Improving Brain Imaging for Partial Epilepsy

Electrophysiological Source Imaging of Partial Epilepsy

NIH-funded research Carnegie-Mellon University · NIH-11126875

This project aims to create a new, non-invasive way to find the exact brain areas causing seizures in people with partial epilepsy.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCarnegie-Mellon University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project IDNIH-11126875 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

For people with partial epilepsy, finding the precise area of the brain causing seizures is crucial for successful surgery. Currently, this often involves invasive procedures where electrodes are placed directly inside the brain. This project is developing a new, non-invasive brain imaging technique that uses advanced computer analysis of standard EEG recordings. The goal is to accurately pinpoint the seizure-causing areas without needing surgery, making pre-surgical planning safer and more comfortable. This new method will be tested extensively with over 120 patients to ensure it works as well as or better than current invasive approaches.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Patients with focal (partial) epilepsy who are candidates for or considering epilepsy surgery would be ideal.

Not a fit: Patients whose epilepsy is not focal or who are not candidates for surgical intervention may not directly benefit from this specific imaging technique.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a safer, more comfortable, and highly accurate way to identify seizure-causing brain areas for patients considering epilepsy surgery.

How similar studies have performed: This project proposes a novel unsupervised machine learning framework for this specific application, building on existing knowledge of EEG and high-frequency oscillations.

Where this research is happening

Pittsburgh, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.