News | Centre for Global Epilepsy

Professor Arjune Sen Joins Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences Lunchtime Newsround (20 March 2025)

Professor Arjune Sen, Chief Executive of the Centre for Global Epilepsy, joined Professor Kevin Talbot, Head of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, for the Lunchtime Newsround at the University of Oxford. They discussed the Centre’s work and the importance of global collaboration in advancing epilepsy care.

Professor Maria Emilia Cosenza Andraus Presents Global Epilepsy Work at the Annual NeuroTech Convention of the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT) in Los Angeles, California (27 February-2 March 2025)

Professor Maria Emilia Cosenza Andraus presented on the Oxford Martin School Programme on Global Epilepsy’s efforts to develop innovative diagnostics and digital tools to improve epilepsy care, particularly in resource-limited setting at the Annual NeuroTech Convention of the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT) in Los Angeles, California.

Solving Stigma in Epilepsy launched in Harare, Zimbabwe (13 February 2025)

The first Solving Stigma in Epilepsy course took place in Harare, Zimbabwe, in February 2025, led by Professor Sloan Mahone. The course brought together 26 participants, including healthcare professionals, advocates, and individuals with lived experience, to explore epilepsy-related stigma in healthcare and its impact on access to care. Interactive sessions, including seizure first aid demonstrations and case-based discussions, helped participants develop strategies to reduce stigma in clinical settings and their communities.

Delivery of the ETAM Course in Harare, Zimbabwe (12-14 February 2025)

The Epilepsy Training in Adult Medicine (ETAM) course launched in Tanzania, equipping healthcare professionals with essential epilepsy care skills.The course took place in February 2025 at the University of Zimbabwe, where 104 participants, including 17 local faculty, were trained in collaboration with ILAE, the British Pediatric Neurology Association, and the Epilepsy Support Foundation, Harare. These local faculty will now lead ongoing epilepsy care training across Zimbabwe.

New Publication: Epilepsy in Low- to Middle-Income Countries (February 2025)

A new publication by Arjune Sen, Charles R. Newton, and Gift Ngwende explores key challenges and solutions for epilepsy care in LMICs. The authors highlight advancements like culture-specific diagnostic tools, innovative EEG prototypes, and the addition of Levetiracetam to the WHO Essential Medicines List, offering practical opportunities to improve care in resource-limited settings.

A cautiously optimistic future for affordable epilepsy diagnosis - Blog Post by Ioana Duta (10 February 2025)

In this blog post, Ioana Duta examines the challenges of deploying machine learning models for epilepsy diagnosis in low- and middle-income countries. She discusses why models trained in one region often fail to generalise elsewhere and outline how careful validation and site-specific adaptation are essential to ensure reliable and equitable diagnostic tools.

The Centre for Global Epilepsy officially launches at the University of Oxford (31 January 2025)

The world’s first dedicated global epilepsy research centre, was launched at Wolfson College, at the University of Oxford, with over 100 attendees from across Africa, South America, the United States, and Europe. The event brought together researchers, clinicians, and advocates to address the urgent need for improved diagnosis, treatment, and awareness of epilepsy. With its international partnerships and focus on tackling stigma, the centre is poised to make a significant impact in advancing epilepsy care worldwide.

Professor Maria Emilia Cosenza Andraus Presents Global Epilepsy Work at the Neuroscience 20 (N20) Summit in Brazil (16-17 November 2024)

Professor Maria Emilia Cosenza Andraus presented the Centre for Global Epilepsy's work at the Neuroscience 20 (N20) Summit, an official G20 event in Rio de Janeiro. The summit, organised by the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT), focused on global clinical solutions for neurological diseases. Professor Cosenza Andraus showcased the Oxford Martin School Programme on Global Epilepsy’s project advancing epilepsy care with novel diagnostics and technology.

'Factors affecting quality of life in adults with epilepsy: insights from South Africa' with Nwabisa Mlandu (25 October 2024)

Nwabisa Mlandu, Visiting Fellow on the Oxford Martin Programme on Global Epilepsy, explored predictors of quality of life in adults with epilepsy, focusing on the South African context. Her talk highlighted the importance of context-specific approaches to improve care and outcomes across different regions.