Neurological conditions, such as epilepsy and migraines, affect hundreds of millions of patients worldwide. Globally, more than 50 million people have epilepsy, while more than 45 million individuals live with dementia. Since neurological disorders impact many patients, families and caregivers, it is vital to pursue neurological scientific research.
My research areas include epilepsy, migraines and magnetoencephalography (MEG). My colleagues and I are working to develop innovative bio-magnetic technology to correctly localize epileptogenic zones or pathological brain regions for advancing successful therapeutic results for epilepsy, migraines and other neurological conditions.
When I learned about risky and invasive conventional therapy for epilepsy surgery, I became interested in magnetoencephalography and bio-magnetic technology. The conventional method for treating epilepsy is a type of surgery in which electrodes are placed directly into or on the brain, which is more prone to error and more costly. In my research, colleagues and I found that spotting magnetic signals is better than spotting electrical signals since magnetic signals can move through the skin and skull without alteration.
Our hope is that using bio-magnetic signals for detection, such as magnetoencephalography (MEG) and magnetocardiography (MCG), will eventually substitute using bioelectric signals, such as electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG), for detection.
One notable discovery in my research was finding that MEG could noninvasively and correctly localize epileptogenic zones for pediatric epilepsy surgery for improved medical outcomes. My colleagues and I also discovered that the human brain produces high-frequency neuromagnetic signals, which unlocks an entirely new avenue for research and clinical applications.
Some recognitions and honors I have achieved include:
- Becoming a reviewer for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Biological Measures for Prognosing and Monitoring of Persistent Concussive Symptoms in Early and Middle Adolescents: Center without Walls (PCS-EMA CWOW)
- Being an editor of Frontier in Human Neuroscience
- Being a member of the Data Sharing Committee in MEG North America
I have more than 20 years of expertise in my field and began working at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in 2006. My research has been published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, The Journal of Headache and Pain and World Neurosurgery.