The Epilepsy Bioinformatics Study (EpiBioS)

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose a planning grant titled the Epilepsy Bioinformatics Study (EpiBioS) to develop a bioinformatics approach to identify reliable epilepsy biomarkers, a critical need for a Center without Walls (CwW) focused on antiepileptogenesis (AEG). Biomarkers of epileptogenesis are needed to limit the study population by identifying those patients at highest risk for epilepsy after a potential epileptogenic brain insult, and to stage the epileptogenic process. Biomarkers of epileptogenicity are needed as surrogate markers in Phase II clinical trials, to document prevention or cure. From existing animal and patient data, we hypothesize that the three most promising classes of biomarkers will be derived from longitudinal studies of electroencephalographic (EEG), neuroimaging, and molecular changes occurring during the process of epileptogenesis, and existing after the development of epilepsy. Furthermore, we anticipate that no single reliable biomarker will emerge, but that predictive power will require a combination of biomarkers. To jumpstart the search for biomarkers we will utilize existing bioinformatics platforms to analyze available multimodality data longitudinally collected from patients and animals during development of epilepsy, and with epilepsy, to identify the most likely individual biomarkers, and/or combinations of biomarkers of epileptogenesis and epileptogenicity, and to determine the best animal models for future studies. Anticipated problems will be addressed at semiannual focused workshops. At the end of this granting period we intend to submit three deliverables: 1) identification and validation of the most likely biomarkers using data derived from ongoing animal and human studies; 2) comprehensive position papers on strategy and problem solving derived from at least six workshops, and 3) an international, multimodality, interactive, open access, bioinformatics grid available for a large prospective clinical study of biomarkers of epileptogenesis and epileptogenicity. We also intend to use the results of this study to inform investigations into the basic mechanisms of epileptogenesis and the search for novel targets for AEG, essential to the CwW, and anticipate this bioinformatics approach to be the future of biomedical research.