The team at Epilepsy Ireland were delighted to recently visit Trinity College Dublin for a tour of a new piece of technology which is being heralded as potential game-changer for neurological research in Ireland– including epilepsy research.
The €2m scanning system is the first of its kind in Ireland and its arrival at Trinity College Dublin made national headlines recently – and we were very pleased to be invited by the researchers working with this technology to come visit and view the scanner for ourselves. The technical name for this highly advanced scanner is OPM-MEG.
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a brain-imaging technique that measures the tiny magnetic fields created by electrical activity in the brain when brain cells communicate. This allows scientists and doctors to see where and when brain activity happens in real time.
The new generation of MEG scanners, called OPM-MEG (Optically Pumped Magnetometer MEG), uses small, highly sensitive sensors placed close to the scalp inside a lightweight, wearable helmet.
Unlike traditional MEG or MRI scanners, which require people to stay completely still in a large, enclosed machine, OPM-MEG allows people to sit comfortably, move naturally, or even perform small activities while their brain is being recorded.
This makes the technology more comfortable, flexible, and accurate, especially for children and for studying brain activity in realistic conditions.
From an epilepsy research perspective, the scanner can produce highly detailed maps of brain activity, helping doctors and researchers to:
- Pinpoint where seizures begin in the brain.
- Diagnose epilepsy types more accurately, distinguishing between focal and generalised epilepsy.
- Support surgical planning for people whose seizures don’t respond to medication.
During our visit to Trinity - where we were represented by our CEO, Peter Murphy; Advocacy & Communications Manager, Paddy McGeoghegan, and our Research Officer, Dr. Grace Hallinan - we met with the Director of the new MEG facility at Trinity, Professor Redmond O’Connell and Professor Mark Cunningham, Professor of Neurophysiology of Epilepsy.
Speaking about the new technology, Professor O’Connell said:
The new OPM-MEG system here in Trinity will provide scientists with unique information about the timing and location of brain activity which will deepen our understanding of how the brain works and advances our understanding of the origins of brain disorders. It’s a game-changer for researcher working on brain disorders and wider research on the human brain.
Funded by Research Ireland, the new facility is now open to researchers across Ireland working in areas such as psychology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, aging research and neurology. It is important to note that the scanner is currently exclusively for research purposes, but it is hoped that clinical approval will be given in the future to expand its use for direct diagnosis and treatment planning - something we know will be of interest to many people with epilepsy and their families. This is something we will continue to monitor and we will report on any future developments in this regard on our website.
In the meantime, we very warmly welcome the introduction of this technology at Trinity which will undoubtedly help advance epilepsy research in Ireland. We would like to thank the team at Trinity for their invitation to view this technology in-person and would like wish them and all researchers using this new technology well with their research projects.
To learn more about this scanner, visit the Trinity website.
If you need any information or support around your or a loved one's epilepsy, please do not hesitate to get in touch with your local Community Resource Officer. You can find their details by visiting the 'Our Local Services' section of our website.
