Editorial introductions

Abstract

Current Opinion in Neurology was launched in 1988. It is one of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The field of neurology is divided into 14 sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Journal's Section Editors for this issue. SECTION EDITORS Shafali S. JesteShafali S. JesteDr Jeste is a behavioral child neurologist specializing in autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. She is an Associate Professor in Psychiatry, Neurology, and Pediatrics in the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, USA, and a lead investigator in the UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART), USA. After earning her BA in Philosophy from Yale University, USA, and MD from Harvard Medical school, USA, she completed both child neurology and developmental neuroscience fellowships at Boston Children's Hospital, USA. Her extensive research program at UCLA integrates genetics with functional electroencephalography (EEG) to inform early risk prediction, treatment targets, and clinical trials in autism. She has designed innovative studies in early predictors of autism in high risk infants that integrate biomarkers with behavior to define atypical development prior to the onset of clinical symptoms. Within this framework, she has been investigating and treating infants and children with neurogenetic syndromes associated with ASD, such as tuberous sclerosis complex and Dup15q syndrome. She is the principal investigator of a study of early development and intervention for infants with tuberous sclerosis complex and a UCLA Autism Center of Excellence study of high-risk infant siblings. Dr Jeste also serves as the UCLA site director for the multisite National Institutes of Health Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials. Clinically, she founded and directs the UCLA Developmental Neurogenetics Clinic, a multidisciplinary program that evaluates and treats children with genetically defined neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr Jeste has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles in high impact journals such as Neurology and Science Translational Medicine. She has been the recipient of the Child Neurology Foundation's Researcher-in-Training Award, the American Academy of Neurology's Clinical Researcher-in- Training Award, and she recently joined the American Academy of Neurology Emerging Leaders Forum. She holds several national leadership roles, serving on the board of directors of the Child Neurology Foundation, the American Brain Foundation, and the International Society for Autism Research. Christian E. ElgerChristian E. ElgerDr Christian E. Elger is a Professor of Epileptology and the Director of the Department of Epileptology at the University of Bonn in Germany. He received his degree in medicine from the University of Münster, Germany, and while there, obtained his education in Physiology and then Neurology. Later, he became a Professor of Epileptology at the University of Bonn, Germany. Dr Elger was instrumental in transforming the small Epileptology Department in Bonn into a department in which neurologists, neuropsychologists, and basic scientists could work together in pursuit of new developments in epilepsy surgery and human brain research. The epilepsy center has one of the most active epilepsy surgery programs within Europe. Dr Elger is renowned for his role in studying seizure prediction and his pioneering work within the field of epilepsy and cognition. Critically, he was involved in developing pre-surgical evaluation techniques which enable the prediction of postsurgical cognitive outcome. His vision involves the use of epilepsy as a window to human brain function, and within this context, he founded the Center for Economics and Neuroscience in Bonn. He is widely published in highly-ranked journals and has over 780 peer-reviewed PubMed referenced publications. He also served as Associate Editor for Brain and Epilepsy and Behavior. In 2005, Dr Elger received the Zülch Prize from the Max-Planck-Foundation in recognition of his scientific studies in experimental epilepsy research and cognition. Additionally, the ILAE (International League Against Epilepsy) granted him the Ambassador of Epilepsy award. In 2010, he received the Hans-Berger Award of the DGKN (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Klinische Neurophysiologie und Funktionelle Bildgebung) for merit within the field of electrophysiology in epilepsy. He was presented with The Victor and Clara Soriano Award at the 20th World Congress of Neurology Meeting in Marrakesh in 2011. The following year, the ILAE granted him the European Epileptology Award. In 2015, he was presented with the William G. Lennox Award from the American Epilepsy Society. The European Academy of Neurology (EAN) presented him with the EAN Clinical Award: The Moritz Romberg Lecture in Amsterdam in 2017.