Expertise and current research performed: The Interdisciplinary Epilepsy Center Marburg (UNIMAR) is the reference centre in the field of Epilepsy in the state of Hesse, Germany with 5.4 Mio inhabitants. The UNIMAR mainly deals with: Pharmacologic and surgical treatment of patients with epilepsy. There are collaborations with several departments within the University (Mathematics, Physiology, Psychiatry, Pediatric psychiatry, Neuroradiology, Radiology, Neurosurgery). The UNIMAR is part of the German Epilepsy Genetics Group, International Epilepsy Consortium (IEC) and contributes to the Epilepsieregister in Germany. The UNIMAR participated in the NGFN-1 (National genome Research Network 1) of the BMBF (Minitery of Education and Research) and received funding by the BMBF for investigation automated seizure detection and interruption by deep brain stimulation in an animal model of IGE. The current research activities of the Interdisciplinary Epilepsy Center Marburg are: 1.Paired pulse Transcranial magnetic stimulation (ppTMS) in the characterisation of cortical excitability in different epilepsy syndromes and medication related effects in epilepsy patients. 2. Genetic background of obesity as a side effect of antiepileptic drugs 3. Localization of cortical functions (language, memory etc.) by fMRI and fTCD (functional transcranial Doppler sonography). 4. Automated seizure detection and interruption by brain stimulation in a rat model of idiopathic generalised epilepsy (Wag/Rij-rat)

Facilities/Equipment: The Interdisciplinary Epilepsy Center Marburg is equipped with: a ppTMS laboratory, a video-EEG-monitoring-Unit, DNA sequencer, DNA extraction, PCR, micro-satellite marker analysis, animal laboratory for the investigation of epilepsy models, large out patient clinic for patient identification and phenotyping. Koordination Center for Clinical studies, biostatistical expertise.

Personnel involved in the project

Principal investigator: Felix Rosenow (M). M.D. Neurologist, Head, Epilepsy Center, Staff Physician, Department of Neurology, ULRAN-Professor of Neurology/Epileptology 2001-2004. Research Interests: Expert in the application of paired pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (ppTMS) in the phenotyping of focal and idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGE) as well as characterization of the effects antiepileptic drugs and other CNS-active compounds on the excitability of the human motor cortex. Status epilepticus, presurgical diagnosis of epilepsy including localization of cerebral functions, epidemiology, cortex physiology, epilepsy genetics.

Haio M. Hamer (M). MD. Neurologist, Epilepsy Center, Staff Physician, Department of Neurology. Working in the field since 1994. Research Interests: phenotyping of epilepsies; functional transcranial doppler-sonography; human motor cortex and epilepsy; epidemiology. Janine Reis (F). M.D, 3^rd-year neurology resident and researcher. Feodor-Lynen-Fellow of the Humboldt Foundation. Expertise in single, paired and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) since 1999, phenotyping of focal and idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGE), characterization of the effects antiepileptic and CNS-active drugs on human motor cortex excitability. Research interests are: cortex physiology, plasticity, modulation of cortex excitability. Katja Hattemer (F). PhD student. Research interests: cortex excitability, transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Recent relevant publications/patents

1.        Hamer HM, Reis J, Mueller HH, Knake S, Oertel WH, Rosenow F. (2005) Motor cortex excitability in focal epilepsies not including the primary motor area – a TMS study. Brain 128:811-8.

2.        Klein KM, Hamer HM, Reis J, Schmidtke J, Theisen F, Hebebrand J, Rosenow F. (2005) Weight change and antiepileptic efficacy in monozygotic twins treated with valproate. Obesity Research 13:1330-4.

3.        Reis J; Wentrup A, Hamer HM, Müller HH; S. Knake S, Oertel WH, Rosenow F. (2004) Levetiracetam influences ion channel function in human motor cortex. Epilepsy Research 62:41-51.

4.        Reis J, Tergau F, Hamer HM, Müller HH, Knake S, Fritsch B, Oertel WH, Rosenow F. Topiramate selectively decreases intracortical excitability in human motor cortex. Epilepsia 2002;43:1149-56.

5.        Tergau F, Neumann D, Rosenow F, Nitsche MA, Paulus W, Steinhoff B. (2003) Can epilepsies be improved by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation?--interim analysis of a controlled study. Suppl Clin Neurophysiol. 56:400-5.