The Division of Epilepsy is a rich network of academic clinicians involved in innovative and frontrunner research. We are active participants in federally and foundation funded investigator initiated research and multicenter center research studies. Fellows will participate in these and their own research projects under the mentorship and supervision of a faculty member. There will be an introduction to ongoing research in the Epilepsy Division. Each fellow will be assigned a specific research mentor. Each fellow has three mandatory research elective blocks. Once identified, mentors will meet weekly with fellows to discuss clinical research methods, ongoing clinical trials and to facilitate research projects. Mentorship of the research project is an obligation and commitment on the part of the faculty members.
Goals:
The goal of research rotations is to learn basic science and/or clinical research methods and to engage in both ongoing and independent research projects.
Objectives:
By the end of the rotation, trainees will be able to:
- To participate in ongoing clinical studies in the inpatient and outpatient settings under the supervision of Attending physicians and other investigators. (Practice-Based Learning & Improvement, Interpersonal and Communication Skills)
- To understand the role of clinical research in the advancement of epilepsy clinical care. (Systems Based Practice)
- To gain knowledge of clinical research methods through attendance of weekly ongoing research meetings available through division-wide activities, individual investigator lab meetings, journal clubs, and university offerings. (Medical Knowledge)
- To conduct at least one literature search in a research area of interest under the supervision of an Attending physician or other investigator. The topic may be either related to a patient condition or to an ongoing research project in which the fellow is participating. (Medical Knowledge)
- To pursue a research interest under the mentorship of an Attending physician or other investigator, with a goal of presentation at a national meeting or publication in a peer reviewed journal. Topics for research will depend on ongoing studies and research interests of the fellow and faculty, and may currently include epilepsy epidemiology, genetics of epilepsy, epilepsy monitoring unit safety, sudden unexplained death of epilepsy (SUDEP), effects of sleep and sleep disorders on epilepsy, neural correlates of language, optimizing methods to identify essential language cortex, issues pertaining to women with epilepsy, bone health in persons with epilepsy, seizure localization, intracranial EEG interpretation, neural activity during and after seizures, electrical status epilepticus of sleep, pediatric and adult epilepsy outcomes, status epilepticus in pediatric and adult patients. (Medical Knowledge, Patient Care, Interpersonal and Communication Skills)
- To develop a novel protocol and pursue local IRB approval under faculty supervision. (Systems Based Practice)
FACULTY: Drs. Akman, Sands, Pack, Bazil, Schevon, Gelinas, Choi and Hamberger.