How to get started in epilepsy genetics – The Channelopathist’s third birthday

Happy birthday. The Channelopathist turned three last week, i.e. exactly three years ago we started writing regular blog posts on epilepsy and genes, starting with a post on how SCN2A was rediscovered in neurodevelopmental disorders. Since we had many new subscribers last year, I thought that I could use this opportunity to write a brief post on how you can get started on Beyond The Ion Channel and how you can navigate our blog. Continue reading

The common variants in our genome that predispose to epilepsy – the ILAE GWAS

ILAE GWAS. This is one of the rare occasions when I can write on behalf of the ILAE Genetics Commission and discuss a recent publication. Earlier this week, the ILAE Consortium on complex epilepsies came online in Lancet Neurology. This study is a large meta-analysis of almost 9,000 patients and 26,000 controls looking at common genetic variants predisposing to common epilepsies, including the Idiopathic/Genetic Generalized Epilepsies and focal epilepsies. In a nutshell, when looking for common variants predisposing to the epilepsies, the answer is surprisingly simple. Continue reading

We want you to be an Epilepsiome builder

YESTI. On behalf of the ILAE Genetics Commission, we are looking for young clinician scientists who would like to help us build the Epilepsiome – a comprehensive, up-to-date database on epilepsy and genes. We are looking for YESTI’s – “young experts with sufficient time and interest”. Read more about what we would expect from you. Continue reading

Want to learn about epilepsy genetics more effectively? Keep reading…

Demystify. In an earlier post, Ingo blogged about the exciting new Genetic Literacy series that should appear in Epilepsia later in 2014. When we first had the idea at the International Epilepsy Congress in Montreal, we conceived of the Genetic Literacy series as a practical learning resource for practising clinicians and healthcare professionals. We really want to use this opportunity to demystify epilepsy genetics and make this information accessible and useful to readers. Continue reading

Building the Epilepsiome

Wireframe. In this post you will learn about our plans for the Epilepsiome database that is envisioned by the ILAE Genetics Commission. This knowledge database will curate information on epilepsy and genes. Also, it should be up-to-date and written in a straightforward “this is what you must know” style. Basically, the website that you want to go to if you need an update on a given gene or syndrome. But how do you get started on a project like this? Let me start by telling you what a wireframe is. Continue reading