Improving brain imaging for children with epilepsy before surgery
Official title: Improved 3D EPI for Pre-Surgical Mapping of Epilepsy
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11135417 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new way to take brain scans for kids with epilepsy who might need surgery, making it easier to get clear images even if they move around, so doctors can find and safely remove the problem areas while keeping important brain functions intact.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $534,141 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS133228-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11135417 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pediatric patients aged 0-11 years who suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy and are being considered for surgical intervention.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have epilepsy or those whose seizures are well-controlled with medication may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the quality of functional MRI (fMRI) imaging for pediatric patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who may require surgery. The study aims to develop a new 3D echo planar imaging (EPI) technique that minimizes the impact of head motion, which is a common challenge in young children during scans. By improving the accuracy of brain mapping, the research seeks to better identify critical functional areas of the brain, ensuring that surgeons can effectively remove epileptic tissue while preserving essential functions. This approach could lead to more successful surgical outcomes and improved quality of life for affected children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective surgical treatments for children with epilepsy, potentially resulting in seizure freedom and improved neurological function.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in improving imaging techniques for brain mapping, but this specific approach using 3D EPI is novel and has not been extensively tested in pediatric epilepsy patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Afacan, Onur — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Afacan, Onur
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Scaling Up Task-Shifted Epilepsy Care for Children in Africa
A study to help children with epilepsy in Africa get diagnosed and receive seizure care through trained community health workers.
-
Closed-loop control of interneuron timing to influence seizures and memory in epilepsy
A study tests a brain-quieting system that uses light to precisely time certain brain cells in epilepsy-prone mice to see if this can lessen seizures and improve memory.
-
Epilepsy Data Ecosystem: A Big-Data Sharing Platform for Better Care
A national effort to collect and share large, multi‑modal brain data from people with medication‑resistant epilepsy to speed discoveries and improve treatment options.
-
Exploring epilepsy genes in zebrafish to understand human brain seizures
A study in zebrafish will model human epilepsy genes to help explain how certain brain mutations contribute to seizures.
-
New MRI tools to better plan pediatric epilepsy surgery
A new MRI-based approach helps doctors decide the best time to surgically remove brain tissue in children with difficult-to-control seizures.
-
Sahel Epilepsy Study: finding patterns in epilepsy in rural Africa and its links to genes
A plan to study epilepsy in rural Nigeria to discover how common it is, what factors affect risk, and how genetics may influence it, with results that could improve care for people with epilepsy.
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.