Epilepsy is one of the most common serious neurological disorders, with a prevalence of 0.5-7%. The diagnosis of epilepsy is usually quickly made on clinical grounds and confirmed with electrophysiological and imaging techniques. Clinical and EEG monitoring are of great importance, research into smarter methods for non-invasive and invasive EEG registration, (video)-EEG home monitoring and seizure detection and prediction are discussed in the research group 4Brain, which I lead.

The treatment of epilepsy consists of anti-seizure drugs (antiseizure medication - ASM). Despite a strong increase in the number of available ASM in the last 20 years, at least 30% of patients continue to have epileptic seizures. In that case, we speak of difficult to treat epilepsy (drug resistant epilepsy - DRE). The alternatives for these patients are epilepsy surgery, in which the epileptic focus is removed with a neurosurgical procedure, or neuromodulation, in which the epileptic focus is approached with the help of electrical, magnetic or ultrasonic energy. The intended result in all cases is to reduce the seizure frequency or to stop the seizures completely, without causing serious side effects.

The planned research in 4Brain also includes both clinical and preclinical research into new diagnostic methods, new forms of neuromodulation, to gain a better understanding of the disease mechanisms of epilepsy in laboratory animals and humans and the development of innovative treatment strategies such as optimal epilepsy surgery, chemogenetic and optognetic techniques, photopharmacology and the development of new and advanced techniques for transferring energy to nerve tissue.

Additional research is being conducted into the underlying causes of epilepsy, in HIC and LMIC and into the effects of epilepsy and co-morbid conditions on brain health.