Focal epilepsy

This study tests brain surgery as a treatment for people whose epilepsy doesn't improve with medication. About 300 children and adults aged 8 and older will have surgery to remove or treat the part of the brain causing seizures. The goal is to stop or greatly reduce seizures, tho…

This study tests whether low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) — sound waves delivered through a wearable headband — can reduce seizures in adults with drug-resistant epilepsy. Participants wear the device during treatment sessions, and researchers track seizure frequency and b…

This Phase 3 trial tests a single inhaled dose of alprazolam (a fast-acting sedative) to stop prolonged seizures in people aged 12 and older. The goal is to see if it can end a seizure within 90 seconds and prevent it from coming back for at least 2 hours. About 350 participants …

This phase 3 study tests whether an investigational drug called RAP-219 can safely reduce the number of focal seizures in adults with epilepsy. About 312 participants will take either a low or medium dose of RAP-219 or a placebo pill daily. The main goal is to see if the drug low…

This study tests an experimental drug called RAP-219 in 333 adults with focal seizures (a type of epilepsy). The goal is to see if the drug safely reduces how often seizures happen compared to a placebo. Participants must be 18-75, have had focal epilepsy for at least 2 years, an…

This study tests a one-time injection of lab-grown nerve cells (NRTX-1001) into the brain for people with a specific type of epilepsy that doesn't respond to medication. The cells are designed to release a calming chemical called GABA to quiet overactive brain signals. Researcher…

This early-stage study tests a new gene therapy called AMT-260 in 12 adults with a severe form of epilepsy that doesn't respond to standard medications. The treatment is delivered directly into the brain using MRI guidance. The main goals are to check safety and see if it can red…

This study tests whether SPN-817 can reduce seizure frequency in adults with focal onset seizures that don't respond well to current medications. About 216 participants will receive either SPN-817 or a placebo, and researchers will track seizure changes over 14 weeks. The goal is…

This study tests a drug called cenobamate in 20 Japanese children aged 2 to 17 who have partial-onset seizures that are not fully controlled by current treatments. The main goal is to see if the drug is safe and tolerable. Participants will take cenobamate tablets daily, with dos…

This Phase 3 trial tests whether XEN1101 (azetukalner) can safely reduce seizure frequency in people with focal-onset seizures. About 360 adults whose seizures aren't controlled by current medications will receive either XEN1101 or a placebo added to their existing treatment. The…

This study tests whether the drug BHV-7000 can safely reduce seizures in adults with focal epilepsy that hasn't improved with other treatments. About 390 participants will receive either the drug or a placebo. The main goal is to see if the drug lowers the number of seizures per …

This study tests a personalized deep brain stimulation (DBS) method for people with epilepsy that starts in the memory center of the brain. Eight participants will receive a device that sends low-frequency electrical pulses to specific brain networks, with the goal of reducing se…

This early-phase trial tests an injection of special brain cells (GABAergic interneuron progenitors) in 6 adults with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. The goal is to see if the treatment is safe and can reduce seizure frequency. Participants will receive the cell the…

This pilot study tests a device called NaviFUS that uses low-intensity focused ultrasound to calm overactive brain areas. It involves 16 adults with drug-resistant epilepsy who still have frequent seizures despite trying at least three medications. The goal is to see if the treat…

This pilot study tests whether everolimus, a drug usually used for cancer, can help control seizures in people with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. Only 5 adults aged 18-60 will take the drug during seizure events for 12 weeks. The goal is to see if seizure frequency drops and if …

This Phase 3 trial is testing whether the experimental drug vormatrigine can reduce the frequency of focal seizures in adults with epilepsy. About 300 participants who already take 1 to 3 seizure medications will receive either a low, medium, or high dose of vormatrigine or a pla…

This pilot study tests whether a mild electrical current applied to the scalp (called tDCS) can reduce seizures in people with epilepsy. Thirty adults with hard-to-control epilepsy will use a head device for 30 minutes daily over two months. Researchers will track seizure counts …

This study tests the long-term safety of an experimental drug called RAP-219 in 30 adults whose focal seizures do not respond well to current treatments. Participants must have already completed a related earlier study. The goal is to see if RAP-219 remains safe and helps reduce …

This study tests a minimally invasive laser treatment for people with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. The procedure uses heat from a laser to destroy the small part of the brain causing seizures. Researchers will track whether patients become seizure-free and how their mem…

This early-stage trial tests a one-time injection of special nerve cells (NRTX-1001) into both sides of the brain in 10 adults with drug-resistant epilepsy. The cells are designed to calm overactive brain signals by releasing GABA. The main goal is safety, but researchers will al…

This study tests an investigational drug called CB03-154 in 144 people with focal epilepsy. Participants take the drug for up to two years to see if it is safe and helps reduce seizures. The goal is to find a better long-term treatment option for epilepsy.

This study tests the long-term safety and effectiveness of a drug called SPN-817 in adults with focal onset seizures (a type of epilepsy). About 100 people who completed a previous SPN-817 study will take the drug for one year. Researchers will track side effects and measure chan…

This study is tracking 300 adults with focal epilepsy whose seizures are not well controlled despite trying 2-3 other medications. Researchers are observing how well cenobamate works when added to their current treatment in real-world clinics across France, Germany, and Spain. Th…

This study tests whether high-resolution MRI can find subtle brain lesions that cause focal epilepsy but are missed by standard scans. Researchers will scan 66 adults with drug-resistant epilepsy and compare results to surgical findings. If successful, this could improve diagnosi…

This study is testing a small device that fits in the ear to detect seizures by measuring brain waves. Researchers will first test it on 5 healthy people, then on 10 people with epilepsy who are already scheduled for a standard scalp EEG. The goal is to see if the in-ear device i…

This study is testing a new type of EEG device called tripolar EEG (tEEG) to see if it can detect seizures in people with epilepsy better than the standard EEG. Researchers will compare recordings from both devices in 90 adults and children. The goal is to see if tEEG reduces int…

This pilot trial tests whether repeated sessions of pulsed low-intensity focused ultrasound can safely reduce seizures in people with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. Ten adults who still have seizures despite medication will receive the ultrasound treatment. Researchers wi…

This study tests a liquid form of cannabidiol (CBD) in 100 people aged 12 to 75 who have focal-onset seizures. CBD is already approved for certain rare seizure disorders, and researchers want to see if it can also help reduce focal seizures. Participants will take CBD oil by mout…

This study tests whether methylphenidate (Ritalin), a drug used for ADHD, can improve attention and memory in adults with epilepsy. 226 participants will be randomly assigned to take either the drug or a placebo for 8 weeks, then all can take the drug for another 8 weeks. The goa…

This early study tests a device that uses low-intensity focused ultrasound to calm overactive brain areas in people with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. Eight adults will receive up to three 10-minute ultrasound sessions. Researchers will track side effects and check if se…

This study tests whether butylphthalide, a drug already used for stroke in China, can improve cognitive function in 220 elderly patients (ages 60-85) who have both focal epilepsy and mild cognitive impairment. Participants take the drug or a placebo for 48 weeks while continuing …

This study uses advanced brain scans (MRI and MEG) to better locate seizure-causing areas in people with epilepsy who are considering surgery. Researchers will also create a database of normal brain images from healthy volunteers. The goal is to improve surgical outcomes by compa…

This study tracks the safety of Fycompa injection in people with epilepsy who have partial-onset seizures (age 4 and older) or primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (age 12 and older). Researchers will record any side effects and measure drug levels in children aged 4 to 12. …

This study looks at people with drug-resistant focal epilepsy who are already scheduled for a brain-mapping procedure called SEEG. At the end of that procedure, doctors sometimes use heat (thermocoagulation) to destroy small areas of brain tissue that cause seizures. The study wi…

This study investigates how rehearsal (repeating information) and sleep help solidify memories in people with epilepsy. Participants learn object-location pairs, with some pairs rehearsed and others not, and their memory is tested after a short delay and again after 12 hours—eith…

This study screens children and adults aged 8 and older with known or suspected epilepsy, especially those whose seizures are not controlled by medication. Participants undergo tests like EEG, MRI, and PET scans to characterize their epilepsy. The goal is to find suitable candida…

This study looks at how epileptic brain activity during sleep can cause awakenings and change dream recall or content. Researchers will use tiny electrical pulses in the brain during sleep to trigger mild epileptic activity and observe the effects. The goal is to better understan…

This study explores how the brain recognizes and remembers places, using virtual tours and brain recordings in people with epilepsy. Researchers aim to map the brain regions critical for spatial memory, so surgeons can avoid them during epilepsy surgery. Over 600 participants, in…

This study looks at whether using different electrical stimulation frequencies can better pinpoint where seizures start in the brains of people with epilepsy that doesn't respond to medication. Twenty patients who already need brain electrodes as part of their surgical workup wil…

This study uses PET and MRI scans to look at serotonin pathways in the brainstem of adults with Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy. Researchers want to see if these pathways are different in Dravet patients compared to those with other drug-resistant epilepsy and healthy …

This study tests a special MRI method using ferumoxytol, an iron-based contrast agent, to get clearer images of tiny blood vessels in the brain's memory center (hippocampus) in people with temporal lobe epilepsy. Researchers aim to see if these images can help predict who will be…

This study tests a special electrode that can record the activity of individual brain cells during epileptic seizures. Thirty adults with drug-resistant epilepsy who already need brain monitoring for surgery will have these electrodes implanted for a few weeks. The main goal is t…

This study looks at how a focal seizure (a seizure starting in one part of the brain) temporarily changes a person's ability to pay attention. Researchers will test 100 adults with epilepsy before and after a seizure using attention tasks and brain wave recordings. The goal is to…

This study aims to find genetic mutations in the brain that cause drug-resistant epilepsy in children. Researchers will compare DNA from blood and brain tissue, including samples from special electrodes placed in the brain. The goal is to better understand the root causes of thes…

This study looks at how different parts of the brain handle mental effort in adults with epilepsy. Researchers will use tiny electrical pulses on the brain's surface while patients do thinking tasks. The goal is to create detailed maps of brain function to help guide future epile…

This study looks at people with drug-resistant focal epilepsy, a condition where seizures start in one part of the brain and don't respond to medication. Researchers will use advanced tests to better pinpoint the seizure source and guide treatment, which may include surgery or le…

This study tests whether a tiny device placed under the scalp can predict seizures in people with epilepsy that doesn't respond to medication. Twelve adults with focal epilepsy will wear the device and a smartwatch to track brain activity and other signals. The goal is to see if …

This study collects information from 500 children worldwide who have both epilepsy and movement disorders caused by specific gene changes. Researchers will analyze medical records to find patterns linking symptoms to genetics. The goal is to create a shared database that helps do…

This study looks at the mental health, emotions, and quality of life of 180 adults with drug-resistant focal epilepsy who are eligible for epilepsy surgery. Researchers will track changes in these areas before and after surgery to better understand how patients feel and cope. The…

This study combines advanced MRI scans with intracranial EEG recordings to map brain networks in people with drug-resistant epilepsy. Researchers aim to develop noninvasive imaging biomarkers that predict where seizures start and how they spread. The goal is to improve surgical o…

This study will record brain activity from deep brain regions (the thalamus) in 30 children already undergoing epilepsy surgery evaluation. Researchers will place extra electrodes to measure how seizures spread and how brain areas connect. The goal is to find better targets for d…

This study is developing a platform called CAMERA that uses wristband sensors and smartphone data to predict anxiety and memory states in people with epilepsy. Researchers will monitor 40 patients in the hospital to see how brain, body, and behavior signals relate. The goal is to…

This study looks at whether a special brain imaging method called dynamic spectral imaging (ISD) can predict if someone will have memory or thinking problems after epilepsy surgery. Researchers will map brain activity during cognitive tasks in 50 adults with epilepsy who are alre…

This study compares two advanced brain-mapping techniques—magnetoencephalography (MEG) and high-resolution EEG (EEG HR)—to see which better locates the seizure-causing area in people with drug-resistant epilepsy who are candidates for surgery. Researchers will enroll 100 particip…

This study looks at how seizures change the brain's wiring in children with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. Researchers will use special EEG recordings and MRI scans to measure brain connections in 82 children. The goal is to understand if ongoing seizure activity causes lasting d…

This study is testing a new type of flexible brain electrode grid during epilepsy surgery. The goal is to see if these new electrodes work as well as the standard ones for recording brain activity. About 12 adults with focal epilepsy will have both types of electrodes placed on t…

This study looks at how sleep affects memory in children with certain types of epilepsy. Researchers will test memory before and after sleep in 95 children, comparing those with mild epilepsy, severe epilepsy, and no epilepsy. The goal is to see if epileptic brain activity during…

This study looks back at medical records of 200 adults with uncontrolled focal seizures to see if adding cenobamate to their treatment reduces hospital stays, ER visits, and doctor appointments. Researchers will compare healthcare use before and after starting cenobamate. The goa…

This study uses powerful MRI scanners to look at the brains and spinal cords of 700 people, including healthy volunteers and those with conditions like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's. The goal is to understand why some brains stay healthy while others decline. R…

This study looks at brain activity in 50 people with epilepsy who already need brain electrodes as part of their care. Researchers add tiny extra electrodes to record signals from single brain cells and brain waves. The goal is to understand what happens in the brain just before,…