Two children look through a microscope wearing lab coats in a science class.

Research

Childhood Epilepsy Research

At Young Epilepsy, we are dedicated to transforming the lives of children and young people affected by epilepsy. Our research initiatives focus on understanding the causes, improving diagnosis, and developing effective treatments for childhood epilepsy. By collaborating with leading institutions and incorporating the voices of those affected, we aim to drive meaningful change in the field.

Collaborative Partnerships

Our research is conducted in collaboration with esteemed institutions:

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH): An international centre of excellence in child healthcare, GOSH provides comprehensive clinical services and is at the forefront of paediatric training in the UK.
University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (UCL GOS ICH): Together with GOSH, UCL GOS ICH forms the largest concentration of children's health research in Europe.

These partnerships enable us to integrate clinical expertise with cutting-edge research, ensuring that our studies are both scientifically robust and directly applicable to patient care.

Find out more and sign up today!

Our Research Focus

We concentrate our efforts on three primary workstreams:

1. Understanding childhood epilepsies

Around half of people diagnosed with epilepsy never learn the cause of it. But the sooner we know the cause of someone’s epilepsy, the sooner we know how else it is affecting them, and how best to manage and treat it. Early epilepsy diagnosis is also better for the person’s understanding of their condition.

2. Outstanding treatment

Epilepsy treatments have not changed very much in recent years, and it can take a long time to find the right combination of treatments for each person. This is very hard on children, young people and their families. So, it is crucial that we make advances in imaging, surgery, dietetics, genomics, targeted treatments, and new medicines, if we are to effectively treat and one day perhaps cure, every epilepsy.

3. Outstanding support

It’s important to know what epilepsy is and how to treat it. But it’s also crucial that we tackle the wider challenges associated with growing up with epilepsy and treating childhood epilepsy. We can then put in place the right systems and supports for children, young people and their families.

Transforming the Future of Epilepsy Diagnosis and Treatment

Fundraising for young epilepsy research is vital to improve diagnosis and treatment. Currently, 1 in 3 children with epilepsy have seizures that cannot be controlled by medication, severely affecting their quality of life.

Get Involved

Your support is vital to our mission. Here's how you can contribute:

Donate: Your financial support enables us to fund groundbreaking research projects, such as our innovative OPM-MEG brain scanner for children and young people.
Participate in Research: Join our studies to help us gather essential data and insights.
Spread Awareness: Share information about our work to help raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with epilepsy.

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of children and young people living with epilepsy.

Get in touch with our research team to find out how your funding can help: research@youngepilepsy.org.uk