A $4.1 million investment in lab grown organs will revolutionise medication development and could accelerate treatment breakthroughs for patients with uncontrolled epilepsy, says Professor Glenn King from the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB).
Addressing the 14th annual Thinking Outside the Box Epilepsy Symposium, hosted by Epilepsy Queensland, Professor King said that the ability to test new treatments on synthetic brains, grown from the cells of people with epilepsy, would allow for precision tailoring of medication.
“The creation of mini brains is revolutionising how we test treatments, allowing us to trial medications in real-time on patient-specific brain tissue, eliminating the need for patients to test medications on themselves,” said Professor King.
“Funnel web spider venoms contain these novel peptides which can inhibit or activate electro-chemical signals in our nervous systems and offer potential treatments to people with epilepsy, heart conditions, and stroke.
“We can screen those venoms for molecules that will have the precise effect we want for a particular type of epilepsy, tailoring treatments to different forms of the disease.”
It’s music to the ears of Matt Davey, who has lived with epilepsy for years.
“Having access to advanced treatments means the difference between managing epilepsy and truly living without fear of debilitating side effects,” Mr Davey said.
“We need to look at epilepsy from all angles – medical, social, and practical, and bring experts together with people who have lived experience to make meaningful progress.”
Epilepsy Queensland’s Interim CEO, Sandi Rodiger, said Professor King’s research was the kind of “out of the box” thinking the symposium was about.
“Our aim is to break down the barriers that individuals with epilepsy face, whether in healthcare, education, employment or the everyday challenges of life with an unpredictable and stigmatised condition,” said Ms Rodiger.
Around 30,000 Queenslanders live with epilepsy and 1in10 people will experience a seizure at some point in their lives.
“Epilepsy is complex and finding the right treatment can be a slow and challenging process. For some people, the right treatment doesn’t currently exist,” Ms Rodiger said, “Investment in research is crucial to changing lives, and anything that gets us there faster – but just as safely – is incredibly welcome.
“Our Thinking Outside the Box symposium is about bringing people together to share knowledge and stimulate action. We need national agencies and policymakers to recognise the breadth and depth of the challenge and to engage meaningfully with this underserved community.”
Thinking Outside the Box 2024
2024’s Thinking Outside the Box epilepsy symposium explored the World Health Organisation’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP) on Epilepsy and other Neurological Disorders. Speakers included:
- Anna Sullivan: MC and Event Host
- Claire Nolan: International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE)
- Dr Rowena Mobbs: Prominent sports and cognitive Neurologist
- Wally Lewis: Sports Legend and Brain Health Advocate
- Professor Terry O’Brien: Specialist in Neurology and Clinical Pharmacology
- Dr Zoe Thayer: Clinical Neuropsychologist, HOBSCOTCH Program Advocate
- Professor Glenn King: Chief Scientific Officer at Infensa Bioscience
- Parish Rawlins: Founder of Passion Occupational Therapy
- Leonie Hogarth: Epilepsy Smart Australia Project Leader
