The UCLA Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Research Program incorporates established clinical and basic science groups from Pediatric Neurology, Neurosurgery, the Mental Retardation Research Center, Neuropathology, Neuropsychology, Psychiatry and Linguistics into a cohesive group for the study of the clinical and developmental features of cortical resection for the treatment of epilepsy and uses the tissue thus removed to study the pathologic and electrophysiologic properties of the tissue. Young children with """"""""catastrophic"""""""" epilepsy have a poor prognosis for development if the seizures are not controlled. Currently available medical therapies are often not successful in controlling seizures but surgery to remove an epileptic focus offers hope for some of these children. Our recent experience indicates that surgical """"""""cure"""""""" is possible in some children with generalized seizure disorders (i.e. infantile spasms) as well as catastrophic focal seizure disorders (i.e. infantile hemiplegic epilepsy). However, studies are needed to determine the best applications. Project #1 will prospectively study 30 children in a randomized clinical trial to determine outcome of cortical resection for the control of medically intractable infantile spasms. Project #2 will study language development in the surgical subjects. Four studies will be conducted regarding the neurological basis of language acquisition and hemispheric specialization for language. There are 3 basis science projects utilizing the tissue taken at surgery. Project #3 will study intrinsic electrophysiological properties of cortical neurons. Project #4 will study the ability of neuromodulators to effect the electrophysiological responses. Project #5 will study the structure and biochemistry of human epileptic tissue and the development of the cortex.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Specialized Center (P50)
Project #
5P50NS028383-05
Application #
2329843
Study Section
Neurological Disorders Program Project Review B Committee (NSPB)
Program Officer
Jacobs, Margaret
Project Start
1992-09-01
Project End
1998-08-31
Budget Start
1996-09-01
Budget End
1998-08-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1996
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
119132785
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095