Using brain scans to predict epilepsy medication resistance and surgery outcomes
Identifying brain networks to predict treatment resistance and post-surgical outcome: An ENIGMA-Epilepsy initiative
This project combines MRI, diffusion imaging, clinical records, and genetics to find brain patterns that could tell people with epilepsy whether medicines or surgery are likely to help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11111313 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have epilepsy, this work pools brain scans, clinical information, and genetic data from many epilepsy centers to look for subtle network changes that standard MRIs may miss. Researchers use structural MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging to map brain networks and compare people who respond to anti-seizure medicines with those who do not, and people who have good versus poor outcomes after epilepsy surgery. The goal is to build reliable brain-based markers that could guide treatment choices and surgical planning. The project collects and analyzes large, geographically diverse datasets so findings are more robust and useful across different hospitals.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with focal or generalized epilepsy, especially those with seizures that are not controlled by medications or who are being evaluated for epilepsy surgery and can share imaging, clinical, and genetic information.
Not a fit: People whose seizures are well controlled on medication and who are not undergoing further imaging or surgical evaluation are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help people with epilepsy get the right treatment sooner by predicting who will not respond to medications and who is likely to benefit from surgery.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller studies have reported promising links between brain network measures and epilepsy outcomes, but this larger multi-center ENIGMA effort aims to validate and extend those findings.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcdonald, Carrie R — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Mcdonald, Carrie R
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.