Iowa Comprehensive Epilepsy Program (ICEP) regularly participates in clinical trials of promising investigational antiepileptic drug therapies. Below are current research trials.

Antiepileptic Drug Trials Currently Enrolling Subjects

• SPM 927 as Adjunctive Therapy in Intractable Partial Epilepsy (Schwarz Biosciences)
• Double-Blind Randomized Trial of Cognitive Effects of Lamotrigine and Topiramate in Epilepsy (GlaxoSmithKline LAM40112)

Vagus Nerve Stimulator Studies

• A Randomized, Blinded Study of Different Stimulation Parameters with the Neurocybernetic Prosthesis (Vagus Nerve Stimulator)

Past Antiepileptic Drug Trials at ICEP

• Topiramate (Topamax)
• Tiagabine (Gabitril)
• Levetiracetam (Keppra)
• Vigabatrin (Sabril in Europe/Canada, currently not approved in the United States)

Functional Neuroanatomy of the Human Brain

The ICEP Neurosurgery Team, lead by Matthew A. Howard, M.D, is at the very forefront of scientific investigation of the human auditory cortex, performing neurophysiologic investigations prior to epilepsy surgery in patients who volunteer during their monitoring prior to epilepsy surgery. Matthew Howard's research is supported by a Program Project Grant from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Diseases (NIH/NINDS)

Driving and Neuroergonomics in Epilepsy

ICEP physicians are carrying out studies of antiepileptic drug effects on driving by studying driving performance in the Simulator for Interdisciplinary Research in Ergonomics and Safety (SIREN), a safe, off-road driving simulator housed in the Department of Neurology. The SIREN Driving Laboratory and Division of Neuroergonomics are directed by Dr. Matthew Rizzo.

Retrospective Studies

ICEP physicians regularly review the clinical experience of our patients at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The following are areas of past and ongoing active investigation.

• Neuroimaging in Epilepsy
• Outcome of Epilepsy Surgery
• Epilepsy and Sleep
• Epilepsy in the Elderly
• Status Epilepticus