DIPOLE Project Kick-Off: Advancing Personalized Epilepsy Treatment

This collaborative project brings together experts from the Institute, the Hospital del Mar, and StereoDive Medical SL., with the financial support of the Ministry of Science and Innovation through a public-private collaboration grant (CPP2023-010491). Together, these partners are committed to developing a predictive tool that will enhance the planning of minimally invasive therapies for patients who do not respond to conventional drug treatments.

Epilepsy affects millions of people around the world, and for many, traditional medication fails to provide sufficient relief. The DIPOLE project is dedicated to developing a predictive tool that will help doctors plan minimally invasive therapies with greater accuracy and safety. By personalizing treatment plans based on each patient’s unique condition, the project seeks to improve outcomes and reduce the risks often associated with more invasive procedures.

At UAB, researchers are focusing on describing the effects of radiofrequency thermocoagulation therapy. This method uses controlled thermal energy to gently destroy small areas of brain tissue that are causing seizures, potentially offering a less risky alternative to conventional surgery. The UAB team, led by experienced investigators Ignacio Delgado and Xavier Navarro, is committed to studying and characterizing this therapy to ensure it can be used effectively for patients who have not responded well to standard treatments. 

Andrea Vidal is investigating the in vivo and in vitro modulation of lesions as part of her doctoral work, analyzing the histological phenomena involved in thermocoagulation to understand the cellular and tissue changes that underlie the treatment's effectiveness. From the patient perspective, Teresa Clarà is involved in the description of the clinical effect of the lesions in her master project.