ILAE-Asia and Oceania

Incoming Executive Board of ILAE-Asia and Oceania (2025-2029):

Epilepsy and Epilepsy Surgery Fellowship from the Asian Epilepsy Academy

The Asian Epilepsy Academy (ASEPA) is the educational arm of the ILAE-Asia Oceania. For the year 2026, ASEPA is offering:

• Four epilepsy training fellowships of 6 -12 months duration; each fellowship provides a USD 10,000 stipend for travelling and other expenses.
• Three epilepsy surgery fellowships of 4 months duration; each fellowship provides US$4,000 stipend for travelling and other expenses.

Candidates should be less than 50 years of age from Asian countries, for training at selected epilepsy centres in the Asian & Oceanian region. Applicants should be able to communicate in English. An evaluating committee will assess all applications.

Applications should include:

1. Curriculum vitae with evidence to show the commitment to epilepsy.
2. Proposed training goals, field of study and place of study. Candidates may also request that ASEPA suggests the place of study.
3. Letter of recommendation from the applicant’s national epilepsy leadership.
4. The names of two referees.

Applications may be submitted in writing or via email to:
Dr Chong-Tin Tan,
Neurology Laboratory, University Malaya Medical Centre, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Email: chongtin.tan@gmail.com

Applications must be received by 31 July 2026.

International Epilepsy Day 2026

16th Asian & Oceanian Epilepsy Congress

ILAE EPIACT Project: Bridging the Gender Gap in Epilepsy Care in Rural China

This midterm report summarizes progress made under the EPIACT project "Bridging the Gender Gap in Epilepsy Care in Rural China". The project was originally designed around five linked workstreams: data collection, data analysis, partner mapping, community-based training, and public awareness. During the reporting period, the project moved from planning into implementation through a structured outreach activity in Wuzhi County, Henan Province, combining specialist service delivery, village follow-up, grassroots provider training, and real-world observation of gender-specific barriers to epilepsy care. In parallel, the project initiated preliminary analysis and delivered an early public awareness activity on International Women's Day (8 March 2026) focused on the social inequities faced by women with epilepsy, comorbidity management, and supportive care needs. Midterm progress is strongest in partner engagement, early-stage data collection, grassroots training, preliminary analysis, and the establishment of a practical implementation platform for the next phase.

ASEPA-ANZAN EEG Teaching Course

6 - 7 March 2026 in Singapore

The ASEPA-ANZAN EEG course was held in Singapore for the first time from 6-7 March 2026. The objectives were to introduce EEG in a structured manner, improve EEG interpretation, and encourage good EEG reporting. The course was organised by Dr Tan Zhibin and Dr Koh Pei Xuan, with support from both local and international faculty: Profs John Dunne, Kwan Shang-Yeong, Lim Shih Hui, Derrick Chan, Ong Hian Tat, Sheila Srinivasan, Loh Ngai Kun, and Drs Tushar Gosavi, Tan Yee-Leng, Rahul Rathakrishnan, Tan You Jiang, Shen Jia Yi, Xu Zheyu, and Chiew Yi Rong. A secondary objective was to bring people together. To this end, it was heartwarming to see a total of 35 participants and 16 faculty members coming together, hailing from Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Maldives, and the Philippines.

The participants had a stimulating schedule of didactic and interactive training sessions. At the end of the course, participants provided extremely positive feedback, with an average overall score of 9.82 out of 10 points. When asked how likely they were to recommend the course to someone else, participants gave an average score of 9.91 out of 10 points. In terms of content and delivery of lectures and tutorials, participants gave an average score of 4.94 out of 5 points.

ASEPA EEG Training Programme

10 - 11 January 2026 in Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan League Against Epilepsy (SLLAE), in collaboration with ASEPA, organized a two-day EEG Training Programme on 10–11 January 2026, aimed at enhancing capacity among EEG technologists and neurologists. Day 1 featured an EEG Technologist Workshop at the National Epilepsy Center, focusing on technical competencies such as signal calibration, electrode placement, artefact recognition, and documentation. Day 2 comprised an EEG Interpretation Masterclass at Courtyard by Marriott, covering advanced topics including focal seizure patterns, generalized epileptiform discharges, periodic and rhythmic patterns, non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE), and neonatal EEG interpretation. The programme engaged 30 technologists and 36 masterclass participants, supported by faculty from Sri Lanka including Prof Jithangi Wanigasinghe, Lakmini Pathberiya, Dr. Chanya Padmaperuma and international experts Prof KP Vinayan and Derrick Chan.

Feedback indicated high satisfaction, with the technologist workshop scoring an average of 4.62/5 for overall quality and relevance, and the masterclass achieving an exceptional mean rating of 4.96/5, with 24 out of 25 respondents awarding full marks. Participants highlighted artefact recognition and filtering as the most valuable technologist session, while all masterclass modules scored above 4.5/5. Feedback supported a strong demand for practical, case-based learning and advanced EEG applications.

ASEPA Epilepsy Training Course

15 - 16 November 2025 in Taipei, Taiwan

The Asian Epilepsy Academy (ASEPA), in collaboration with the Taiwan Epilepsy Society and the Children's Epilepsy Association of Taiwan, held an epilepsy training course in Taipei on November 15 and 16, 2025, providing comprehensive learning and practical training for neurologists and pediatric neurologists. The two-day course conducts in-depth symptomatology and EEG teaching through real-case discussions to popularize and deepen basic and clinical knowledge related to epilepsy, delivered in face-to-face physical training camps. View the full activity report.

Advances in Epilepsy Syndromes Symposium

31 October - 1 November 2025 in Shantou, China

Attended by over 150 delegates from the region, including neurologists, pediatricians, neurosurgeons, trainees and technologists, there was a stimulating programme delivering the latest updates in epilepsy syndromes by visiting ASEPA faculty Profs John Dunne, Ernie Somerville, Derrick Chan, Lim Kheng Seang, Chong Tin Tan, Chien Chen, together with Profs Liao Weiping, Liu Xiaorong, He Na, Li Bingmei and Chen Li.
The local team led by Prof He Suli provided superb on-site organisation and hospitality, giving the visiting faculty a warm welcome and stay.

The second day was rounded off with stimulating case discussions with the participants and faculty. The event fulfilled ASEPA’s mission to support training and education in the Asia & Oceanian region and was a special occasion as it marked the 20th Anniversary of the China Association Against Epilepsy and similar collaboration between the CAAE and ASEPA in delivering educational programmes in China.

PET1 and ASEPA Adult Epilepsy Workshop

23 - 24 October 2025 in Malang, Indonesia

The Indonesian League Against Epilepsy and Asian Epilepsy Academy (ASEPA) held a two-day workshop on 23-24 October 2025, in conjunction with MIELUM XIII - The Malang Integrated Education in Neurology Meeting 2025.

A total of 40 neurologists, paediatricians, general practitioners and residents attended this two-day combined workshop “Epilepsy Across Ages: from seizures in children to adults- bridging knowledge for better care.”

Day 1 comprised the Paediatric Epilepsy Training Level 1 course by the British Paediatric Neurology Association. This is the first PET1 course being delivered by ASEPA since the PET1 faculty training course in Singapore in June 2025.

Lectures were delivered by KP Vinayan, Jithangi Wanigasinghe, Kamornwan Katanyuwong, Shan Tang and Derrick Chan and interlaced with stimulating small group teaching sessions, with pre-course organisation supported by Ajibola Alao and Jessica Ball from the BPNA and Simon Ling as co-course director with Derrick Chan.

Day 2 was a tailored adult epilepsy programme with regional faculty Prof Lim Shih Hui, Prof Kwan Shang Yeong, Drs Tan Zhibin and Shen Jiayi, together with Prof Aris Catur Bintoro, President of, and Prof Machlusil Husna, Secretary General of the Indonesian League Against Epilepsy.

The course theme of epilepsy across ages and bridging knowledge for better care were inspiring and practical, striving to meet the needs of the attendees in their busy clinical practice. The teaching was well-received, with lively discussion in the small group sessions and case discussions.

The course execution and support by the local organising committee was masterful and gave the faculty a terrific experience and opportunities to form links with the local doctors. We look forward to supporting more activities in Indonesia in the coming year and building on these workshops.

ASEPA Video-EEG Course

6 - 7 August 2025 in Bali, Indonesia
Activity report

Nagpur National Pediatric Neurology Conclave

Nagpur, India

The National Pediatric Epilepsy Conclave, organized by MAHA-AOPN at Nagpur, was led by Dr. Vinit Wankhede (Organizing Chairman) and Dr. Amarjeet Wagh (Organizing Secretary) in a perfect blend of core concepts and cutting-edge advances in pediatric epilepsy — from fundamentals to future frontiers. From video-based sessions and focused workshops on Neonatal EEG and Neuroimaging in Epilepsy, to lectures from national faculty including Dr. VRAJESH Udani, Dr. Rajadhyaksha, Dr. Jitendra Sahu, Dr. Vinian, Dr. Nandan, and international ASEPA guests Dr Kate Riney, Dr Sindhu Viswanathan and Dr Derrick Chan.

ILAE ASEPA EEG Master Class: Epilepsy in Malformation of Cortical Development

21 June 2025 in Taipei, Taiwan
Course details | Activity report

Paediatric Epilepsy Training 1 launched in Singapore

13 - 15 June 2025 in Taipei, Taiwan

On 13 - 15 June 2025, the British Paediatric Neurology Association, in collaboration with the International League Against Epilepsy Asian-Oceanian region’s ASEPA and Paediatric Task Force and the Singapore Epilepsy Society, launched the Paediatric Epilepsy Training 1 (PET1) in Singapore. PET1 is a one-day course designed to improve the diagnosis and management of childhood epilepsies by non-specialist healthcare professionals. Developed by the BPNA in collaboration with paediatric neurologists worldwide, PET1 supports the goals of the WHO’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP) by strengthening capacity for epilepsy care in low-resource and non-specialist settings and has been shown to encourage these individuals to improve their personal practice and wider clinical services. PET courses now run in 14 countries outside of the UK, including Australia, India, Singapore and New Zealand.

The Singapore launch established local delivery of PET1 and built momentum for wider PET roll-out around the Asia-Oceania region. The intensive three-day faculty development programme trained 20 new faculty culminating in the new faculty delivering PET1 to 47 local healthcare professionals.

Together the Singapore faculty will run courses for local paediatricians, nurses, allied health professionals and trainees. The ASEPA faculty from Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia, Hong Kong and Vietnam will run a PET courses in the Asian Oceania region, raising awareness of the course and helping to set countries up for future PET launches. If you want to know more about courses in the region, contact Dr Derrick Chan through the ILAE website or your national ILAE-AO representatives. A group from Hong Kong also participated with plans to launch PET1 in Hong Kong.

The launch was generously supported by the International League Against Epilepsy, the Singapore Epilepsy Society, KK Women's and Children's Hospital and Mount Alvernia Children's Hospital, with logistical supported provided by the BPNA. It marks a milestone in the BPNA and ILAE's joint commitment to improving epilepsy care for children around the region.

Epilepsy Fellowship from Asian Epilepsy Academy

The Asian Epilepsy Academy (ASEPA) is the educational arm of the ILAE-Asia & Oceania. For the year 2025, ASEPA is offering:

• Four epilepsy training fellowships of 6 -12 months duration; each fellowship provides a USD $10,000 stipend for travelling and other expenses.
• Three epilepsy surgery fellowships of 4 months duration; each fellowship provides USD $4,000 stipend for travelling and other expenses.

Candidates should be less than 50 years of age from Asian countries, for training at selected epilepsy centres in the Asian & Oceanian region. Applicants should be able to communicate in English. An evaluating committee will assess all applications.

Applications should include:

1. Curriculum vitae with evidence to show the commitment to epilepsy.
2. Proposed training goals, field of study and place of study. Candidates may also request that ASEPA suggests the place of study.
3. Letter of recommendation from the applicant’s national epilepsy leadership.
4. The names of two referees.

Applications are closed. 

15th Asian & Oceanian Epilepsy Congress

Epilepsy Surgery 2025

January 2025 in Mongolia
Program details

ASEPA Neuropsychology Course in Epilepsy 2024

14 - 15 December 2024 in Taipei City, Taiwan
Course details | Activity report

Advanced Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Course 2024

7 - 10 November 2024 in Cochin, India
Course details | Activity report

ASEPA SEEG Workshop and DIXI SEEG Course

30 October - 3 November 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand
Event details | ASEPA SEEG Workshop report

Translational Epilepsy Summer School 2024

21 - 25 October 2024 in Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Event details | Activity report

ASEPA ANZAN Epilepsy Training Course

10 - 11 October 2024 in Medan, Indonesia

The ASEPA-ANZAN Epilepsy Teaching Course, held in conjunction with the 1st FINEST Medan 2024, took place from 10-11 October 2024 in Medan, Sumatera Utara, Indonesia. The distinguished faculty included Prof. Dato Dr. Tan Chong Tin and Prof. Lim Kheng-Seang from Malaysia, Prof. Derrick Chan and Dr. Tushar Gosavi from Singapore, Prof. Ernest Sommerville from Australia, and six esteemed Indonesian experts: Dr. Aris Catur, Sp.N(K), Dr. Machlusil Husna, Sp.N(K), Dr. Nova Dian Lestari, Sp.N(K), Dr. Sri Handayani, Sp.N(K), Dr. Astri Budikayarti, Sp.N(K), and Dr. Chairil Amin Batubara, Sp.N(K).

The course attracted 55 participants from across Indonesia, fostering engaging discussions that effectively conveyed essential knowledge about epilepsy syndromes. Attendees gained insights into the latest classifications and their significance in daily practice. This enlightening experience has left us eager for future sessions.

ASEPA EEG Part 1 Exam

11 September 2024 in Jakarta, Indonesia
Exam details | 33rd International Congress of Clinical Neurophysiology

Symposium on Advances in Epilepsy Syndromes

16 - 17 August 2024 in Zunyi, Guizhou, China

The CAAE/ASEPA Epilepsy workshop entitled “Symposium on Advances in Epilepsy Syndromes” took place on 16 - 17 August 2024 in Zunyi, Guizhou, China. The faculty consisted of Prof Liao Weiping, Prof John Dunne, Prof Tan Chong Tin, Prof Kwan Shang Yeong, Prof Chen Chien, A/Prof Derrick Chan, Prof Liu Xiaorong and Dr He Na. All provided stimulating talks on the entire range of epilepsy syndromes and the most updated classifications, and the local hosts led by Prof Xu engaged in stimulating and deep discussions, culminating in excellent case presentations.

Semiology and Neuroimaging Course 2024

12 - 13 July 2024 in Malaysia
Course details | Sponsored activity report