Research in Paediatric Epilepsy

Paediatric Epilepsy Research Program

Our epilepsy specialists are constantly looking for innovative and effective ways to treat seizures and epilepsy in children.

Your epileptologists are familiar with the current epilepsy research available and who is eligible to participate. You may be approached to consider enrolling. You will always be given information regarding the study. You or your child (if appropriate) must provide written consent to participate in each study and your participation is voluntary. You may withdraw from the study at any time, but we may ask that you please inform us as to the reason.

During any study you are followed very closely by the Epileptologist(s), Epilepsy R.N, Paediatric Epilepsy Program team and Epilepsy Research Coordinator. Your paediatric epilepsy program staff will maintain the highest level of care and all adhere to global, national, provincial and hospital guidelines and ethics.

London Health Sciences Centre is and will continue to be committed to the highest standards of data privacy and security.

Paediatric epilepsy research areas of focus:

Brain Imaging and Mapping (EEG, MRI, new technologies)

Advanced neuroimaging in Paediatric Stroke: Pathophysiology of injury and repair in children with focal brain ischemia
This multi-site prospective study will use MRI and neurodevelopmental outcomes to measure acute stroke.
Primary Site: Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

International Pediatric Stroke Study (IPSS) is a childhood stroke registry and network made up of dedicated clinicians, scientists and research staff from over 100 institutions in 34 countries.
Primary Site: Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

Machine learning for personalized prediction of seizure outcome after epilepsy surgery.
Primary Site: Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

Intracranial EEG signal analysis: Quantification of the signal frequency and topographic localization
A study of epilepsy patients with drug resistant epilepsy who undergo or have underwent intracranial electrode implantation including SEEG or subdural electrodes/grids at London Health Sciences Centre.
Primary Site: London Health Sciences Centre, London ON

Longitudinal Brain network connectivity changes using functional and diffusion MRI in pediatric patients with focal epilepsy
A longitudinal prospective observational cohort study in paediatric patients
Primary Site: London Health Sciences Centre, London ON

REMIND: Advancing Refractory Epilepsy Multimodal Imaging in Pediatric Populations
Primary Site: London Health Sciences Centre, London

Epilepsy Treatments (Surgery, VNS, Ketogenic Diet and anti-seizure medications)

Clinical experience with Eslicarbazepine after trials of Carbamazepine and Oxcarbazepine in children living with epilepsy in four Canadian centers
Primary Site: British Columbia Children’s Hospital

Comprehensive Outcomes Registry in Subjects with Epilepsy Treated with Vagus Never Stimulation Therapy
Multicenter global registry of approximately 2000 subjects diagnosed with drug resistant epilepsy and treated with the VNS Therapy System. The study will collect outcomes of subjects treated with VNS Therapy and the purpose of the registry is to evaluate clinical outcome and safety data.

Impact of Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery on Health-Related Quality of Life
The main purpose of the research study is to learn more about the health related quality of life of children with poorly controlled epilepsy. This is a multi-centre study.
Primary site: Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

Impact of the ketogenic diet on patients and families
This is a multi-centre, prospective, observational study of children on the ketogenic diet for treatment of epilepsy or a metabolic.
Site: EpLink Program

Lorcaserin as Adjunctive Treatment in Participants With Dravet Syndrome
A Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study With Open-Label Extension Phase of Lorcaserin as Adjunctive Treatment in Participants With Dravet Syndrome

Epilepsy Care (Quality of Life, Comprehensive Epilepsy Clinic, and transitions)

A Comprehensive Epilepsy Clinic Approach
This study examines whether the Comprehensive Epilepsy Clinic Approach to care improves: families’ knowledge on their child’s epilepsy diagnosis, treatment plan, and use of hospital and community resources.
Primary site: Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre

CHILD-BRIGHT READYorNotTM Brain-Based Disabilities Trial: This study is looking for youth aged 15-17 with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder or Spina Bifida to test a new app about health care transitions.
Primary site: McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences in Hamilton

Making Mindfulness Matter (M3) Epilepsy
This study will investigate whether the M3 Program improves the quality of life for children and their families by reducing anxiety, depression, stress, and improving executive functioning. This is a community intervention study.
Primary site: Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre

Shared Decision Making in Paediatrics - Impact of Shared Decision Making Intervention on parental decision making
Primary Site: Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre

Understanding Epilepsy and Causes (Genetics, epilepsy syndromes, Drug Resistant Epilepsy, Encephalitis, Metagenomics and autoimmune conditions)

Epilepsy Registry Level 2
The main purpose of the study is to create an epilepsy registry. The registry will include all pediatric epilepsy diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes over the lifespan.
Primary site: Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre

Infantile Spasms: Changing Landscape in Treatment of Infantile Spasms; experience from single center retrospective study.
Primary Site: Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre

PAGE: Investigating the utility of combined Pediatric Autoimmune and Genetic testing in drug-resistant Epilepsy
Primary Site: Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre