Epilepsy
Eisenman Lab
Lawrence N. Eisenman, MD, PhD
The Eisenman lab's primary research interest in the role of GABA receptors both in the normal physiology of the brain and in pathological states, particularly epilepsy. GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, and dysfunction in the GABA system is a major component of the pathology of epilepsy.
Gurnett Lab
Christina A. Gurnett, MD, PhD
Christina Gurnett, MD, PhD, has an interest in understanding the genes involved in inherited forms of epilepsy. Her current approach is to study large families with epilepsy or individuals with unusual chromosomal malformations.
Maccotta Lab
Luigi Maccotta, MD, PhD
The research studies of Luigi Maccotta, MD, PhD, are directed at using behavioral and functional neuroimaging techniques to help epilepsy patients overcome memory deficits since memory is one of the most adversely affected cognitive functions in epilepsy and the most reported by patients. He also is using behavioral and functional neuroimaging techniques to find a way of making early intervention in those with a first time seizure, as well as help to identify patterns of brain functional reorganization in early epilepsy (and ideally pre-clinical epilepsy) that predict future disease severity and can be used by physicians to guide early intervention and more aggressive therapy.
Thio Lab
Kwee Liu Lin Thio, MD, PhD
The research interests of Liu-Lin Thio, MD, PhD, are cellular neurophysiology, inhibitory glycine receptors and ketogenic diet. He holds clinic weekly, is consultant pediatric epileptologist for the Pediatric Cerebral Palsy Center and serves on the Pharmaceutical, Diagnostics and Therapeutics Subcommittee at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Wong Lab
Michael Wong, MD, PhD
The primary goal of the Wong lab is to understand biological mechanisms in the brain underlying epilepsy with the ultimate purpose of developing new therapies for epilepsy patients.
Zempel Lab
John Zempel, MD, PhD
By studying a model system of partial seizures which has been adapted to the magnetic resonance environment, allowing the measurement of electrical signals concurrent with imaging. Using conventional and newly developed magnetic resonance techniques, John Zempel, MD, PhD, and his colleagues have localized ongoing seizure activity and characterized the damage that occurs with seizures.