Focal Cortical
Dysplasia Type 1 (FCD I)
Research Project

Epilepsy affects approximately 50 million people worldwide, and while antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) effectively control seizures in 60–70% of patients, over one-third suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), requiring further investigation into structural brain abnormalities like Focal Cortical Dysplasia (FCD) for surgical treatment.

 

FCD Type I is the primary cause of pediatric DRE, and it has been increasingly linked to genetic mutations, particularly in the SLC35A2 gene. My internship research study explores the potential role of SLC35A2 gene mutations in FCD Type I along with potential age and gender influences.