This Christmas please help us to change lives.
The Epilepsy Society is working towards a future where a diagnosis means the start of bespoke treatment, not an uncertain future. Every donation makes a real difference.
We are Epilepsy Society. The UK’s only charity transforming the lives of people with epilepsy through world-leading research, advocacy and care.
What we do
Cutting edge research
Epilepsy Society is unique in bringing together experts from around the world to form a powerhouse multidisciplinary team who contribute to a wide ranging spectrum of research.
Advocacy
We are a voice for people with epilepsy, striving to push epilepsy up the political agenda and bring about change at government level.
Leading care provider
Our range of care is tailored to the needs of each individual, and our professional staff are committed to maximising the life potential of everyone within our care homes.
Support and training
We provide a confidential epilepsy helpline, information and training for anyone affected by epilepsy.
Our research
Research
The ultimate goals of our current research are to spearhead personalised treatment and to incorporate genomic diagnosis into the NHS for people with epilepsy.
Genomics
Read how we are working to understand the genetic architecture of each individual person's epilepsy through our world leading genomics research programme.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM)
Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is an area of clinical chemistry that specialises in measuring medication levels (concentrations) in patients, usually through blood samples but also through saliva samples.
Sodium valproate
Sodium valproate is an epilepsy medication prescribed for all seizure types including absence, myoclonus and tonic clonic seizures. New regulations have been introduced by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) around the way in which the drug, sodium valproate is prescribed. Find out about the changes and how they might affect you.
Latest news
Study tracks seizure freedom over thirty years after epilepsy surgery
A new study has shown that 69% of people who undergo brain surgery for epilepsy do not have seizures with impaired consciousness one year later. This figure decreases to 45% at 10 years, 41% at 20 years and 38% at 30 years.
Building for our future: Planning Inquiry update
We wanted to share an update regarding the recent Planning Inquiry into our proposal to develop part of our estate in Buckinghamshire. This is an important step in raising funds to support our vital work and future research into the causes and treatment of epilepsy. The formal Inquiry has finished, and we hope to hear the final decision in early 2026
NHS dental reforms – what does it mean for people with epilepsy?
The Government has announced reforms to the NHS Dental contract which will be introduced from April next year. This follows a consultation with the sector and the public that ran between July and August 2025.
Resident Doctors Strike
The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced strike action by resident doctors from 7am on Wednesday 17 December 2025 until 7am on Monday 22 December 2025.
Letter of support for flu vaccine
The Government is encouraging people in eligible groups to get vaccinated against seasonal flu this winter. People with epilepsy are not automatically eligible but we have a letter to support your request to your GP.
Researchers develop ‘cap’ to identify brain conditions in newborn children
Researchers at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) are testing a wearable ‘cap’ for premature and newborn infants at high-risk of developing brain conditions such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy and learning difficulties.
1,200 die every year in the UK from epilepsy related deaths
Personal stories
Ben's story
Five race journey: raising awareness of epilepsy one step at a time.
Helena's story
Helena is an illustrator, graphic designer and animator currently living and working in London. Here she shares how her temporal lobe epilepsy was undiagnosed for seven years and its impact on her.
Ella's story
Unlikely career inspiration: from retail to relationship therapist.
" They couldn't understand why going out into the sunlight would bring on seizures - until our genetic testing revealed the cause of Daniel's epilepsy. "
Genetic testing could mean a new world of personalised treatment that transforms lives. By understanding more about each person’s genes, we will understand more about their epilepsy and how to treat it.
