Acquired Epilepsies
This work is instrumental not only to understand why and how the brain generates and sustains seizures, but also to discover biomarkers that could predict if someone will have seizures, or how they may respond to a drug.
Genetics, Mechanisms
Three recent CURE Epilepsy grants awardees have contributed to numerous aspects of genetic epilepsies ranging from the development and application of new technology to study epilepsy genetics, to studying specific genes and their contributions to epilepsy, to exploring the epigenomic pattern associated with epilepsy.
Infantile Spasms
This work positions PV + INs as a potential target to treat IS, and perhaps even offers avenues for timely diagnosis.
Tech/AI
Researchers are continuing their work to develop cutting-edge implantable devices to understand and treat epilepsy at their own laboratories.
Infantile Spasms, Mechanisms
Dr. Swann’s work as part of the IS Initiative is one example of how strategic, long-term investment in basic research can advance our knowledge by leaps and bounds.
SUDEP
We highlight three Taking Flight awardees who received grants for diverse projects, ranging from work on sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) to mapping epileptic brain networks, to an exploration of circadian function as a potential mechanism and a therapeutic target for epilepsy.
The study also shows the importance of looking at trio data, as in this case, it led to the reclassification of several genetic variants. SUDP is a particularly difficult condition to study because unfortunately, a genetic condition may never have been diagnosed or suspected.
This is also the first study to explore changes in the brain through MRI and neurologic functioning in individuals with COE as compared to controls. Additional findings to follow from this investigation will address prospective quantitative MRI changes, biomarkers of abnormal aging, and prospective cognitive trajectories over the five years.
Genetics
Progress stemming from this call to action could bring a new age of treatments for those with epilepsy, shifting from observational experience to data-driven and patient-centered precision therapy.
