Seizures are sudden surges of electrical activity in the brain that may lead to the death of neurons and supporting cells at a much higher rate than the normal cell death that occurs in a person without epilepsy. Evidence suggests that small amounts of DNA fragments or cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from dying brain cells may make their way into the blood circulation where they can be measured.
In this project, Dr. Gecz and his team will isolate cfDNA from patients’ blood in the hours after a seizure(s). Using markers carried by the cfDNA, they will identify the area of the brain from which it originated. The team will then use this blood-isolated, brain-derived cfDNA to investigate the genetic causes of epilepsy.
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