Using advanced technology to improve epilepsy surgery for children
Official title: Refining neurophysiological biomarkers of epilepsy using deep learning to guide pediatric epilepsy surgery
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11065462 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at ways to help kids with epilepsy who don't respond to medication by using special brain scans to find the exact spots causing their seizures, so doctors can perform safer and more effective surgeries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $242,055 |
| NIH project number | 5K23NS128318-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11065462 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who have medication-resistant focal epilepsy and may be considered for surgical intervention.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have epilepsy or those whose condition is well-managed with medication may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on children with medication-resistant focal epilepsy, aiming to enhance surgical outcomes by identifying specific brain biomarkers. The approach integrates advanced electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis with deep learning techniques to analyze high-frequency oscillations (HFOs) in the brain. By distinguishing between harmful and normal brain activity, the research seeks to accurately locate the areas responsible for seizures while preserving critical brain functions. This innovative methodology could lead to more effective surgical interventions for young patients suffering from epilepsy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve surgical outcomes for children with epilepsy, potentially leading to seizure freedom and better quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using advanced EEG analysis and machine learning techniques to improve outcomes in epilepsy treatment, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nariai, Hiroki — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Nariai, Hiroki
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.
-
Integrative histo-genomic analysis to guide cancer risk and targeted therapies with interpretable AI
Researchers are developing an advanced AI-powered approach to map genetic and cellular patterns across breast and cervical cancers to help tailor treatments.
-
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.
-
Predicting how antimalarial drug resistance spreads with AI
A powerful AI model will be built to forecast how resistance to antimalarial drugs might spread in Africa and beyond, helping clinicians and public health teams stay ahead of outbreaks.
-
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.
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.