New ways to find where seizures start in the brain and guide epilepsy treatment
Novel diagnostic stimulation to quantify cortical excitability and guide epilepsy therapy
This research explores new ways to use gentle brain stimulation to pinpoint where seizures begin in people with focal epilepsy, aiming to improve treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145045 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people with focal epilepsy find it challenging to know exactly where their seizures start in the brain. This project aims to develop new ways to use gentle electrical stimulation to better identify these specific brain areas. By using special patterns of stimulation, researchers hope to create a detailed map of the brain's seizure network. This information could then help guide personalized treatment, especially for those considering implanted devices.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with focal epilepsy who are struggling to pinpoint the exact source of their seizures may be ideal candidates for future applications of this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose epilepsy is well-controlled by medication or those without focal epilepsy may not directly benefit from this specific diagnostic approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to more precise identification of seizure origins, potentially improving the effectiveness of epilepsy treatments and guiding therapies like implanted devices.
How similar studies have performed: While single-pulse stimulation has been used to map brain connectivity, this project proposes novel multi-pulse stimulation techniques, making it a new and untested approach.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Mayo Clinic Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lundstrom, Brian Nils — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Lundstrom, Brian Nils
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 below.