Professor Sisodiya presents to FFES members

Members of FFES were delighted to meet with Sanjay Sisodiya online on Monday 10^thAugust. Sanjay is the Transformation Director at the Epilepsy Society as well as Professor of Neurology at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology. This was an important opportunity for members to understand from Sanjay the latest findings on epilepsy both in treatments, drugs and future research plans.

Sanjay has long experience in all aspect of complex epilepsy and by focussing on the questions members had sent in in advance of the meeting, he was able to give us information and insights into his current research, especially that based at the Chalfont Centre, as well as answering wider questions on more global aspects of research. He talked to us among other areas about genomics, seizure forecasting, and the use of AI in research.

Sanjay was asked about progress in seizure forecasting and whether there were yet any successful devices which could predict oncoming seizures. He said there were some trials of devices, electrodes worn under the scalp and a device worn in the ear to pick up electric signals but these small studies were in early stages and were not yet being considered for wider use.

As for the very complex topic of genomics, Sanjay stressed the importance of genetic testing in order to try and identify the changes in a gene or genes which may be responsible for an individual’s epilepsy, especially if the epilepsy is complex. He emphasised that finding the right drug or treatment for that individual’s epilepsy once a gene or genes are identified can be difficult and a new drug might have to be invented to match the genes responsible.

Climate change holds a significance to us all currently and  Sanjay and his research team are working on the very real questions of the effect on rising heat on seizures. He posed the question, “What is the extra burden on those people suffering from epilepsy from the heat?”

He said that there are great benefits in doing this research at Chalfont because there is a direct connection with the people living here, all of whom now have temperature and humidity monitors fitted in their rooms which are producing a vast quantity of data for the research project.

Visiting researchers are helping on site with downloading the data from these monitors.Questions they are looking at include the way heat and buildings interact; how buildings influence temperature; how different rooms at Chalfont behave etc. Once this data is collected then questions arise as to whether or not air conditioning is the solution and if so, if the power supply is sufficient, for example.

Climate change is only going to get worse so this research project is hugely important for all those living at Chalfont as well as all those people with epilepsy worldwide.

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