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Big Breakthroughs for Little Brains

Dr. Christos Papadelis with his neurosciences research team in front of Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas

For the 500,000 kids with epilepsy, life can sometimes feel like it's on pause. While medication helps control seizures for about 70% of children, the other 30% face a tougher challenge – finding another way to stop their seizures.

But there's hope on the horizon thanks to the work of Christos Papadelis, Ph.D., director of the Neurosciences Research Center. In 2024, for the first time in its more than 100-year history, Cook Children's Medical Center is the recipient of and primary institution for a $2.3 million research project grant, known as an R01, by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke – part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

This grant will fund cutting-edge research using advanced imaging techniques to pinpoint where seizures begin in the brain, potentially replacing the need for invasive surgery to locate seizure activity. With these innovative scans, kids may need fewer surgeries, and those previously considered inoperable could have new treatment options. Seizures are sometimes caused by a network of abnormal electrical signals instead of a single spot in the brain, making them challenging to identify and ultimately treat. By uncovering brain activity in a less invasive way, doctors can help more kids leave their health challenges behind and embrace the magic of childhood.

Thanks to the R01 grant, kids with drug-resistant epilepsy and their families have a reason to feel hopeful.

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