Pediatrics

Bioengineering Research Partnership in Brain Dynamics
The third area focuses on creating and implementing new therapies free of side effects that are aimed at the cessation of seizures in patients with epilepsy. We are experimenting with seizure detection/prediction biosensor-coupled drug/stimulation systems. The resulting system will be able to detect chemical and/or electrical signals and deliver an anticonvulsant agent and/or stimulation to prevent or treat an impending seizure. Fabrication techniques for manipulating novel microelectrode arrays to produce both sensing and actuation are being accomplished with adaptive control mechanisms that close the loop around these devices. Preclinical gene therapy and novel drug discovery studies on validated models of epilepsy are also underway.

Epilepsy and Sleep Disorders
The current project is a prospective cohort study conducted at the University of Florida Center for Clinical Research to examine for sleep disturbance and parent reported behavior problems in children with epilepsy. Our pilot studies suggest that a causal relationship exists between certain physiologic sleep disturbances such as sleep disordered breathing and clinically significant behavioral problems in children with epilepsy.

Evolution into Epilepsy
The first area focuses on understanding the basic mechanisms of epileptogenesis. Experimental (bench top & animal models) and theoretical (analytical & computational) approaches are employed to capture the essential physiology and dynamics at multiple spatiotemporal scales, from membrane currents and chemical coupling to network oscillations and neural ensemble behavior during four critical phases of epileptogenesis. Biologically feasible algorithm and software tools are employed for data analysis and inference. Computational models are used to test hypotheses that can be directly verified by current or future biological experiments.

Gene Therapy for Epilepsy
A growing body of research indicates that controlling seizure activity is an important neuromodulatory function for the endogenous neuropeptide somatostatin (SST) via its cognate receptors (SSTRs) in the brain. Brain active somatostatin receptor agonists have potential as new AEDs and may be effective against drug resistant epilepsy since their molecular mechanism of action is novel and distinct from current AEDs. We propose to test the therapeutic potential of somatostatin receptor modulation using true models of human epilepsy and will investigate the ability of somatostatin receptor modulators to delay the underlying disease process.

Prediction of the Onset of Epilepsy
The second area focuses on finding markers of epileptogenesis and epilepsy. The temporal resolution of EEG, combined with the superior spatial resolution of imaging, offer powerful integrated tools for monitoring epileptogenesis. In collaboration with the Mareci and Vemuri research groups, we are developing acquisition and analytical methods for brain imaging and brain mapping in a model of epilepsy. Similar surrogate spatial markers for epilepsy are underway for human epilepsy.

Real-Time Brain Monitoring
The fourth area focuses on developing noninvasive real-time bed-side brain monitoring. Quantitative EEG methods are employed in order to extract global EEG descriptors which are used to statistically validate mathematical algorithms. We envision a fully integrated system that will allow for portable brain monitoring that assists the clinician with making critical decisions about care. We are also conducting studies to asses the utility of photoacoustic tomography as an emerging imaging modality for brain mapping.