New publication identifies priorities for SUDEP research
SUDEP Action has contributed to a new research paper published in Epilepsy & Behavior.
A new paper that looks at the gaps in epilepsy research and gives recommendations for future research to reduce SUDEP risk has just been released.
The publication titled “Epilepsy Research Institute UK Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) workshop: Identifying the pre-clinical and clinical priorities for SUDEP research”, has been published in the American journal Epilepsy & Behavior.
The paper was created from an in-person meeting with the Epilepsy Research Institute in London to discuss morbidity and risk around epilepsy. The workshop was attended by experts in the field from a range of backgrounds including clinicians, researchers, people with epilepsy, charity partners as well as people bereaved through an epilepsy death.
Contributors at the workshop included SUDEP Action’s CEO, Sammy Ashby, Research Manager, Ben Donovan as well as one of SUDEP Action’s Trustees, David Sibree.
The work shares knowledge gaps as well as suggestions for research that should be prioritised to reduce epilepsy risks. The paper outlines a need to understand how risk information is shared with patients. It also considers how risk factors are identified and tracked in people with epilepsy which is key for identifying patients that need additional support to reduce risk on an individual basis.
Ben Donovan said “This workshop was an important opportunity to build collaborations in the research community in relation to recognising current research gaps, and discussing the necessary infrastructures to support robust research into SUDEP-risk. We very much look forward to our continued work with the ERI and partners to help implement the recommendations highlighted in this workshop.”
Learn more about the research and read the paper here.
