The Epilepsy Research Institute is proud to be partnering in two major research programmes funded by the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), each aiming to revolutionise how epilepsy and other neurological conditions are diagnosed – especially in underserved communities.
Community-Based EEG in Cornwall
Led by Professor John Terry, Data Co-Lead for the Institute’s Enabling Technologies research theme, and Professor Rohit Shankar MBE (University of Plymouth), a £2.45 million project will develop a portable brain-monitoring headset to enable faster, more accessible diagnosis of seizures and other neurological conditions. With feasibility studies launching in Cornwall – one of the UK’s most underserved regions for specialist neurology care – the project aims to bring EEG testing out of hospitals and into GP surgeries and homes.
The Epilepsy Research Institute is supporting the project through in-kind contributions, including office space and staff time for meetings and dissemination activities.
Hannah Pickard, Research Partnerships Lead at the Epilepsy Research Institute, said:
“The Institute is delighted to support this important programme. Too many people experiencing seizures face long delays and uncertainty in accessing diagnosis and care. By bringing EEG into community settings, this project has the potential to reduce barriers, improve early diagnosis and make care more equitable. We look forward to working in partnership with colleagues at the University of Plymouth to ensure that people affected by suspected seizures benefit from these innovations.”
The project builds on previous EPSRC-funded research and includes collaborations with Neuronostics, Epilepsy Action, FND North, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and several academic institutions. The ultimate goal is to reduce diagnostic delays, cut NHS costs, and lower the carbon footprint of care.
EPIC: Early Diagnosis for Infants
In parallel, Dr Javier Escudero of the University of Edinburgh is leading the EPIC project – Enabling the early and equitable diagnosis of epilepsy in infants in the community. With £1.99 million in EPSRC funding, the team is developing a simple, AI-powered brain-monitoring tool to detect seizures in children, particularly severe types like infantile spasms.
The Epilepsy Research Institute’s Shape Network, a dedicated patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) group, is actively supporting the project by providing feedback and lived experience insights. The project has already engaged over 100 families through the UK Infantile Spasms Trust and Edinburgh Children’s Hospital, highlighting the urgent need for faster, personalised diagnosis.
Dr Escudero said: “Our project addresses a major healthcare need raised by families and patient organisations: the need for a fair and equitable solution for personalised early diagnosis, monitoring and prediction of response to treatment in childhood epilepsies. I really look forward to co-developing such a digital solution with the community, for the community.”
We’re also pleased that data from the Epilepsy Research Institute & University of Edinburgh Doctoral Training Centre informed this application, and a student from this ‘PhD Hub’ will be contributing to the EPIC project.
Together, these projects reflect the Epilepsy Research Institute’s commitment to advancing equitable, community-based solutions for epilepsy diagnosis and care across the UK.