I joined the organisation at a crucial time during the final stages of transitioning into the Epilepsy Research Institute. Whilst this change came with new ambitions to build infrastructure, foster collaborations and secure large-scale investment into epilepsy, we kept our commitment to funding research of the highest quality.
In 2023, the Epilepsy Research Institute (then Epilepsy Research UK) spent £1.7 million on research. We’re proud to have broken this record this year with our biggest-ever annual investment of over £2 million. We are so grateful to supporters of the Institute that run, walk, ride, and more to make this possible.
This year’s research awards are focussed on capacity building – one of our six key strategic priorities. We accepted applications for Emerging Leader Fellowship Awards, to propel promising early career researchers forward in their careers, and Doctoral Training Centres, which are a series of linked PhD projects with a programme of training and support.
2024 Research Awards
We are extremely excited by the research projects awarded this year. We have a combination of basic, clinical and data science, all with the potential to improve the lives of people affected by epilepsy.
We are thrilled to have awarded six Emerging Leader Fellowship Awards. Our first Emerging Leader Fellow is Dr Gashirai Mbizvo at the University of Liverpool, who will use anonymised datasets to investigate the safest ways for people to stop taking valproate and which other anti-seizure medications would be best for an individual.
Dr Ilaria Belluomo at Imperial College London will continue her work in identifying compounds in the breath and skin to develop diagnostic and seizure prediction tests for epilepsy.
Davide Giampiccolo at University College London will develop a new epilepsy surgery technique that focuses on disconnecting networks, with the aim of improving the rates of seizure-freedom following surgery.
Dr Nicolas Marichal Negrin at King’s College London will study whether it is possible to replace the interneurons that are lost in a mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy and see how effective the new cells are at restoring the balance of electrical activity in the brain.
Collaboration was a key theme of this year’s grant round and we are delighted to partner with Dravet Syndrome UK to co-fund two Fellowships focusing on this severe form of epilepsy. Dr Lisa Clayton will study dysautonomia, which is an abnormality in the way body regulates internal organs and bodily processes. Lisa will try to find ways to prevent, limit, or alleviate problems related to dysautonomia in Dravet Syndrome. Dr Jenna Carpenter will develop a genetic engineering technology to address the underlying cause of Dravet Syndrome.
We also partnered with the Medical Research Council (MRC) to co-fund a Clinical Research Training Fellowship. Dr Oliver Davis will study the genes involved in DNA folding to investigate if they influence the inhibition of electrical activity.
Finally, we’re excited to be funding a North West Doctoral Training Centre, across the Universities of Liverpool and Manchester. These seven PhD projects will improve our understanding of the effects that epilepsy and anti-seizure medications have on cognition in people with epilepsy and their children.
How did we decide which projects to fund?
The process began in October when researchers submitted an Expression of Interest to briefly outline their proposal. Researchers were then invited to take part in an ‘Application Clinic’ with members of the Institute’s Shape Network. The Shape Network is the Institute’s dedicated community of people affected by epilepsy who are interested in learning about, participating in and shaping research.
During the clinics, researchers explained their proposals and Shape Network members had the chance to discuss the project and provide feedback. Members commented on how important they felt the topic was, any concerns they had about the proposal, any challenges they could foresee and anything they felt the researcher had not considered. Researchers then had the opportunity to address the discussions with the Shape Network and incorporate their feedback before submitting their final applications.
The Shape Network members who took part in my Application Clinic provided extremely valuable insights. During the discussion we explored future objectives, potential side effects, and the feasibility of implementing the treatment in both drug-resistant and drug-responsive epilepsy models. These very important insights are now included in my final application. The clinic was a huge source of motivation – I am determined to make this project a success for people affected by epilepsy.
Nicolas Marichal Negrin, 2024 Emerging Leader Fellow
Following submission, applications are peer reviewed by at least three independent academics and clinicians with relevant experience .
The next stage is where our Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) comes in. The SAC is our panel of leading neurologists, neuroscientists, and epilepsy researchers who make recommendations about which projects should be funded to the Board of Trustees. We are so grateful to our SAC for their commitment in helping us to decide on the best research projects to fund.
The SAC members read through all the applications, Shape Network comments, peer reviews, and the applicant’s rebuttal. Taking all of this into account, they carefully consider and rank the Doctoral Training Centre applications, recommending one project for funding to the Board of Trustees. This year, the SAC were extremely excited about the North West proposal which has a focus on cognition in epilepsy, an understudied area included in number for of the top 10 priorities for research into epilepsy.
The fellows have an extra stage in the application process and shortlisted researchers are invited to an in-person interview with members of the SAC and Shape Network. This stage is scored by the SAC and a ranked list of applications is submitted to the board for their consideration and final decision.
The applications we received this year were of an extremely high calibre – they were some of the best research proposals I have seen in my role as Chair of the SAC. We’d encourage applicants who were not successful this time to take the feedback onboard and resubmit in the future.
Professor Mike Cousin, Chair of the SAC
It’s extremely exciting to have awarded this funding after such a rigorous process involving independent experts, Shape Network members and our SAC. We can’t wait to see the results from these studies and hear more from the promising researchers.
You can learn more about all the projects and watch the introductory films here.
To support vital research projects like those above this National Epilepsy Week, please consider making a donation to the Epilepsy Research Institute.
