Epilepsy research

Epilepsy is a significant public health problem, which has implications within society that are on a level with those of breast or lung cancer. Epilepsy is not just one disease, but a group of diseases differing by mechanism, clinical definition and predictability. Finland has established an extensive epilepsy biobank, which significantly supports international research aimed at individualised treatment and even curative therapies for epilepsy.

The precise determination of the symptoms, progress and genetic background of epilepsy is vital for the development of treatments for different forms of the disease. With Saastamoinen Foundation funding, an extensive epilepsy information pool has been established in Finland to support international research. This epilepsy biomarker research is led by Reetta Kälviäinen, Professor of Neurology at the University of Eastern Finland and Chief Physician of the Epilepsy Centre at Kuopio University Hospital.

Professor Kälviäinen’s clinical epileptology research team studies the risk and prognostic factors of epilepsy, rare forms of epilepsy, and the genetics of epilepsy. In addition, the team conducts research related to the medical and surgical treatment of epilepsy in Finland and within a broad international network.

Epilepsy research is also an important part of Neurocenter Finland’s activities. Neurocenter Finland aims to facilitate innovations in neuroscience, improve industrial collaboration as well as promote better brain health in Finland.

Patients value scientific research

Epilepsy affects over 6 million people in Europe across all age groups, and an individual’s lifetime risk of developing epilepsy is nearly 4%. Approximately 30% of patients do not respond favourably to current treatments. Reliable biomarkers for epilepsy treatment have not yet been identified; currently, treatment decisions are primarily based on “trial and error”. The discovery of biomarkers is considered the most important research priority in epilepsy worldwide, as they offer the potential for more individualised epilepsy management.

Our hypothesis is that clinical, genetic, and imaging prognostic factors, as well as blood-based biomarkers, can be identified to predict the prognosis of epilepsy patients and their risk of developing drug-resistant epilepsy. Large patient cohorts and genome-wide analyses help to detect associations between genetic findings and factors such as disease course, prognosis, and the efficacy of different drug treatments in different patients. We analyse results from our extensive, unique database and integrate novel epilepsy biomarkers using modern machine learning, both nationally and in large international collaborative projects. This work contributes directly to the goal of individualised treatment and, ultimately, curative therapies.

Kälviäinen’s research always strives to consider the patient and involve them as an active expert in their own condition. The patient is not merely a research subject but also an active participant.

Pioneering research into rare forms of epilepsy and epilepsy surgery

Kälviäinen’s research team has carried out pioneering research into the rare progressive myoclonus epilepsy (type 1, or EPM1) or Unverricht-Lundborg disease, which is of Finnish disease heritage. The research team has used various methods to study the clinical picture and genetics of this rare disease, indicating factors that can be used to predict exacerbation of the symptoms of the disease. The disease is an example of epilepsy where gene therapy may be advanced through research in the coming years, potentially leading to curative outcomes.

Researchers in Kuopio have insights into the brains of people with epilepsy not only through imaging studies but also through epilepsy surgery. Surgical treatment can control seizures in many people with severe epilepsy for whom drug treatment has been unsuccessful. At the same time, research data is collected from the brains of people with epilepsy, enriching the national epilepsy information pool. Epilepsy surgery provides an exceptional opportunity to study living brains and epilepsy-related changes in brain structure and function.