Epilepsy

This research was completed on 30 September 2004

Project Leader	Dr A A Genazzani, DPhil and Dr R M Empson, MA, PhD.
Location	Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge in conjunction with the School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham.
Grant awarded	13 March 2001
Start date	3 September 2001
End date	30 September 2004
Grant amount	£119,704.00
Grant code	SP3725

Epilepsy is the most common serious brain disorder and affects around 350,000 people in the UK. However, for approximately one in four epilepsy sufferers, there is no effective medication. Calcium ions are important within all cells including those in the brain but an excessive influx of them, as happens in an epileptic seizure, may lead to brain damage. By using modern genetic techniques these researchers aim to identify which of the processes that depend on calcium ions are affected following epileptic activity. This research may identify new strategies to prevent seizure-induced brain-damage and so improve the quality of life of many epileptic patients.