Project Grant K23NS142570

The University of Alabama at Birmingham received a $237,870 Project Grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853), awarded June 1, 2026, with a completion date of May 31, 2031. This research initiative focuses on developing and validating electroencephalogram (EEG) source localization techniques applied to stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) recordings to improve seizure onset zone identification in drug-resistant epilepsy patients. The project deliverables include systematic examination of SEEG source localization methods, assessment of accuracy and precision using stimulation-induced seizures, and advancement of SEEG source localization as a predictive tool for surgical outcomes.

The primary research outputs will establish methodological frameworks for applying distributed source algorithms to intracranial EEG-recorded seizures, addressing current limitations in surgical localization that contribute to failure rates exceeding 60%. The project is designed to prepare for a larger prospective clinical trial comparing SEEG-based source localization with non-invasive scalp EEG and magnetoencephalography approaches, ultimately informing surgical decision-making and resection extent determination for epilepsy patients. This foundational research addresses a significant clinical need, as approximately one-third of epilepsy patients are drug-resistant and require surgical intervention dependent on precise seizure localization.