Unlocking the code through genomics
"What we want to do with genomics is to bring in all the information that the genome contains so that we can better tailor treatment for each individual."
Sanjay Sisodiya is Professor of Neurology at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Honorary Consultant Neurologist at the UCLH National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and Director of Genomics at Epilepsy Society.
The future of genomics
Our hope for the future is to find the right treatment, for example the right drug, at the right dosage, from the point of diagnosis. Genomic medicine has the potential to transform the way we care for people with epilepsy, and we believe that whole genome sequencing will help us to unravel the genetic architecture underlying the different types of epilepsy.
We hope it will help us determine the cause of a person’s seizures, their response to anti-epileptic medication and their susceptibility to Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), and that this will enable us to prescribe more personalised, targeted treatments and reduce the burden that epilepsy places on many people’s lives.
Dr Krithika Iyer Sundararaman, postdoctoral research fellow, using whole exome sequencing technology to read DNA at Epilepsy Society's Chalfont Centre (pictured right).
360-degree experience
Take part in our immersive 360-degree experience which takes you on the journey of a genome through our wet laboratory based at The Chalfont Centre in Buckinghamshire. Walk around our laboratory while our research team explains what happens to a patient's genome at every stage through video and interactive elements.
Research projects
subtitle: Genomics
Read how we are working to understand the genetic architecture of each individual person's epilepsy through our world leading genomics research programme.
Innovation
subtitle: Genomics
Find out about our innovative genomics clinic and our pioneering research that is changing the landscape of epilepsy.
Our researchers
subtitle: Meet the team
Meet the team at Epilepsy Society leading the way in global research. Our team are passionate about translating research findings to improve the lives of people with epilepsy.
Case studies
Find out how a genetic diagnosis has made a difference to the lives of people with epilepsy.
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.
Neuroimaging
Neuroimaging enables us to look deep inside the brain to learn more about the impact of seizures on its structure and function.
Neuropathology
The Epilepsy Society Brain and Tissue Bank is the first of its kind in the UK. It is dedicated to the study of epilepsy through brain and other tissue samples.