Identifying brain connectivity markers to predict treatment response in focal epilepsy
Official title: MRI Connectivity Biomarkers of Treatment Response in Focal Epilepsy
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-10794219 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the connections in your brain might help doctors predict how well you'll respond to epilepsy treatments, like medications or surgery, so they can find the best option for you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2019 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $410,290 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS108445-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10794219 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy who have not responded to standard anti-epileptic medications.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with well-controlled epilepsy or those whose seizures are not focal in nature may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how brain connectivity patterns can serve as early indicators of how well patients with focal epilepsy will respond to anti-epileptic medications or surgical interventions. By using advanced MRI techniques, the study aims to quantify the functional and structural connectivity in the brains of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. The goal is to improve treatment outcomes by identifying which patients are likely to benefit from specific therapies based on their brain connectivity profiles.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more personalized treatment plans for patients with focal epilepsy, improving their chances of achieving seizure freedom.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using brain connectivity as a predictor of treatment outcomes in epilepsy, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Morgan, Victoria L — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Morgan, Victoria L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Predicting seizure patterns in focal epilepsy patients
Aims to create personalized models to forecast how often seizures will happen over time in people with focal epilepsy.
-
Patchy (mosaic) genetic changes in focal epilepsy
This project looks for mosaic (patchy) genetic mutations in brain tissue from people with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy to better understand causes and help guide future treatment choices.
-
Predicting seizure patterns for people with focal epilepsy
This project builds tools to forecast how often seizures may happen over time for people with focal epilepsy using long-term seizure records.
-
Improving electrode placement for epilepsy treatment using brain imaging techniques
This study is looking for ways to improve epilepsy treatment by using advanced imaging techniques to help doctors place electrodes more accurately in the brain, so they can better predict and manage seizures for patients who are having trouble with their epilepsy.
-
Understanding genetic changes in difficult-to-treat focal epilepsy
This study is looking at the genetic differences in the brains of people with focal epilepsy who haven't found relief from regular treatments, hoping to uncover new ways to help them feel better.
-
Understanding and predicting seizures in patients with focal epilepsy
This study is working on new ways to predict how often people with focal epilepsy might have seizures, using information from 450 patients to better understand their unique seizure patterns over time.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.