Epilepsy Sparks Insights

Sparking interest and understanding in the epilepsies whilst bridging the communication gap between epilepsy patients, clinicians, scientists, geneticists – and the world. Hosted by Torie Robinson. **NOT FOR CLINICAL OR PATIENT DECISION-MAKING* Visit www.torierobinson.com & www.epilepsysparks.com.

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Episodes

6 days ago

Neuropsychiatrist Mike Kerr talks about the intersection of epilepsy and Intellectual Disability, the complexities of communication, the need for tailored communication strategies, the needs of individuals and caregivers, and the importance of building relationships in healthcare! Mike and Torie also touch on new treatments and the overall quality of life for the people affected.
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🔗 Website & more about Mike 👇🏻
https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/mike-kerr-intellectual-disability-epilepsy-community 
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Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻
https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 
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Thursday Feb 13, 2025

Tobias Engel talks about potentially preventing seizures and epilepsy caused by Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)! He discusses his study into the P2X7 receptor's role in TBI and its potential to reduce inflammation, seizures, epilepsy, neurodegeneration, and mood disorders. Tobias also speaks of the potential for improved quality of life for those with TBI-related epilepsy in the future.
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🔗 Website & more about Tobias: 👇🏻
https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/tobias-engel-p2x7-receptor-tbi-epilepsy 
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Thursday Feb 06, 2025

Post-doc researcher Mastaneh Torkamani-Azar discusses her research on drug-resistant epilepsy, focusing on the innovative techniques being developed to improve diagnosis and treatment. The conversation covers the challenges of drug resistance in epilepsy, the importance of advanced neuroimaging and histopathology, and the potential impact of this research on patient outcomes and quality of life. Mastaneh emphasises the collaborative nature of the project and the significance of integrating various data types to enhance clinical decision-making.
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🔗 Website & more about Mastaneh: 👇🏻
https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/mastaneh-torkamani-azar-data-epilepsy-making-diagnoses-more-precise 
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Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 
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📲 Join me on social media!
- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/torierobinson 
- Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/torierobinson.bsky.social 
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/torierobinson10 
- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TorieRobinsonSpeaker 
- TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks 

Thursday Jan 30, 2025

Neurobiologist Leszek Kaczmarek discusses his extensive research in molecular neurobiology, particularly focusing on the role of the MMP-9 protein in learning, memory, and epilepsy! He explains how MMP-9 is linked to synaptic plasticity and epilepsy, autism, and various mental health disorders, including depression, schizophrenia, and alcohol addiction. Kaczmarek also shares insights into future research directions and the potential for drug development to prevent epilepsy.
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🔗 Website & more about Leszek : 👇🏻
www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/leszek-kaczmarek-brain-mind-connection 
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Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 
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📲 Join me on social media!
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Thursday Jan 23, 2025

Research Fellow Georgia Cook explains the challenges of and positive impacts of positive, effective communication upon patient and family Quality of Life, the importance of qualitative research engagement and how it compliments quantitative research, and strategies to improve patient communication in an epilepsy trial. This is part 2 of 2 with Georgia.
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🔗 Website & more about Georgia: 👇🏻
https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/georgia-cook-communication-barriers-in-epilepsy-research
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Friday Jan 17, 2025

Paediatric neurologist, scientist, and PPI Lead Julia Jacobs and Torie Robinson discuss the role of individuals with Lived Experience in research, particularly in the context of the iNeuron project, which focuses on epilepsy, stroke, and dementia. They explore the challenges and opportunities presented by basic science research, the importance of knowledge translation, and the benefits of engaging young researchers. The conversation emphasises the shared experiences across different diseases and the motivation that comes from personal connections in research.
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🔗 Website & more about the study: 👇🏻
https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/julia-jacobs-ineuron-lived-experience-basic-science 

Thursday Jan 16, 2025

Research Fellow Georgia Cook chats about the importance of effective communication between researchers and lay-people in epilepsy research - using the CASTLE study as a great example! She speaks of how the way that patients and families think and prioritise can be different to that of researchers, the vicious cycle between sleep disruption and epileptic seizures, the impacts of COVID upon the study, and why clinicians - neurologists, epileptologists, and epilepsy nurses - must pay attention to sleep in PWE! This is part 1 of 2 with Georgia.
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🔗 Website & more about Georgia: 👇🏻
https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/georgia-cook-tightrope-of-communication 
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Thursday Jan 09, 2025

Manuel Toledo and Torie chat about the importance of but also the challenges in traveling for many people with an epilepsy, including medication management, sleep patterns, and knowing the healthcare systems in different countries! The chat highlights the need for preparation and safety tips for traveling with epilepsy, as well as the significance of sharing experiences to improve patient care.vvvvv
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🔗 Website & more about Manuel 👇🏻
https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/manuel-toledo-travelling-epilepsy
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Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 
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📲 Join me on social media!
- X: https://twitter.com/torierobinson10 
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/torierobinson 
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torierobinson10 
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Thursday Dec 12, 2024

Glenn King discusses his research in epilepsy and how animal venoms can be utilised to develop new treatments! He explains the mechanisms of ion channels, the diversity of venoms, and the process of identifying effective compounds. The conversation also touches on the challenges of drug development, the potential for personalised medicine, and the future of epilepsy treatment..
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🔗 Website & more about Glenn 👇🏻
www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/glenn-king-treating-epilepsy-with-spider-venom
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Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻
https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary
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📲 Join me on social media!
- X: https://twitter.com/torierobinson10 
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/torierobinson 
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torierobinson10 
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TorieRobinsonSpeaker 
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@torierobinson10 

Thursday Dec 05, 2024

Paediatric neurologist Eleni Panagiotakaki discusses her work in paediatric epileptology, focusing on rare epilepsies such as Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (AHC) and GRIN disorders. She highlights the challenges in diagnosing and treating these conditions, the variability of symptoms,  the importance of a holistic approach to care, and the role of parents in driving research!
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🔗 Website & more about Eleni 👇
https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/eleni-panagiotakaki-ahc-grin-genetic
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Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 
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📲 Join me on social media!
- X: https://twitter.com/torierobinson10 
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/torierobinson 
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torierobinson10 
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TorieRobinsonSpeaker 
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@torierobinson10 

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