Epilepsy Discovery Project showing early results

Researchers involved in the Epilepsy Discovery Project funded by the Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) have reported progress in a number of significant areas. On November 10 and 11th, scientists and supporters gathered in Hamilton to share findings.

The OBI Epilepsy Discovery Project was launched in March 2012 and involves research into new medications, diets and brain stimulation among other initiatives. Its goals are to discover new treatments and therapies for people affected by epilepsy. A reapplication for new funding is expected to be made by the researchers in early 2013.

 Gary Collins, Executive Director Epilepsy Canada was excited about the reported progress.  He commented, "The updates at this conference are encouraging for everyone looking for new treatments to help those living with epilepsy. Epilepsy Canada will do all it can to assist OBI meet its 2013 funding goal."
Three of the reported highlights from the conference are -

• Studies with animals are showing omega-3 fish oils are elevating seizure threshold. Because omega-3 fish oils are a food additive, not a medication, development of food additives for human consumption can happen quickly. By comparison the development process for pharmaceuticals can take up to 10 years. Researchers are looking to add omega-3 fish oil to people's normal diets, with the anticipation that seizure numbers will be reduced after three months.

• A study at McMaster University is researching the benefits of exercise for children living with epilepsy.  The study, led by Dr. Gabriel Ronen is monitoring a group of children with epilepsy who are involved in a walking program and comparing their seizure numbers to children with epilepsy who are not participating in regular exercise.

• New findings about why ketogenic diets can be effective in the treatment of drug resistant epilepsy were reported. People on ketogenic diets, which favour foods low in carbohydrates and high in protein, have been found to have elevated acetone levels in their bloodstream.  Acetone analogues are being tested in animals and preliminary results indicate some of the acetone analogues are anticonvulsant.

Dr. McIntyre Burnham, President of Epilepsy Canada, Director of the University of Toronto Epilepsy Research Program and co-director of the OBI-Epilepsy Discovery Project said, "At the end of our second quarter everybody was on track toward meeting their milestones, and we're pretty happy about that."

Your donations advance epilepsy research

Two important Canadian research projects recently received funding grants from Epilepsy Canada.
The first is led by Dr. Paolo Federico, an epileptologist with the Calgary Comprehensive Epilepsy Program. His study represents an advance in developing tools to better identify seizure foci in a challenging group of epilepsy patients.

Approximately 30% of patients with focal epilepsy (seizures arising from a localized brain region) have seizures that cannot be controlled by medication. In these cases, surgical removal of the seizure focus is often considered. The odds of staying seizure-free after surgery, is two and a half times greater when a lesion can be identified. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is the usual methodology to identify a seizure focus and the surgical target.

Dr. Federico explains, "Twenty per cent of patients with untreatable focal seizures have no visible abnormality on conventional MR scans. Thus, new, non-invasive methods to identify MR abnormalities are needed." Recently, new quantitative MR techniques have been developed to allow the sensitive detection of MR signal abnormalities across the entire brain that may be there but are missed by simple visual inspection of MR images. These techniques may allow for more refined seizure focus localization, and possibly a more precise surgical resection.

In awarding the grant, Epilepsy Canada President Dr. W. McIntyre Burnham said," The committee felt that Dr. Federico's project would significantly contribute to improved patient care in the very near future."

Dr. Sbastien Desgent, PhD, has received an Epilepsy Canada Research Grant for a second straight year. Working at the Department of Research CHU Sainte-Justine in Montreal, he continues to advance knowledge on the consequences of chronic early-life stress on the risk of developing epilepsy as a subject ages.

Dr. Desgent says, "We think that stress contributes to hippocampal changes that predispose individuals to develop as Temporal Lobe Epilepsy later in life."  Dr. Desgent's research project will contribute towards a better understanding of epileptogenesis as well as the impact of early-life stressors on normal brain and hippocampal development in infants. "With our study, we want to understand what makes stress so harmful to the hippocampus, an important region of the brain, and so vital to development of epilepsy." Says Dr. Desgent

Thank you to all of our generous sponsors

Epilepsy Canada wishes to thank the sponsors and corporate
partners that are supporting the I Heart Shakey Fund Raising event
and the Break The Silence Auction. They are:

AMR Associates
Artez Interactive
Art Source
Canada Goose
Care-Alive
ClearStream
CTV
Elevest Corporation
Galloway Botteselle & Company
Grosman, Grosman & Gale LLP
4Growth Inc
ITG Canada Corp.
Lighthouse Nine
Matsuda
McLaren Medicine Professional Corporation
Medtronic
Mizuno
Morrison Foundation
Ontario Brain Institute
Remp, Earl & Partners
Richmond Hill Lexus
Scotiabank
Sir Sam's Ski and Bike
Sir Sam's Inn
SNAP Newspaper Group
Standard Telecom
Telescope Marketing
Tennis Canada
Toronto Rock Lacrosse

March 26th is now officially Purple Day for epilepsy awareness

June 19, 2012 (Ottawa) – Parliament provided a positive boost to Canadians living with epilepsy when the Senate passed legislation to promote epilepsy awareness on June 19. Bill C-278, an Act respecting a day to increase public awareness about epilepsy received Royal Assent and became law on June 28th.  The bill establishes March 26th as Purple Day, a day each year when Canadians wear purple to promote a greater awareness of epilepsy and the 300,000 Canadians it affects.

The bill was sponsored by Halifax West MP Geoff Regan. He took up the cause of Cassidy Megan, the young girl in his riding who founded Epilepsy Day in 2008. He said, “Too often, people with epilepsy feel isolated and stigmatized because of a lack of understanding about their condition.”

“I want to thank Cassidy Megan, the young girl who founded Purple Day, and the Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia for their hard work and dedication to this cause,” said Regan. “Cassidy has proven that one person can make a difference.”

“I am so grateful and happy" said Cassidy. "Parliament believed in me and Purple Day and showed me and the other Canadians living with epilepsy that they care and that we are not alone.”

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS IN WESTERN CANADA

Please note:  This is a special call for submissions with a short turn-around date.  Submissions will be due on August 1, 2012.

SPECIAL CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Epilepsy Canada is pleased to announce a special competition for a one-time only grant to be awarded in support of epilepsy research in a province of Western Canada.

The grant will be valued at $100,000 CDN and will be awarded to a researcher or team of researchers at a university or teaching hospital in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta or British Columbia.

The project funded may involve activity in any field of epilepsy research, including biomedical, clinical and social science.  Projects in basic and applied science will both be considered, providing that they are designed to improve the lives of people living with epilepsy.

The granted funds may be used for operating, for salary support or for a combination of the two.  Limited equipment purchase will also be acceptable.

This is a once only award, for a granting period that will start on September 1, 2012, and for a project that can be completed within one or two years. 

A condition of this award will be the submission of brief (1 page) quarterly reports summarizing the progress of the research in language accessible to the general public.  

Application Information

Applications should include:

[1] a description of the proposed research (including Research Hypothesis, Research Goals, Back­ground, Methods, Proposed Work, Relevance to Epilepsy; 5 pages maximum, 12 pt font, Arial or Times New Roman, single spaced, 0.75 inch borders).

[2] a curriculum vitae of the principal applicant or applicants (common CV, CIHR format)

[3] a list of publications (last 5 years) by the principal applicant or applicants

The application should be submitted by email to: epilepsy@epilepsy.ca by August 1, 2012. Applicants are advised to provide email addresses so that communications can be made on a timely basis.

Results will be announced on August 15, 2012.

McIntyre Burnham,

President 

Epilepsy Canada.                             

12 YEAR OLD ACTRESS WITH EPILEPSY SUPPORTING EPILEPSY RESEARCH FUNDRAISER

Twelve year old Rylie Behr is a remarkable young actress with big dreams.   While most kids her age are looking forward to summer camp she's busy visiting major cities to promote her first full length motion picture -- I Heart Shakey. 

Rylie was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of three.  Since that time, she has learned how to listen to her body and to accomplish her goals while managing her condition. Most importantly, with the help of a supportive family she hasn't allowed her health concerns to define her.

Rylie will be visiting Toronto on August 18th to attend a special 3D presentation of her film. She will also bring her message of courage and hope for others with epilepsy to not give up on their dreams. The special screening of I Heart Shakey is presented as a major fund raising initiative by Epilepsy Canada. The money raised will fund epilepsy research at major Canadian universities and medical institutes.

A comedy that is sure to be a hit with families, the movie will be presented in 3D at Toronto's Scotia-bank Cineplex Theatre August 18. Tickets are available through the Epilepsy Canada website at www.epilepsy.ca/shakey, or by contacting Epilepsy Canada at 877-734-0873. Tickets for the event are premium priced, but they come with a tax deductable receipt.

Katie's Run - a Fundraiser for Epilepsy Research

Katie's Run - a Fundraiser for Epilepsy Research

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Sir Sam's Ski & Bike, Haliburton Ontario

Katie's Run is a scenic 10 km run and 2.5 km family run/walk at the beautiful Sir Sam's Ski & Bike in Haliburton, Ontario. Enjoy a unique cross country run under a canopy of trees, with beautiful views from the top of the ski hill overlooking the lake. The goal of this event is to raise funds for epilepsy research, in honour of 16-year-old Katie Woudstra. Epilepsy Canada will be the recipient of all funds raised.

To read Katie’s story, in her own words, visit Katie's website. Like Katie, we are encouraging Canadians to tell their story and break the silence about epilepsy.