Epilepsy Research

Researching Epilepsy at BIDMC

While the focus of our clinical program is on improving the lives of individuals affected by epilepsy who come through our doors, our broader mission includes helping all epilepsy patients, even those we will never meet, now and in the future. One of the main ways we do this is through research. At BIDMC we maintain an active research program that works to expand our understanding of epilepsy, its causes, its consequences, and its treatments. We believe in a goal of "no seizures, no side effects" and we seek to explore and discover new therapies and, ultimately, a cure. At the same time, we are committed to using research not only to push the boundaries of our current knowledge but also to ensure that scientific advances and high-quality care are made available to as many patients as possible, including those who historically have had inadequate access to care.

The history of the BIDMC epilepsy program is grounded in a number of research "firsts" in the field, particularly in neuroimaging, antiepileptic drug trials, and EEG technology. Our research portfolio comprises several broad areas:

• Basic and translational science, aimed at understanding the underlying causes of epilepsy
• Clinical research, including neuroimaging studies, neurophysiology, and trials of new drugs and devices
• Technology and innovation, including high-density EEG and noninvasive brain stimulation
• Computational research, using large datasets to investigate natural seizure patterns
• Outcomes and quality research, exemplified by our leadership in national consortia and networks
  • Epilepsy Learning Healthcare System
  • Critical Care EEG Monitoring Research Consortium

Open Research Studies

The following are examples of research studies for which we are currently seeking participants. For more information, please email our Epilepsy Research Team.

• Multicenter 1-year observational study of patients who are initiating brivaracetam
• Prospective randomized 12-week controlled study of visual field change in subjects with partial seizures receiving pregabalin or placebo
• Evaluation of cortical excitability and excitation/inhibition balance in patients with a new diagnosis of epilepsy starting antiepileptic drugs
• Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) use in women with and without epilepsy: a pilot study of serum MPA levels
• Measuring and modifying cortical hyperexcitability in patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
• Cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for treatment of medically refractory focal epilepsy

Epilepsy Laboratories

• Sheen Lab: Led by Dr. Volney Sheen, this lab has two central areas of investigation: generation and characterization of ventricular zone-derived human neural stem cells from developmental disorders of the central nervous system and the study of inherited disorders of cortical development, resulting from disruption of developmental processes along the ventricular zone.
• Larimer Lab: Led by Dr. Philip Larimer, research in this lab focuses on the role of inhibition in epileptic networks and the use of novel techniques to decrease seizure-related death.
• Chang Lab: Led by Dr. Bernard Chang, this lab focuses on the study of malformations of cortical development, which are human brain disorders present from birth that arise after a disruption in the normal process of cerebral cortex maturation.
• Goldenholz Lab: Led by Dr. Daniel Goldenholz, this lab is dedicated to connecting the latest clinical information about epilepsy with the latest developments in data science, in order to achieve clinically meaningful improvements in the lives of people with epilepsy.