Research lines of Epilepsy

Research in the Hospital Clínic Epilepsy Unit is based on improving the approach to refractory epilepsy. There are several lines:  

• Evaluation of psychosocial aspects, such as stigma, to improve the quality of life and well-being of patients.  
• Optimisation of medical treatment. Evaluation of new anti-epileptic therapies and customisation to adjust drug treatment to the individual features of patients. 
• Advanced neuroimaging. For example, functional magnetic resonance (MRI) for evaluation of the epileptic network. In collaboration with the neuroradiology team, artificial intelligence models are applied to improve the diagnostic performance of MRI in patients with epilepsy for precision medicine. 
• Implementation of new techniques in pre-surgical mapping with evaluation of our experience with deep electrodes and prognostic factors to improve surgical outcome.  
• Deep brain stimulation (DBS). Research on the effectiveness of different stimulation parameters and improvements in the location of electrodes to optimise results. 
• Surface stimulation and non-invasive neuromodulation. Evaluation of techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and vagus nerve stimulation. 
• Identification of genetic and molecular biomarkers to help predict the response to anti-seizure drugs in collaboration with the Pharmacy Unit. 
• Neurophysiological research, image coding and image evocation in patients with refractory epilepsy.   
• Study of slow wave propagation in the cerebral cortex.  
• Functional neuroimaging for the study of functional or psychogenic attacks.  

These lines focus aim to deliver more effective, personalised diagnostic therapy options in patients with refractory epilepsy.