The clinical research program led by NYU Langone’s Division of Epilepsy studies biomarkers for epilepsy and moves novel therapies from the clinical trial pipeline to the physician’s arsenal.

After diagnosis, most patients are started on antiseizure medication, but doctors cannot predict who will be treatment-resistant and what causes this resistance. Our international partnership of 33 academic centers in the Human Epilepsy Project (HEP) will identify biomarkers that predict progression, treatment response, and quality of life outcomes in people with epilepsy. Our faculty are also identifying novel biomarkers to diagnose and assess treatment in autoimmune epilepsies.

Sudden unexplained death is more common in epilepsy than in the general population. Our faculty launched the North American SUDEP Registry, collaborating with clinicians, medical examiners, and scientists around the world. We are leading an international multisite study of patients with video EEG–recorded seizures to identify biomarkers of SUDEP risk. Our Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Registry and Research Collaborative (SUDCRRC) links more than 10 academic medical centers and medical examiner offices to investigate sudden unexplained deaths in children.

Our faculty are world leaders in developing safer and more effective antiseizure drugs leading to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of more than a dozen medications and novel formulations, such as intranasal forms. NYU Langone’s Comprehensive Epilepsy Center spearheaded successful trials of cannabidiol (Epidiolex) that led to FDA approval for several rare epilepsies. We are now assessing cannabinoid treatments for autism spectrum disorder.

We also strive to develop impactful behavior-based therapies. In partnership with the Department of Population Health, we are developing behavioral interventions to improve physical and mental health, quality of life, and medication adherence in at-risk populations. Our goal is to identify and disseminate effective nonpharmacologic interventions to improve outcomes in all people with epilepsy.

Finally, the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center is a Center of Excellence for children with CDLK5 deficiency disorder, Dup15q, Angelman syndrome, Sturge-Weber syndrome, Dravet Syndrome, and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. We are providing state-of-the art coordinated care and evaluating new treatments including personalized gene therapy.

Learn more about our active clinical trials.