Noninvasive brain mapping to find seizure networks in children with hard-to-treat epilepsy
Official title: Noninvasive Mapping of Functional and Effective Connectivity in Children with Drug Resistant Epilepsy
Funded at Cook Children's Medical Center · NIH-11238074 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses noninvasive brain recordings and connectivity maps to help locate seizure-causing networks in children whose epilepsy does not respond to medication.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $460,258 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS134944-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11238074 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with drug-resistant focal epilepsy who are being evaluated as potential candidates for resective surgery are the ideal participants.
✕Less likely to help
People with generalized epilepsy, well-controlled seizures on medication, or those not being considered for surgery are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
You would have noninvasive brain recordings taken while not having a seizure to capture interictal spikes and brain activity patterns. Researchers will create normal reference maps from typically developing children and then compare those maps to children with drug-resistant epilepsy to find abnormal network connections. Advanced algorithms will be used to trace how spikes spread and identify key network nodes that may be driving seizures. The goal is to guide more precise surgical or stimulation approaches and potentially reduce the need for long invasive monitoring.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve the chance of seizure freedom after surgery while reducing invasive tests and protecting brain functions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior noninvasive connectivity and spike-mapping studies have shown promise but remain experimental and not yet consistently proven in pediatric surgical planning.
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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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.
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Improving care for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy
This study is all about creating a helpful mobile app that makes it easier for people with drug-resistant epilepsy to share what matters most to them with their doctors, like their mental health and daily life, so they can work together to improve their overall care.
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.