Methods to improve epilepsy surgery by mapping brain networks
Official title: Scalable methods to quantify epileptic network and guide epilepsy surgery
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-10949915 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on new ways to better understand how epilepsy affects the brain, which could help doctors plan surgeries for people with hard-to-control seizures, making treatments more effective and improving lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $148,956 |
| NIH project number | 1K99NS138680-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10949915 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with epilepsy who have not responded to medical therapy and are considering surgical options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with well-controlled seizures or those who are not candidates for surgery may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop standardized methods to accurately map the brain networks involved in epilepsy, which can help guide surgical interventions for patients with uncontrolled seizures. By integrating non-invasive imaging techniques with invasive monitoring, the project seeks to create a comprehensive understanding of seizure origins and their spread. The goal is to establish a scalable infrastructure that allows these methods to be implemented widely in clinical practice, ultimately improving patient outcomes. The research will rigorously validate these methods to ensure they can effectively target and optimize epilepsy treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective epilepsy surgeries, reducing seizures and improving the quality of life for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using advanced imaging techniques to improve surgical outcomes in epilepsy, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sinha, Nishant — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Sinha, Nishant
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.