Projects
Prospective longitudinal MRI and PET studies of epileptogenesis and brain plasticity in epilepsy using [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), [18F]flumazenil (FMZ), [18F]MK-9470 in small animals with epilepsy. KU Leuven
Studying brain network changes in epilepsy by combining functional magnetic resonance imaging, intracranial electroencephalography and opto-/chemogenetics to unravel biomarkers for disease prognosis and efficacy of anti-epileptic treatments Ghent University
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent epileptic seizures. In about 30% to
40% of the patients with epilepsy, the seizures are not sufficiently controlled with anti-epileptic
drugs (AEDs). Currently, it is still very difficult to predict which patients will respond to AEDs or
deep brain stimulation (DBS), another treatment possibility. Research has shown that abnormal
functional brain networks ...
New approaches for detection and modulation of abnormal brain networks in a preclinical model for epilepsy based on a combination of functional magnetic resonance imaging, optogenetics, chemogenetics and intracranial electroencephalography Ghent University
Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that is characterized by the occurrence of spontaneous
seizures. Unfortunately, about one third of the patients still have seizures despite treatment with
anti-epileptic drugs (AED). In addition, many patients have severe side effects due the large doses
of AED they need to take. Other treatments are required to improve the quality of life of those
patients. In order to find ...
FWO-SB-Beurs: Unraveling the structure, function and molecular mechanisms of TBCID24, a new target for drug development against epilepsy and related disorders Vrije Universiteit Brussel
An antisense strategy and network pharmacology approach in zebrafish models to identify novel targets for pharmacoresistant epilepsy KU Leuven
The discovery of novel drug targets is a significant challenge in drug development. Specifically, in the field of epilepsy still 30% of patients do not experience adequate seizure control with currently available medications, which highlights the need to look for new approaches capable of defining specific molecular targets that could be used to identify novel anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Network-based strategies in drug discovery and ...
Characterisation of neuroinflammation in an epilepsy model by means of longitudinal in vivo PET/MRI imaging. University of Antwerp
The use of artificial intelligence for EEG-based diagnosis of epilepsy after a first seizure Ghent University
Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder and affects around 50 million people worldwide. Today diagnosis is based on clinical history, EEG measurements and MRI imaging. However, 50-99% of the MRIs and up to 70% of the EEGs may give negative results, despite an underlying epileptic disorder. Differential diagnosis of epilepsy is further complicated by isolated seizures and other disorders that may give rise to seizure-like ...
Closed-loop precision therapy for epilepsy using photopharmacology Ghent University
Thirty percent of patients with epilepsy keep having seizures despite medical treatment. Because anti-epileptic medication affects almost the entire nervous system, there are often many serious side effects. This interdisciplinary project aims to combine standard drug therapy with state-of-the-art technology to precisely treat areas of the brain involved in the epilepsy. This is enabled through an ongoing collaboration with medicinal ...
NEON: Neuroprobe for Epilepsy treatment with Optogenetics. Ghent University
Standard treatment for epilepsy consists of chronic use of anti-epileptic drugs (AED). AED influence
diseased and healthy tissues, resulting in suboptimal dosing and numerous severe side effects.
Optogenetics which involves modulation of specific neurons with high cellular, spatial and temporal
specificity, can offer a solution. In theory, optogenetics would allow on-demand and focused
suppression of an epileptic ...