(Press-News.org) Thursday, 16 October 2025: A new clinical trial co-led by researchers at FutureNeuro and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is investigating how advanced brain monitoring could improve the diagnosis and management of epilepsy. Led in Ireland by consultant neurologists Professor Norman Delanty of RCSI and Beaumont Hospital and Dr Daniel Costello of Cork University Hospital (CUH) – two of the country’s busiest neurology departments – the trial involves multiple sites across Europe, with Irish patients making up more than half of those enrolled.
Traditional diagnostic methods for epilepsy face significant limitations. Short-term EEGs (typically around 30 minutes) and seizure diaries can be unreliable, especially when seizures are infrequent or hard to classify. While inpatient video-EEG in Epilepsy Monitoring Units (EMUs) remains the gold standard, it is resource-intensive and difficult to access. Ireland has just six dedicated EMU beds, and patients often require hospital stays of up to eight days.
The trial in collaboration with Danish medical technology company UNEEG Medical A/S, focuses on the use of UNEEG EpiSight, a subcutaneous EEG (sqEEG) system that enables remote monitoring of brain activity for up to 36 months in people with epilepsy. Designed as a complementary tool within epilepsy services, the UNEEG EpiSight records continuously, including during sleep, and transmits data wirelessly to support clinical decision-making. Implantation is performed through a brief outpatient procedure, carried out by Consultant Neurosurgeons Mr Kieron Sweeney at Beaumont and Beacon Hospitals, and Mr Wail Mohammad at Cork University Hospital, along with their expert teams.
The innovation builds on promising findings from a previous study led by Professor Delanty, Consultant Neurologist at Beaumont Hospital, FutureNeuro Investigator and Honorary Clinical Professor at RCSI, recently published in Epilepsia, which showed that an earlier version of the technology reliably detected all recorded seizures and 90% of significant brain abnormalities in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Until now, this level of detailed monitoring has only been possible through admissions to Epilepsy Monitoring Units (EMUs).
This trial will assess whether long-term, outpatient sqEEG monitoring can address these challenges. By capturing brain activity in real-world settings over extended periods, the system could help clinicians detect seizure patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed, particularly those that happen at night, support earlier diagnosis, and reduce the need for repeated hospital visits.
Professor Delanty said: "FutureNeuro's involvement reflects our commitment to embracing the huge progress in the safe use of technology in clinical practice. This trial will help us better understand the clinical impact of long-term brain monitoring, with the potential for significant downstream benefits – such as reducing inpatient admissions, shortening time to diagnosis, and avoiding unnecessary treatments. By improving diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, this type of technology could ease pressure on epilepsy services, support better resource allocation, and ultimately lead to more personalised and cost-effective care for patients."
Dr Daniel Costello added: "This diagnostic tool holds significant potential for clinical care. It could help detect seizures that go unrecognised, provide a clearer picture of seizure frequency, and reveal the cumulative impact on brain function. Just as importantly, it may offer reassurance when seizures are well-controlled and help distinguish between epileptic seizures and other events. The potential to monitor brain activity long-term, outside of hospital, is an important step forward."
Peter Murphy, Epilepsy Ireland CEO commented: "We are excited by the potential of this trial and delighted that so many Irish patients are involved, highlighting the world-class epilepsy research taking place here. Epilepsy is highly individual, and finding the right treatment often requires trial and error. The more accurate information clinicians have, the better the chances of identifying the right treatment sooner. This innovative technology could provide that insight without long hospital stays or lengthy waiting lists, improving quality of life for people with epilepsy while easing pressures on hospital services. We will follow this important trial closely and look forward to its findings."
This trial represents a fundamental shift toward precision medicine in epilepsy care, where treatment decisions can be based on comprehensive, objective data rather than limited traditional monitoring methods. The strong Irish participation in this international study reflects FutureNeuro's established position in translating brain research discoveries into clinical practice, demonstrating how Irish research centres are driving innovation in global epilepsy care.
ENDS
For further information:
Laura Anderson, Senior Communications Officer, RCSI lauraanderson@rcsi.ie
Fiona Mc Loone, Communications Lead, FutureNeuro fionamcloone@rcsi.ie
About RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is ranked first in the world for its contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Well-being, in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings 2025.
Founded in 1784 as the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland with responsibility for training surgeons in Ireland, today RCSI is an innovative, not-for-profit, international university exclusively focused on driving improvements in human health worldwide through education, research and engagement.
RCSI is among the top 300 universities worldwide in the World University Rankings (2025) and has been awarded Athena Swan Bronze accreditation for positive gender practice in higher education.
In 2026, RCSI will open a new public engagement space, dedicated to health and well-being, at 118 St Stephen’s Green in Dublin city centre. The space is designed to engage the public in dialogue about living longer, healthier and happier lives through dynamic events and exhibitions. Our aim is to bridge the gap between health sciences research, professional expertise, and public understanding, empowering people to make informed decisions about their health.
Visit the RCSI MyHealth Expert Directory to find the details of our experts across a range of healthcare issues and concerns. Recognising their responsibility to share their knowledge and discoveries to empower people with information that leads them to better health, these clinicians and researchers are willing to engage with the media in their area of expertise.
About FutureNeuro
The FutureNeuro Research Ireland Centre for Translational Brain Science is Ireland's leading interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to transforming the diagnosis, treatment, and care of people living with neurological, psychiatric, and neurodevelopmental conditions. Supported by an initial core exchequer funding of €8M in 2017, FutureNeuro has grown into a €44M research powerhouse, attracting substantial industry partnerships and competitive international funding. In 2023, the Centre entered Phase 2 with a renewed exchequer investment of €18M and a robust, internationally peer-reviewed scientific and business plan aimed at further increasing this investment to over €50M. With brain diseases impacting one in three people over their lifetime and placing a staggering €30 billion annual burden on healthcare and welfare systems, FutureNeuro is at the forefront of developing real-world solutions to these pressing challenges.
More than 800,000 people in Ireland are living with conditions that affect the brain and central nervous system, such as chronic and rare epilepsies, Motor Neuron Disease (MND), Parkinson's disease (PD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Adding to the complexity, over 30% of these individuals will also contend with psychiatric disorders. FutureNeuro’s mission is to change the journey for those affected by these conditions through a unique, patient-centred, and multidisciplinary research programme that brings together patients, clinicians, industry partners, and world-leading scientific advisors.
The Centre's research focuses on advancing the diagnosis of brain diseases, implementing genomics for personalised therapies, developing next-generation therapies, and leveraging data science and digital health to enhance healthcare systems and empower clinical decision-making. Building on a strong foundation in diagnostics, therapeutics, and eHealth with an initial focus on epilepsy and MND, FutureNeuro has extended its impact to include a broader range of conditions, including neurodevelopmental disorders, MS, PD, TBI, and the serious co-morbid aspects of these conditions, including mental health. The Centre is exploring new regions of the human genome and integrating emerging areas such as interceptive medicine, digital biomarkers, and biomolecular feedback-controlled gene therapy.
FutureNeuro’s work is supported by a robust national clinical network and key industry partners, leveraging state-of-the-art research infrastructure and expertise across its eight partner universities—RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences (host institution), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University, University College Dublin, University of Galway, University College Cork, Maynooth University, and South East Technological University. This collaborative approach ensures that their research spans the entire spectrum, from early discovery to translational studies and clinical trials, offering a comprehensive approach to tackling brain-related issues.
END
New clinical trial to advance seizure monitoring and improve epilepsy diagnosis
2025-10-16
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