Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological disorder, affecting 50 million people globally. Currently available treatments can control epilepsy only in about 70% of patients.
A primary goal of the Manchester Epilepsy Research Network (MERN) is to study mechanisms that lead to the development of epilepsy and to develop more effective treatments for epilepsy.
MERN brings together epilepsy researchers from:
- The University of Manchester
- Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences at Salford Royal Foundation Trust
- Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital
- University of Salford
- Manchester Metropolitan University
Our research
We want to improve understanding of epileptogenesis, the process by which the human brain develops epilepsy. This will enable researchers to develop novel treatments that can help reduce the global burden of epilepsy.
Our research will:
- identify mechanisms causing epilepsy and resistance to antiepileptic drug treatment using genetic, physiological and imaging approaches;
- develop preclinical models of epilepsy, including high throughput and ethical animal models for antiepileptic drug screening;
- identify new treatments for epilepsy, such as novel antiepileptic drugs and gene therapy;
- study the safety of antiepileptic drug treatments, including in special populations such as pregnant women and children.
Major research themes
Understanding the problem
We identify genetic variants responsible for human epilepsy, and study them in laboratory models to understand epileptogenesis. We develop novel physiological and imaging techniques to study seizures and response to antiepileptic drugs. We investigate the natural history of specific epilepsy disorders, as well as the safety of antiepileptic drugs to ensure treatments are optimised.
We aim to answer questions such as:
- What are the genetic factors underlying epilepsy?
- What changes to brain function result in generation of epileptic seizures?
- What mechanisms lead to resistance to antiepileptic drugs?
- What are the long-term impacts of in utero anti-epileptic treatments?
Developing solutions
We utilise understanding of epileptogenesis and drug resistance to:
- develop novel antiepileptic drugs;
- develop novel alternative treatments such as gene therapy;
- develop graphene-based electrophysiological tools for epilepsy research and therapy;
- test novel treatments in high throughput and ethical animal models (including flies and fish).
Translating solutions
Our activities include optimising the use of existing treatments by identifying indicators (so-called biomarkers) of response to antiepileptic medication.
We also work with industry partners to develop new treatments. There is an active programme of clinical trials in adults at Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences and in children at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
For information regarding current trials, please contact the relevant institution.
Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences
Email: neuroresearchnurse@srft.nhs.uk
Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital
Email: adele.fitzgerald@mft.nhs.uk
MERN combines expertise and technologies from The University of Manchester with expert clinicians to address the global challenge of epilepsy.
Key researchers
- Professor Richard Baines (Professor of Neuroscience) – academic lead
- Dr Rajiv Mohanraj (Consultant Neurologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer) – clinical lead
- Professor Siddharth Banka (Professor of Genomic Medicine and Rare Diseases)
- Dr Rob Wykes (Senior Lecturer and NanoNeuro Lead, Nanomedicine Lab, University of Manchester)
- Dr Rebecca Bromley (Paediatric Clinical Psychologist and Research Fellow)
- Professor Jill Clayton-Smith (Consultant Clinical Geneticist and Honorary Professor)
- Professor Karl Herholz (Professor and Head of Neuroscience Research at the Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre)
- Professor Stavros Stivaros (Clinical Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Paediatric Neuroradiologist)
- Professor Darren Ashcroft (Professor of Pharmacoepidemiology)
- Dr Jason Taylor (Lecturer in Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology)
- Dr Laura Parkes (Reader and Lead for Manchester Neuroimaging)
- Dr Llewyd Orton (Senior Lecturer in Neurophysiology, Manchester Metropolitan University)
- Dr Paul Cooper, Consultant Neurologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer
- Dr Jeen Tan (Consultant Paediatric Neurologist)
- Dr Helen Caswell (Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist)
- Dr Antonia Kirkby (Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist)
- Dr Daniela Di Basilio (Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Manchester Metropolitan University)
- Dr Emily Pegg (Specialist Registrar and Clinical Research Fellow)
- Dr Stewart Rust (Consultant Clinical Psychologist in Paediatric Neuropsychology)
- Dr Sian Trenchard (Clinical Psychologist in Paediatric Neuropsychology)
- Dr Ailsa Munro (Clinical Psychologist)
Our partners
MERN is part of a wider group of researchers in epilepsy and related disorders in Manchester and beyond.
- Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences
- North West Epilepsy Group
- Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre
- Manchester Rare Conditions Centre
The University of Manchester offers epilepsy-related study and research training opportunities through a range of programmes.
Related postgraduate taught courses
Doctoral training and postgraduate research
Our clinicians and academics support PhD students from all over the globe in projects focused on various aspects of epilepsy.
Epilepsy Research Institute DTC opportunities
This Doctoral Training Centre has been funded by the Epilepsy Research Institute to facilitate six interrelated, fully funded PhD opportunities beginning in September 2024; three at The University of Manchester and three at the University of Liverpool.
Learn more about the available projects and how to apply on the Epilepsy Research Institute DTC page.
Other opportunities
Our integrated community of PhD students also receive support from other sources such as:
- MRC and ERUK Doctoral Training Partnerships
- charities
- industry
- international government schemes.
We also offer a wide range of opportunities for self-funded studentships.
Find out more about funded PhD programmes at Manchester, or search available self-funded and funded projects.
Postdoctoral research and independent fellowships
We have a large and active community of postdoctoral researchers and independent research fellows working on a range of epilepsy-related projects.
We are keen to hear from prospective independent research fellows who wish to join us by applying for fellowship funding from organisations such as:
- Medical Research Council
- Epilepsy Research UK
- Wellcome Trust
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
For more information, please get in touch with the relevant researcher.
You can also find out about additional support offered by our Fellowship Academy.
We are passionate about engaging with the public, patients with epilepsy and families to improve understanding of the impact of epilepsy and set research priorities.
We have previously been involved with public engagement events such as:
- Epilepsy Research UK Research Roundtable on Epilepsy Treatments: Past, Present and Future (YouTube)
- Epilepsy Research UK Research Roundtable on Change Makers (YouTube)
- The Enigma of Epilepsy: From fruit fly to human (Pint of Science)
We have also appeared in the media:
We welcome researchers and clinicians who wish to join our network.
As a member, you will receive a range of updates, including information on seminars and network activities.
To join MERN, please contact us.
- Email: mern@manchester.ac.uk
Get in touch for more information about MERN.
