The Epilepsy Research Institute is part of a £1.5 million Innovate UK-funded collaboration working to bring a new brain imaging technology into the NHS that could transform diagnosis and treatment for people with epilepsy. Known as Optically Pumped Magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG), the system uses lightweight sensors in a wearable helmet to measure brain activity with exceptional precision, helping clinicians identify where seizures begin and supporting more informed treatment decisions.
Over the last seven months, working in partnership with Cerca Magnetics and the University of Nottingham, the Institute has developed an independent roadmap outlining how OPM-MEG can be adopted within clinical settings across the NHS. The project sets out a clear, evidence-based pathway to support the transition of OPM-MEG from a research tool to a clinically deployable system. In parallel, the Institute commissioned an independent health economic assessment to evaluate the potential economic benefits of introducing OPM-MEG into NHS care.
Dr Hannah Pickard, Research Partnerships Lead at the Epilepsy Research Institute, said:
“We are delighted to have successfully delivered the first phase of this work and to have developed a roadmap that outlines a practical pathway for adopting OPM-MEG within the NHS. Through engagement with people affected by epilepsy and clinicians, we have helped ensure that future implementation reflects the needs of the people who stand to benefit most from this technology.”
Professor Matt Brookes, University of Nottingham, said:
“Working alongside the Epilepsy Research Institute has been inspiring. Through engagement of clinicians, we have ensured that the technologies being developed have direct clinical utility. Moreover, engagement with people with lived experience of epilepsy has ensured that the ways in which our technologies interface with epilepsy patients has been designed by those same patients. The roadmap we now have points directly to how OPM-MEG can be deployed in the NHS, which will be an incredibly exciting moment for the UK’s quantum technology programme”
Improving diagnosis and treatment pathways
Diagnosing epilepsy and planning treatment can be challenging, particularly for people with complex or drug-resistant epilepsy. While EEG and MRI remain essential tools for diagnosis and treatment planning, they can have limitations in identifying the precise area of the brain where seizures originate.
OPM-MEG offers a new approach by measuring the magnetic fields generated by brain activity with remarkable accuracy. Unlike conventional MEG systems, the lightweight wearable sensors allow people to move more naturally during scans, making the technology particularly suitable for children and others who may find traditional scanning environments difficult. By helping clinicians pinpoint seizure onset zones more precisely, OPM-MEG has the potential to improve diagnostic confidence, support more informed treatment decisions and help identify people who may benefit from epilepsy surgery.
A project shaped by key stakeholders
A central aim of the project was to ensure OPM-MEG reflects the needs of the people who will use and benefit from it, with the Institute leading stakeholder engagement involving people affected by epilepsy, clinicians, researchers and policymakers. These insights informed refinements to the system, including improvements to comfort, accessibility and safety, and helped shape recommendations for how OPM-MEG could be integrated into existing NHS care pathways. The work was delivered in collaboration with Cerca Magnetics and the University of Nottingham, establishing a strong foundation for future NHS adoption of OPM-MEG and its potential to improve diagnosis, treatment decisions and outcomes for people affected by epilepsy.