World leading research
"It's very important that the clinical knowledge and the understanding of people with epilepsy drives research as this allows us always to have the person at the centre."
Ley Sander is Professor of Neurology, Head of the Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Consultant Neurologist at UCLH National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and Former Medical Director at Epilepsy Society.
Our research philosophy
Research aims
The ultimate goals of our current research are to spearhead personalised treatment and to incorporate genomic diagnosis into the NHS for people with epilepsy.
Cutting edge research
Epilepsy Society's Chalfont Centre is unique in bringing together intellectual capital to form a powerhouse multidisciplinary team who contribute to a wide ranging spectrum of research.
Research areas
Epilepsy Society funded research falls under four integrated areas: genomics, neuroimaging, neuropsychology and neuropathology.
Genomic research
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.
Our research explained
The Genomics Research Programme
The Genomics Research Programme aims to sequence and provide clinical interpretation of 5,000 genomes in the first instance.
Whole Genome Sequencing
Whole genome sequencing will help us to unravel the genetic architecture underlying the epilepsy of more people.
The Epilepsy Society Brain and Tissue Bank
The Epilepsy Society Brain and Tissue Bank is dedicated to the study of epilepsy, by providing brain and other tissue for a wide range of epilepsy research projects.
Epilepsy Navigator
The Epilepsy Navigator software enables more sophisticated and accurate brain surgery for epilepsy, which will increase numbers of people who can become seizure free.
Our research areas
Epilepsy Society funded research falls under four integrated areas: genomics, neuroimaging, neuropsychology and neuropathology (Epilepsy Society's Brain and Tissue Bank). We also carry out research in other psychological and health service areas and epidemiology (global health and outcomes).
We are part of a unique arrangement with UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and the UCLH National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. This ensures academic and clinical excellence, patient input and relevance of our medical research.
A person being scanned by our Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) scanner (pictured right).
Recruiting people for our research
We are receiving many enquiries from people who would like to be part of our genomic research work here at Epilepsy Society. We very much welcome everyone's interest and their commitment to helping us to accelerate progress in understanding the many causes of epilepsy and how it can be better diagnosed and treated.
Genomics
Read how we are working to understand the genetic architecture of each individual person's epilepsy through our world leading genomics research programme.
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.
Neurophysiology and neuropsychology
Our team of consultant neurophysiologists and skilled technicians carry out detailed tests to help with the diagnosis and classification of seizures.
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.
Life changing research
At age 30, Aidan was no longer responding to emergency medication. Four times he had to be put into an induced coma to stop his seizures. Then genetic tests revealed he had a mutation in the SCN1A gene which was causing Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy. By prescribing him different medication, we were able to help bring his seizures under control.
We do not conduct research using animal testing.
Epilepsy Society does not conduct research using animals. Read our policy statement.
At the moment we can only recruit people for our research who are under the care of UCLH.
Find out how to be considered for future research projects.
Epilepsy research papers
We've compiled a summary of our latest research papers for you to read, written by our powerhouse multidisciplinary team who contribute to a wide ranging spectrum of epilepsy research.
These papers give you a snapshot of our teams clinical and research knowledge, which is helping us to further our understanding of people with epilepsy.
Our research
Our researchers
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.
Join our team
Epilepsy Society’s Chalfont Centre is unique in bringing together intellectual capital to form a powerhouse multidisciplinary team who contribute to a wide ranging spectrum of research. It is only by working together that we will be able to translate the findings of our research into clinical medicine.
Walk around our laboratory
Take part in our immersive 360-degree experience which takes you on the journey of a genome through our wet laboratory. Our research team will explain what happens to a patient's genome at every stage through video and interactive elements.
Epilepsy Society Call for Research Proposals
Epilepsy Society has a clinical research unit dedicated to advancing the understanding of the epilepsies through detailed clinical, investigational, and genomic evaluation to inform clinical diagnosis and informed therapeutic decision‑making.
Opportunity 1
Applications from University College London (UCL) are invited for high‑quality clinical translational research focused on genomics and the epilepsies, with the aim of advancing accurate diagnosis, personalised treatment approaches, and comorbidity risk stratification. The call is intended to support a clinician to work in this area as part of an intent to develop a cadre of genomically-informed clinicians working in epilepsy and would suit support for a late-stage trainee or fully-trained clinician at the start of their career. Integration with existing research efforts in this area would be advantageous.
In developing this funding opportunity, the Society consulted with external expert advisors who concluded that only University College London (UCL), with its direct links to University College London Hospitals (UCLH) affiliated clinics, and well-characterised patient cohorts, can provide the highly specialised expertise required to deliver research aligned with the Charity’s strategic research aims.
Research proposals are expected to cover projects of 2–3-years’ duration, with total funding of up to £300,000 available per successful application.
For application form and informal enquiries please contact: ghazala.mirza@epilepsysociety.org.uk
Completed applications must be submitted by 17:00 on 30th April 2026.
Opportunity 2
Applications from University College London (UCL) are invited for research proposals that develop cutting‑edge genomic analysis approaches to advance understanding and personalised care in epilepsy, including investigation of the spectrum of genetic causes observed in individuals with epilepsy.
In developing this funding opportunity, the Society consulted with external expert advisors, who concluded that only UCL, with its direct links to University College London Hospitals (UCLH), affiliated clinics, and well‑characterised patient cohorts, can provide the highly specialised expertise required to deliver research aligned with the Charity’s strategic research aims.
Research proposals are expected to cover projects of 2–3 years’ duration, with total funding of up to £250,000 available per successful application.
For application forms and informal enquiries, please contact: ghazala.mirza@epilepsysociety.org.uk
Completed applications must be submitted by 17:00 on 30th April 2026.