Epilepsy Family Study of Columbia University (EFSCU)

The Epilepsy Family Study of Columbia University (EFSCU) is a long-term study of ways in which genes contribute to epilepsy risk. One of our main goals is to identify genes that play a role in epilepsy. Knowledge about the genes associated with epilepsy could potentially be very important for early identification and treatment of epilepsy in susceptible individuals. Genetic information can also help researchers and physicians understand what causes epilepsy and lead to the development of new methods for treatment or prevention of the different epilepsy syndromes.  

Thanks to the many families and individuals that volunteered for our studies over the past twenty years, we’ve made a number of important discoveries. While we continue to search for genes associated with epilepsy, we’ve also done important work on other aspects of epilepsy genetics. For example, recent studies have explored the relationship between epilepsy and other disorders, such as migraines and depression. We’ve also begun to explore issues related to genetic testing for epilepsy genes. We are interested in understanding how genetic testing might impact individuals with epilepsy and their families.