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Use of EpiNet platform for clinical trials & epidemiological studies in epilepsy

Year:
2014
Duration:
60 months
Approved budget:
$905,000.00
Researchers:
Dr Peter Bergin
Health issue:
Neurological (CNS)
Proposal type:
Clinical Practitioner Research Fellowship
Lay summary
I have established the EpiNet database to facilitate epilepsy trials. The database can be accessed via the internet by neurologists throughout the world. I will now lead an international, open, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial of adults and children with new-onset epilepsy, using EpiNet to register and randomise patients, and for data collection. Patients will be randomised to receive levetiracetam or lamotrigine if they have focal seizures, or levetiracetam, sodium valproate or lamotrigine if they have generalised seizures or unclassified seizures. We will undertake a study of all people in Auckland who develop status epilepticus. We will identify the type of status, cause, outcome and seizure recurrence rates over 5 years. Development of the EpiNet platform will also improve clinical care, as neurologists throughout New Zealand can access patients' records. We will develop methods to link the EpiNet database with other epilepsy databases throughout the world.