Chandigarh Doctor Wins Global Award for Research on Infantile Epilepsy
Dr Parth Lal, a DM trainee in paediatric neurology at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, has become the first Indian to receive the prestigious 2025 Paediatric Neurology Trainee Award for his research into a potential treatment for infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS), a serious and often difficult-to-treat form of epilepsy affecting infants.
The award was presented at the 2026 Child Neurology Society meeting in Montreal, Canada, on October 16. Lal received the recognition for his NitRIS trial, published in Pediatric Neurology, which examined the effectiveness of nitrazepam in children whose seizures persisted despite hormonal treatment and vigabatrin.
IESS typically begins during infancy and can cause developmental delays, cognitive difficulties and loss of previously acquired abilities. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical, as uncontrolled spasms are associated with poorer developmental outcomes. Although established therapies are available, some children do not respond adequately, creating a need for additional evidence-based treatment options.
The NitRIS trial screened 80 children between June 2023 and December 2024, enrolling 40 participants—29 boys and 11 girls. Researchers randomly assigned 20 children to nitrazepam and 20 to topiramate in an open-label controlled study with masked outcome assessment.
Complete cessation of spasms was achieved in 55% of children receiving nitrazepam, compared with 15% receiving topiramate. Electroclinical remission, assessed through clinical symptoms and electroencephalogram (EEG) findings, occurred in 45% and 10% of the respective groups. Quality-of-life scores also favoured nitrazepam, while sedation was more common with nitrazepam and irritability with topiramate.
The study received support through the Institute Thesis Research Grant and the Indian Journal of Pediatrics Thesis Grant. Researchers from PGIMER, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, and the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Mohali, collaborated on the work.
The findings are promising but preliminary, given the small sample and short follow-up. The trial is not the first study of nitrazepam for infantile spasms; its contribution lies in examining children with treatment-resistant IESS. Further research is needed to establish long-term effectiveness and safety.
In December 2025, Lal also received the Suzanne and Peter Berry International Travel Award from the American Epilepsy Society, being one of only two young investigators selected worldwide from 1,500 international submissions.
His latest achievement highlights India's contribution to paediatric neurological research and the importance of developing better treatment options for children with difficult-to-control epilepsy.