Epilepsy Ireland is to partner with the Royal College of Surgeons and the Irish Research Council in supporting a new project investigating potential biomarkers that determine people's responsiveness to the epilepsy drug Levetiracetam (Keppra).
The study entitled "MicroRNA biofluid profiles as molecular diagnostics for response to the antiepileptic drug leveteracitam" will be undertaken by post-doctoral research Fellow Dr. Sinead Heavin (pictured) under the supervision of Dr Gianpiero Cavalleri.
The study is being funded for two years under the Irish Research Council's Enterprise Partnership Scheme. As the enterprise partner, Epilepsy Ireland will contribute €30,596 to the overall project cost of €101,790 and will also provide support in the recruitment of patients, the mentoring and training of the fellow and the public dissemination of results.
Levetiracetam is a highly effective epilepsy medication, response to which can be dramatic in that some patients, who previously were unresponsive to treatment, respond well to Levetiracetam. However, there is no way of predicting in advance these unexpectedly responsive patients.
Biomarkers to identify responders would allow more personalised treatment of the condition. One potential biomarker is a small molecule known as MicroRNA (miRNAs). These molecules are made in our cells and control gene expression. Recent data shows that miRNA levels are altered in the brain in those who have epilepsy and that they appear in the blood following injury to the brain including seizures.
By studying the levels of miRNAs in different groups of people with epilepsy, Dr Heavin aims to determine if a patient's miRNA profile can help predict whether they will be a responder to the drug Levetiracetam.
She will study the miRNA profiles of people who have responded to the drug having failed with other drugs; people who have failed with Levetiracetam in addition to other drug; and people who have become seizure free on any drug. Comparison across these groups will identify profiles that are unique to Levetiracetam response.
This is an important study - the identification of a microRNA signature of drug response would represent the first such molecular diagnostic tool for epilepsy, potentially allowing the tailoring of an individual's epilepsy based on their genetic and molecular make-up and ensuring greatly improved treatment responses.
Dr Heavin is already an experienced epilepsy researcher, having trained in epileptology and the genetics of epilepsy with world-leading experts Prof. Ingrid Scheffer and Prof. Sam Berkovic at the Epilepsy Research Centre at the University of Melbourne. This week, Profs Scheffer and Berkovic were jointly awarded the 2014 Prime Minister's Prize for Science in Australia.
We look forward to working with Dr Heavin on the project and we would like to thank all our supporters who have made this support possible by donating to our epilepsy research funding scheme.