Current Epilepsy Research Studies

A longitudinal investigation of vascular, genetic, and biomarker risk profiles in older adults with epilepsy

 Older adults with epilepsy are the fastest growing segment of new cases of epilepsy.  However, very little is known about older adults with epilepsy age.  The BrACE study looks at how epilepsy affects brain and cognitive aging as people with epilepsy age. By combining brain imaging, cognitive testing, blood-based biomarkers and health information over time, the study aims to understand why some people with epilepsy experience cognitive decline while others remain resilient. The goal is to use this knowledge to improve prediction, patient care, and quality of life for people living with epilepsy as they age.

 Eligible participants: People with focal epilepsy who are over the age of 55 years and have either chronic or late-onset epilepsy and no overt history of clinical stroke.  Participants must be able to undergo an MRI scan.

UCSD IRB #210422

PI: Carrie McDonald, Ph.D.

Sponsor: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
NIH RePORTER:  R01NS120976

Contact:  LOCIResearch@gmail.com

Identifying brain networks to predict treatment resistance and post-surgical outcome

ENIGMA-Epilepsy is a global consortium of 38 epilepsy centers who are actively building a large, harmonized international dataset of neuroimaging, clinical, and genetic data in people with epilepsy. By pooling data from thousands of patients and controls across many countries, this grant is enabling the robust development of AI models for disease detection and outcome prediction, investigation of the neurobiological networks underlying epilepsy and the identification of imaging- and genetics-based markers that predict key clinical outcomes, including drug resistance and surgical success. The ultimate goal of this grant and the ENIGMA-Epilepsy is to generate reproducible, generalizable insights that can guide personalized treatment decisions for epilepsy worldwide.

 Eligible centers:   Any epilepsy center collecting MRI and clinical data on patients with epilepsy between 7-90 years of age.  Data may be collected through clinical centers or research programs.

 UCSD IRB # 804167

PI:  Carrie McDonald, Ph.D.

Sponsor:  National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

NIH Reporter:  R01 NS122827

Contact: LOCIResearch@gmail.com 

Current clinical and imaging predictors of response to epilepsy surgery are inadequate, and surgical treatment outcomes are mixed. Predicting the seizure and non-seizure outcomes are critical for clinical decision making. Functional MRI (fMRI) offers noninvasive and accessible means to complement current methods of surgical planning to guide treatment. This project will prospectively collect resting state fMRI from focal epilepsy patients and some healthy volunteers and use new analytic methods to develop predictive models.

Eligible participants: People with focal epilepsy who are undergoing pre-surgical evaluation for open surgery, laser ablation of seizure focus, or placement of neurostimulators. 

UCSD IRB #810686

 PI: Taha Gholipour, MD

Sponsor: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 

NIH RePORTER:  K23NS135108

Contact: gholipourlab@ucsd.edu

From whole brain networks to local neuronal responses: Implications for surgical decision-making

 Despite advances in epilepsy surgery and the availability of less invasive options, accurately predicting which patients will experience memory decline after surgery remains a major challenge. This study integrates structural, functional, and diffusion MRI with neuropsychological testing to estimate an individual’s risk for memory change following resective surgery or laser ablation. The goal is to develop personalized prediction tools that support informed surgical decision-making, patient counseling, and strategies to preserve cognitive outcomes. 

Eligible participants:  People 18-55 years of age with temporal lobe epilepsy who are considering a surgical intervention for seizure control.  Participants must be able to undergo MRI and complete neuropsychological testing.

UCSD IRB # 801713 

PI:  Carrie McDonald, Ph.D.

Sponsor:  National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

NIH Reporter:  R01NS124585

Contact: LOCIResearch@gmail.com 

This study uses brief smartphone-based cognitive tests and wearable activity monitors to track daily thinking, sleep, and lifestyle habits in adults with epilepsy. The goal is to better understand real-world cognitive changes over time and identify factors that may help support brain health in individuals with epilepsy.

Eligible participants: Adults with epilepsy across the adult lifespan, including individuals with medication-resistant epilepsy.

 UCSD IRB#: 813694

 PI: Alena Stasenko, PhD

 Sponsor: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

 NIH RePORTER: K23NS142707

Contact email: astasenko@ucsd.edu 

The study aims to develop a novel method to predict post‑operative memory decline in patients with drug‑resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) by using intracranial electrical stimulation to induce transient, reversible disruptions in medial temporal lobe (MTL) function during memory testing. Leveraging standard pre‑surgical electrode implants, the project will (1) map the spatial spread of stimulation to ensure focality and interpretability, and (2) design and validate a stimulation‑paired memory testing paradigm to identify memory‑critical MTL sites. This approach aims to provide a patient‑specific functional assay to forecast cognitive risk from MTL resections or ablations, addressing a major clinical gap and directly informing surgical planning to preserve memory.

Eligible participants: People 18-65 years of age undergoing stage two intracranial electrophysiology for the purposes of surgical intervention planning for seizure control.  Participants must be undergoing electrical stimulation for seizure mapping during their phase two evaluation.

 UCSD IRB # 190599

PI: Erik Kaestner, Ph.D.

Sponsor: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

NIH Reporter: K01NS124831 

Contact: ekaestne@health.ucsd.edu