in order to be eligible to apply for the programme. 

Please contact the ILAE Secretariat at iec@epilepsycongress.org with any queries. 

CRITERIA & SELECTION 

• Applications for the ILAE Mentor-Mentee Programme will only be accepted via the online abstract submission system for the congress. 
• At the time of application, the applicant must be aged 40 years of age or under. A copy of the applicant’s passport/ID document must be included with the application to verify date of birth. 
• At time of application, the applicant must be a trainee:
  for MDs: within 2 years of start of fellowship
  for non-MDs: being enrolled in a graduate student programme (Masters or PhD) 
• The applicant must submit a signed letter from a supervisor indicating the applicant fulfils the criteria, including that the work in the abstract submitted is mostly the work of the applicant. 

The Venkatesh Young Neuroscientist Award of the ILAE Neurobiology Commission is designed to reward young basic science investigators (within 10 years of completing PhD or MD training) who submit an abstract to the International Epilepsy Congress. 

The Award is generously supported by a donation of the Venkatesh Family. Candidates are selected by the members of the ILAE Neurobiology Commission. The Prize will be acknowledged during the Welcome Ceremony and will be awarded during the Neurobiology Symposium. 

Applications will only be accepted from those who also submit an abstract.    

Please contact the ILAE Secretariat at iec@epilepsycongress.org with any queries. 

REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS    

• Applications for the Venkatesh Award will only be accepted via the online abstract submission system for the congress.    
• The applicant must submit an abstract and receive a score higher than 3.5 out of 5. 
• The applicant must submit a short statement explaining why attendance at the congress would be particularly relevant to his/her present appointment or activity in the field of epilepsy, making sure to indicate the reason he/she requires funding to attend the congress and why he/she feels the application should be considered.    
• The applicant must be within 10 years of completing their PhD or MD training. 
• The applicant must submit their Biosketch, including publications. 
• The applicant must submit a letter from a department director or chair confirming your eligibility for the award. 
   

Guidelines for Oral Presentations in Platform Sessions

Preparing your Presentation

1. Presentations must be given in English, the official language of the congress. No translation will be available.
2. Session and presentation information will be emailed to the presenting author after 19 May.
3. Presentations should be planned carefully, and each phase of the lecture should be co-ordinated to match the PowerPoint presentation.
4. You are free to use your own slide template, but the congress template can be found on the “Speakers & Chairs” section on the congress website.
5. Remember, the 3 rules of effective presentation are:
   • Introduce your topic and inform your audience about what you intend to speak.
   • Deliver your talk, including the methods, results and conclusions.
   • Summarise the most important points of your lecture for the audience.
6. On arrival at the congress venue, please go to the Speakers’ Room to check in and save your presentation on the network. We recommend that you go to the Speakers’ Room the day before your presentation. Please note that all presentations must be placed on the network at least 3 hours before the session.
7. Format and saving method for PowerPoint documents:
   • Only MS-PowerPoint (*.ppt) presentations with video formats will be accepted.
   • Please verify that the size of your slides is adapted to projection ratio of 16:9.
   • Please save fonts used in your document.
   • If your presentation uses digital video file (files .mpg or .avi), check that they are saved in the same directory as your PowerPoint file and adapt the link if necessary.
8. Media to use to provide your presentation:
   • Please bring a USB memory stick (flash drive) for PC.
   • If you wish to compress your files, use Winzip.
   • We strongly recommend that you bring a copy of your presentation on a USB memory stick (flash drive), even if your presentation exists on your laptop.
9. The use of your files:
   • Your original media used in the Speakers’ Room are immediately returned to you.
   • A single file with your presentation is created on the server; no copy is made except for technical back-ups.
10. Please make sure that you arrive in the session room at least 10 minutes before the start of the session in order to meet the Co-chairs.
11. If your presentation uses digital video files, bring your videos to the Speakers’ Room on DVD or USB drive and please ensure that you leave adequate time ahead of your session to discuss and confirm with the technicians that the files are in working order. MPG (MPEG), WMV or AVI are the only acceptable video formats.
12. If you use hyperlinks to websites in your presentation, please download the website to your USB drive. Try to avoid too many different folders on the medium.
13. Special notes for Apple users:
    • Please give your filename an extension “.PPT”.
    • Try out your presentation on a PC before bringing it to the congress.
    • Use a common font, such as Arial, Times New Roman, Verdana, etc. (special fonts might be changed to a default font on a Windows PC).
14. Do not use timer-controlled transitions (transitions that switch to the next slide after a pre-set amount of time).
15. In presentation mode, your text should be large enough to be easily readable. The slides should not include multiple rows of text in small font.
16. Media to use to provide your presentation:
    • Please bring a USB memory stick (flash drive) for PC.
    • If you wish to compress your files, use Winzip.
    • We strongly recommend that you bring a copy of your presentation on a USB memory stick (flash drive), even if your presentation exists on your laptop.

Speakers’ Room

1. You must go to the Speakers’ Room to check in and save your presentation on the network.
2. It is recommended to go to the Speakers’ Room the day before your presentation. Please note that all presentations must be placed on the network at least 3 hours before the session. Speakers at early morning sessions are required to submit their material no later than 17.00 on the evening before their session is scheduled.
3. Computers are available in the Speakers’ Room for any last-minute changes and to review presentations. Presentations may not be edited in the session room.
4. In the Speakers’ Room, a technician helps you to transfer your presentation onto the network and then performs a quick run-through with you to check that the presentation runs correctly.

Your Presentation

1. All Platform sessions will be taking place from Sunday, 31 August – Tuesday, 2 September (inclusive).
2. Presentation details will be emailed to the presenting author after 19 May.
3. Please make sure to arrive in the session room at least 10 minutes before the start of the session to meet the Chair(s) and to discuss general session arrangements. Session Chairs have been encouraged to contact speakers prior to the congress to prepare their sessions and to request a short bio from each speaker.
4. Remember, the three rules of effective presentation are:
   • Introduce your topic and inform your audience about what your intended topic.
   • Deliver your talk, including the methods, results and conclusions.
   • Summarise the most important points of your lecture for the audience.
5. Please explain any acronyms used in your presentation as well as your visuals for the benefit of all attendees.
6. To avoid breaks between speakers, presentations from speakers’ own laptops are not permitted in session rooms.

If you have any questions on your platform presentation, please contact abstracts@epilepsycongress.org

What are the requirements for in-person poster presenters? 

As an in-person poster presenter, you must create; 

1. Physical poster (Compulsory)  
2. Digital poster (Optional)

What is the procedure for displaying posters during the congress? 

Details on poster presentation times will be issued after 2 May

• You will mount your physical poster on a poster board in the Congress venue on a scheduled day. Poster boards are portrait in orientation and the maximum available dimensions of the poster board are 98cm x 232cm (2.32m x 0.98m).

The poster does not need to fill the board; the board measurements are shared so that your poster can fit within these dimensions.

• Materials will be provided for affixing posters to the poster boards.
• The presenter must check in at the Poster Desk in the Poster Area on arrival in the morning and before setting up the poster on the board.
• Please note that the Congress does not assume responsibility for unclaimed posters. All unclaimed posters will be discarded.

How do I register for the congress as an in-person poster presenter? 

• You can register for the congress here.
• The presenting author must register for the congress to finalise the acceptance of the abstract and to ensure publication of the abstract in Epilepsia.
• Non-registered presenting authors will be removed and excluded from publication.
• Please note that the Congress will be held both in-person and online. Poster presenters must attend the Congress in-person and can ONLY register as an in-person delegate on the registration platform.

How do I upload my poster? What is the format? 

• You will receive login details for the poster platform along with instructions on how to upload your poster as a single PDF or single slide in PPT/PPTX  Your poster must be in portrait or landscape orientation, no larger than 10 MB, and must be in English.
• The digital upload is optional. It is compulsory to present a physical poster at the congress. There will be no facilities for a digital poster display/virtual presentation.

Who can upload my poster?

• Only the presenting author can upload the poster. All correspondence will be sent to the presenting author.

I am not the first author; may I present the poster on behalf of my colleagues?

• Presentation by a second author may be allowed. Once the presenting author’s registration has been completed, please contact abstracts@epilepsycongress.org to identify the name and email address of the presenting author. Please note however that each author is permitted to present only once during the congress (not including invited lectures).

Will I be able to upload audio and/or video content to my poster?

• Yes, however you must upload this content separately. You will upload your poster in the poster section of the platform, and just below that you will see the audio and video section of the platform.
• You can upload your audio and video files there. You may upload a maximum on ONE audio file and ONE video file. The file size limit is 100MB. You can upload only the following file types for audio and video: .mp3, .mp4, .wav, .m4a. Each upload may not exceed 3 minutes.
  You will not be able to embed audio or video files in your poster section upload.
• This is optional and for the benefit of the congress app and on-demand viewing. There will be no facilities to display your digital poster at the congress venue.

Can I edit my poster after submitting my poster?

• Yes, you can continue to edit your poster until 08 August 2025. You cannot edit your poster in the platform, you must upload an edited version. Any changes made after this date will not be visible in the platform during the congress or reflected in the published abstract in Epilepsia.

Can congress delegates download my poster during the congress?

• No, Delegates cannot download your poster. However, it will be available to view throughout the congress and during the on-demand period ending 03 December 2025.

Will I be able to engage with online delegates during the congress?

• Yes, delegates can comment on the poster in the poster platform, and you can respond. Additionally, there is similar function on the congress platform to comment online in real time.

What size should my poster be?

• Your poster can be whatever size you like, as long as it is clear, legible and fits on the poster boards which are 100cm x 250cm (1m x 2.5m) and portrait in orientation. However, the standard size for posters is A0.

What material should I print my poster on?

• Paper posters are recommended. You must ensure it is a suitable weight that can be held up on the board by whichever adhesive materials you have used (either your own or whatever the congress organisers have provided).
• Unfortunately, no assistance will be available for the mounting and removal of posters.  

• All posters will be on display from Sunday, 31 August – Tuesday, 2 September (inclusive)
• Each poster presenter must present their physical poster. No equipment for displaying video content will be provided or available.
• All posters are to be put up between 08:00 – 15:00 on Sunday, 31 August.
  No assistance will be available for the mounting and removal of posters.
• Each poster presenter must be available to answer questions at their poster during the lunch period (13:45-15:15) on their assigned day.
  While you are welcome to be present on additional days if you wish, it is mandatory to be available during the scheduled time on your assigned day.
• All poster presenters have been emailed their assigned presentation dates. If you have not received yours, please email abstracts@epilepsycongress.org.
• You can view the poster presentation schedule on our interactive planner now!
• Poster boards are portrait in orientation and the maximum poster size is 98cm x 232cm (2.32m x 0.98m).
  The poster does not need to fill the board; the board measurements are shared so that your poster can fit within these dimensions. The standard size for posters is A0.
• The poster must be removed between 15:00 and 18:00 on Tuesday, 2 September. The congress does not take any responsibility for unclaimed posters. Any posters left up after 18:00 on Tuesday, 2 September will be discarded.

The Scientific and Organising Committee would like to extend its gratitude for the assistance of the following people with the review of the abstracts.

Abstract Review Committee:

Accepted abstracts will be made available on the Congress planner approximately four weeks prior to the congress (1 August 2025). Information contained in these abstracts may not be released prior to their availability on the Congress planner.

Violation of the embargo may result in the abstract being withdrawn from the Congress.