2020

CURE Epilepsy Award

Defining Breathing Network Neuromodulatory Approaches for Prevention of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)

Nuria Lacuey-Lecumberri, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology
McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
 

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) usually occurs in patients with frequent convulsive seizures due to seizure-induced breathing failure. There are currently no technologies or devices available for directly preventing death in patients at high risk. The goal of this project is to improve the overall understanding of breathing control by identifying specific brain areas that are most important for breathing function and stimulation techniques that can be used to prevent seizure-induced breathing failure. The outcome of this research will pave the way for deep brain stimulation devices for breathing rescue as a targeted SUDEP prevention strategy.