As part of their continuing research on Post-Traumatic Epilepsy (PTE), researchers at FutureNeuro are seeking for people living with PTE and/or their families/carers to join their PPI panel to help guide their continuing research.
PTE can develop in people who have experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). A traumatic brain injury is one of the known causes for developing epilepsy and we regularly support people who have developed epilepsy because of a traumatic brain injury.
There is currently no method to predict or prevent epilepsy in those who have experienced a traumatic brain injury. However, earlier this year, the research team at FutureNeuro - led by Dr. Tobias Engel - identified a receptor on immune cells in the brain (called P2X7) which plays a role in brain inflammation after injury.
The research went on to suggest that potentially targeting this receptor with medications could be effective in reducing or even preventing epilepsy occurring in TBI. You can read more on this by visiting the 'News' section of our website.
As the research team continue their exciting and important work, they have established a PPI panel to help guide their research. The basis behind PPI is to ensure that health research is carried out "with" patients rather than being 'about' or 'for' them. In short, the goal of PPI is to ensure that patients with long-term health conditions and the general public are at the heart of the decision making process in research that is conducted.
In particular, the team are interested in hearing from those:
- Who have been diagnosed with epilepsy as a result of a TBI
- Family members/carers of loved ones living with epilepsy due to a TBI
If you fall within these categories and are interested in assisting the team at FutureNeuro with their continuing work, you can express your interest by filling out the form on the PPI Ignite website via the button below:
Express your interest!
Alternatively, you can contact research coordinator Dr. Karina Halley by emailing karinahalley@rcsi.ie if you have any further questions regarding this project or your potential participation as part of this panel.
In general, involvement will require attending meetings approximately every three months over a three year period - with half the meetings online; and half in-person at either the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland or Trinity College Dublin.
Thank you in advance for assisting with this important research and we look forward to hearing more about its work as it progresses.
If you need any information or support on your or your loved one’s journey with epilepsy, please do not hesitate to contact your local Community Resource Officer. You can find their details by visiting the ‘Our Local Service’ page on our website.