NEST: NMDA-receptors in Epilepsy, Stroke and TBI.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
NEST: NMDA receptor binding in focal Epilepsies, Stroke and Traumatic brain injury patients at risk of developing epilepsy.
IRAS ID
178193
Contact name
Matthias Koepp
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
NEST: Detecting ictogenicity and epileptogenesis
'Epilepsy' is a common illness of the brain. The main symptom of epilepsy is repeated seizures. The causes of epilepsy are not completely understood. Animal and human studies suggested that abnormalities of the ‘glutamate’ chemical system in the brain might promote the development of epileptic seizures or epilepsy.
We aim to analyse the association of the glutamate system with refractory epilepsy and the development of epileptic epilepsy following different neurological diseases. 50 patients with focal epilepsy, 50 patients with stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI) and 20 healthy controls will be included in the study. An advanced brain imaging technique, the ‘positron emission tomography’ (PET), with a new radioactive chemical [18F]GE-179 will be used to take pictures of the brain to characterize the glutamate chemical system. We will compare the patterns on these pictures between patients with or without seizures after epilepsy surgery, stroke or TBI and in healthy volunteers.
We hope that this new technique will help us understand the mechanisms of seizure generation and aid us in finding the seizure-causing part of the brain more accurately. This knowledge might help refine epilepsy surgery and guide diagnostic evaluations prior to surgery. Furthermore we hope to identify patients who are likely to develop epilepsy after stroke or TBI.REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1051
Date of REC Opinion
20 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion