Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of his Department's funding for epilepsy research.

The Department funds research into epilepsy via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Between 2020/21 and 2024/25, the NIHR invested £12.8 million in direct research funding on epilepsy. This investment in epilepsy research allows us to continue developing our understanding of the condition and make a real difference to people living with epilepsy, as demonstrated by the examples of impact outlined below.

In 2022, the NIHR-hosted James Lind Alliance (JLA) carried out a UK Epilepsy Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) with epilepsy patients, carers, and service providers to identify the most pressing research priorities for ongoing epilepsy research investment. Many NIHR-funded research projects align to and address the priorities set out by the JLA PSP, boosting epilepsy research. These include:

• the Ultra Long-Term EEG to Guide Rapid Treatment Changes for People with Epilepsy (LEG-RTC) study, which that is studying how the first ever ultra-long term seizure recorder could help improve outcomes and reduce risk of harm for patients with epilepsy whose condition cannot be controlled by medication, with further information available at the following link: https://www.fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR209057;
• the Medicinal Cannabis in Refractory Epilepsies study, which aims to explore whether two different cannabis-based medicines are a useful treatment for refractory epilepsy in reducing seizures, and whether these medicines impact learning, sleep, behavior, quality of life, stress, and anxiety, with further information available at the following link: https://www.fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR131309; and
• the Developing a wireless intracranial neuromonitoring device for drug-resistant epilepsy study, to develop a wireless neuromonitoring device for drug-resistant epilepsy, aiming to create a minimally invasive, implantable device which allows for extended monitoring of seizures without the need for patients to remain in hospital leading to less patient distress, better localization data, reduced clinical costs, and better surgical outcomes. Further information is available at the following link: https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR204209.

Other examples of NIHR-funded epilepsy research and impact include:

• the Epilepsy: what are the chances of having a second seizure? study, where, in 2023, NIHR-funded researchers found that an individual’s risk of having a second seizure after an initial unprovoked seizure was highest in the first six months, although the risk remained elevated for two years and beyond, providing critical insights for doctors counselling their patients on repeat seizure risks. Many studies in this review had a follow-up period of less than two years. This review therefore highlights the need for further research which can estimate the risk of seizure recurrence beyond two years. Further information is available at the following link: https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/epilepsy-what-are-the-chances-of-having-a-second-seizure/; and
• the How can we support the mental health of children with epilepsy? study, which evaluated the remotely delivered Mental Health Intervention for Children with Epilepsy (MICE), delivered by epilepsy clinicians with limited formal training in psychological interventions. Compared with usual care, when clinicians used the intervention, young people with epilepsy and their carers had improved mental health. The evidence from this research suggests that a variety of clinicians can effectively and safely treat children with epilepsy and mental health difficulties. The remote delivery of MICE was beneficial in terms of less travel time and less time out of school for children. Further information is available at the following link: https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/how-can-we-support-the-mental-health-of-children-with-epilepsy/.

The NIHR also works closely with other Government funders, including UK Research and Innovation, which is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and includes the Medical Research Council, to fund research into epilepsy to improve treatments and prevent poor health outcomes for patients.

The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including epilepsy. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Welcoming applications on epilepsy to all NIHR programmes enables maximum flexibility both in terms of amount of research funding a particular area can be awarded, and the type of research which can be funded.