Improving fMRI for planning epilepsy surgery
Official title: Motion Compensated fMRI for Pre-Surgical Planning in Epilepsy
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11081006 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on improving brain scans for people with epilepsy who haven't found relief from medication, making it easier for doctors to plan surgeries by reducing the effects of movement during the scans.
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 | May 2, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $665,210 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS124212-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11081006 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy who are being considered for surgical resection of the epileptogenic zone.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have epilepsy or those whose condition is well-controlled with medication may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing functional MRI (fMRI) techniques to improve pre-surgical planning for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. By addressing the challenges posed by patient motion during imaging, the study aims to increase the accuracy of brain activity localization, which is crucial for successful surgical interventions. The researchers will develop methods to compensate for motion artifacts, thereby improving the quality of the imaging data and reducing unnecessary costs associated with redundant imaging. This approach could lead to more tailored and effective surgical options for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more precise surgical planning and better outcomes for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that improving imaging techniques can significantly enhance surgical outcomes, indicating a promising potential for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Warfield, Simon K — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Warfield, Simon K
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.