Group Leader: Laureate Professor Samuel Berkovic

Group Heads:

• Prof. Sam Berkovic, Laureate Professor
• Prof. Ingrid Scheffer
• Prof. Graeme Jackson
• Prof. Alan Connelly
• Dr John Archer
• Dr Anne McIntosh
• Assoc. Prof. Sarah Wilson

Overview

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects 3% of the population at some time in life.  It requires a multi-disciplinary approach to clinical care and research, involving clinical and basic scientists with a variety of skills.  Current research challenges include understanding its molecular basis, probing abnormal brain networks, interpreting complex imaging findings and encompasses complexities of clinical phenotypes, effects on cognition and behaviour and social implications.

Epilepsy Research at the Austin Health Campus involves Australia’s largest and most productive group in this area with major international impact. The group involves clinician researchers and scientists within the Department of Medicine, at the affiliated Brain Research Institute (now part of the Florey Neurosciences Institutes) and a multi-disciplinary group from Austin Health.  In addition, we are strongly linked via an NHMRC Program Grant to molecular geneticists at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Adelaide and basic neuroscientists at the Florey Neurosciences Institutes campus in Parkville.  We have a strong international reputation in many areas, including the clinical and molecular genetics of epilepsy in children and adults, imaging of epilepsy, surgical treatment and outcome studies, clinical trials, and neurobehavioural aspects of epilepsy.

Epilpepsy Research Centre Groups

• Clinical Genetics Group  
• Molecular Genetics Group             
• Paediatric Epilepsy, Autism & Mental Retardation Group                     
• Brain Imaging Group
• Clinical Trials Group
• Epilepsy Outcomes Group
• Neurocognitive Group