Mapping brain connections in children with drug-resistant epilepsy
Official title: Noninvasive Mapping of Functional and Effective Connectivity in Children with Drug Resistant Epilepsy
Funded at Cook Children's Medical Center · NIH-11031315 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at safe ways to understand how different parts of the brain connect in kids with hard-to-treat epilepsy, so we can create better treatment plans and improve their care without needing any surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cook Children's Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Worth, United States) |
| Project start | February 9, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $414,233 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS134944-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11031315 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0 to 21 years who are diagnosed with drug-resistant epilepsy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose epilepsy is well-controlled with medication may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates noninvasive methods to map brain connectivity in children suffering from drug-resistant epilepsy. By using advanced electrophysiological techniques, the study aims to identify the brain regions involved in seizure activity without the need for invasive procedures like intracranial EEG. The goal is to create detailed brain maps that can help in understanding the networks responsible for seizures, potentially leading to better treatment options and improved outcomes for patients. This approach seeks to enhance surgical planning and minimize risks associated with traditional methods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for children with drug-resistant epilepsy, improving their chances of becoming seizure-free.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using noninvasive techniques for mapping brain activity, indicating that this approach could be a valuable advancement in epilepsy treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Cook Children's Medical Center
Fort Worth, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Papadelis, Christos — Cook Children's Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Papadelis, Christos
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Single-pulse brain stimulation to improve epilepsy surgery outcomes
A new approach uses single-pulse electrical stimulation to better locate seizure-causing brain regions before epilepsy surgery, with the goal of improving chances of seizure freedom.
-
New MRI markers to find seizure zones in hard-to-treat epilepsy
Aims to use advanced MRI measures of brain stiffness and blood flow to better locate seizure regions in people with drug-resistant epilepsy.
-
Mapping hidden brain cell changes in drug-resistant epilepsy
This project looks for tiny genetic changes in brain cells of children with drug-resistant epilepsy caused by brain malformations to help guide better diagnosis and treatments.
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Finding seizure-causing brain regions in drug-resistant epilepsy using computer models
This project uses computer models of brain activity to help doctors find the areas that start seizures in people whose epilepsy does not respond to medicines.
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Noninvasive brain mapping to find seizure networks in children with hard-to-treat epilepsy
This project uses noninvasive brain recordings and connectivity maps to help locate seizure-causing networks in children whose epilepsy does not respond to medication.
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Closed-loop implant to target seizure-related high-frequency brain waves in drug-resistant epilepsy
An implantable device will try to find and interrupt seizure-related high-frequency brain waves in people whose seizures don't respond to medicines.
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.