SERENE

SERENE is the Swiss Epilepsy Research Network, founded by the Swiss League Against Epilepsy in 2019. SERENE is open to all members of the Swiss Epilepsy League who conduct scien­tific research into epilepsy in Switzerland.

SERENE wants to streng­then epilepsy research in Switzer­land through colla­bo­ra­tion. One of its aims is to improve access to research-relevant data throu­ghout Switzer­land (in line with the provi­sions of data protec­tion and ethics commis­sions). Members present new research projects on meetings during major neuro­lo­gical conven­tions in Switzer­land, or online.

Benefits to SERENE members

  • Access to a broad network of Swiss epilepsy resear­chers that improves exchange and avoids redundancies
  • Help in finding partners for multi-centre projects and recrui­ting patients for studies
  • Provi­sion of advice and feedback concer­ning funding
  • Newsletter keeping members up to date

Current projects

Project (click to download PDF)
 Insti­tu­tion / Contact
 In search of IRB Status
Forecas­ting seizure risk over days using chronic EEG recordings e‑Lab Bern Univer­sity / UCSF - Approved Almost completed
Probing cortical excita­bi­lity in patients implanted with icEEG e‑Lab Bern Univer­sity / Inselspital Patients Approved Ongoing 2019–2022
Seizures-on-demand : Mouse model of seizures that are triggered using optogenetics e‑Lab Bern Univer­sity / Inselspital - Approved Ongoing 2019–2022
Minimally invasive chronic EEG : Clinical trial of sub-scalp device e‑Lab Bern Univer­sity / Insels­pital / Wyss Center Patients Pending Ongoing 2020–2022
Inter­ac­tions between spatio-temporal epileptic network and memory networks in humans EEG and Epilepsy Unit, HUG, Univer­sity of Geneva  Patients Pending Pilots
Markers of epileptic activity in simul­ta­neous scalp and intra­cra­nial EEG EEG and Epilepsy Unit, HUG, Univer­sity of Geneva  Partners Approved Ongoing
Source and network analyses of epileptic activity during wakeful­ness and sleep EEG and Epilepsy Unit, HUG, Univer­sity of Geneva  Partners Pending Starting
Trimodal charac­te­ri­za­tion of struc­tural and functional brain connec­ti­vity in focal epilepsy using concur­rent EEG-fMRI and tractography EEG and Epilepsy Unit, HUG, Univer­sity of Geneva  Patients, Partners Approved Ongoing
“PRESUDE” Brainstem MRI biomarker to PREdict the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy Service de Neuro­logie, CHUV, Lausanne Partners Approved Ongoing
Inves­ti­ga­ting the effects of closed-loop auditory stimu­la­tion on sleep and behavior in children with sleep-dependent epilepsy Univer­sity Children’s Hospital Zurich Patients Approved Recruit­ment
Electro­phy­sio­lo­gical recor­ding of high frequency oscil­la­tions (HFO) to charac­te­rize epilep­to­genic brain tissue in patients Univer­sitätsS­pital Zürich, Klinik für Neurochirurgie Partners Approved Funded, ongoing
The connec­ti­vity and anatomy of the poste­rior hippo­campal commis­sure in Humans Univer­sitätss­pital Zürich, Klinik für Neurochirurgie - Approved Almost completed
Cogni­tive profile in elderly epileptic patients treated with peram­panel as first add-on Neuro­centro della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano  Partners Planned Appli­ca­tion for funding
CERTA “Conti­nuous EEG Rando­mized Trial in Adults” CHUV, Lausanne Partners Approved Data analyses ongoing
Thera­peutic drug monito­ring of newer genera­tion antiepi­leptic drugs CHUV, Lausanne (Partners) Approved Data collected, currently analy­sing data
Swiss First Insels­pital, Bern ; HUG, Geneva - Approved Ongoing
SEVERITY : Quanti­fying the severity of genera­lized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) with connected devices Service de Neuro­logie, CHUV, Lausanne Partners Approved Recruit­ment ongoing
Predic­tive models for starting antisei­zure medica­tion withdrawal follo­wing epilepsy surgery Univer­sitätss­pital Zürich, Neurologie Partners Approved Ongoing
High Frequency Oscil­la­tions in Pedia­tric Scalp EEG Reflect Epilep­to­ge­nesis and Treat­ment Response Univer­sity Children’s Hospital Zurich - Approved Ongoing
Scalp HFOs predict the develop­ment of epilepsy after neonatal seizures Univer­sity Children’s Hospital Zurich - Approved Ongoing
Model­ling changes in synaptic physio­logy in paedia­tric status epilepticus Univer­sity Children’s Hospital Zurich - Approved Ongoing
Detec­tion of focal cortical dyspla­sias in pedia­tric drug-resistant epilepsy Univer­sity Children’s Hospital Zurich - Approved Ongoing
Predic­tors of cogni­tive develop­ment after epilepsy surgery in the first years of life Univer­sity Children’s Hospital Zurich - Approved Ongoing
NORSE and longi­tu­dinal MRI (inclu­sion criteria) Univer­sitätss­pital Zürich, Neurologie Partners Ongoing

Parti­ci­pa­ting institutions

  • Neuro­lo­gische Univer­sitätsk­linik, Univer­sitätss­pital Basel
  • Universitäts-Kinderspital beider Basel UKBB
  • Univer­sität­sins­titut für Neuro­ra­dio­logie, Insels­pital, Bern
  • Schlaf-Wach-Epilepsie-Zentrum SWEZ, Univer­sitätsk­linik für Neuro­logie, Insels­pital, Bern
  • Unité d’épileptologie/EEG, Hôpitaux Univer­si­taires de Genève (HUG)
  • Unité de Neuro­pé­dia­trie, Hôpitaux Univer­si­taires de Genève (HUG)
  • Service de Neuro­logie, CHUV, Lausanne
  • Unité de Neuro­pé­dia­trie, CHUV, Lausanne
  • Insti­tu­tion de Lavigny
  • Neuro­centro della Svizzera Italiana, Ospedale Civico, Lugano
  • Service de Neuro­logie, Hôpital du Valais, Sion
  • Neuro­lo­gische Klinik, Kantonss­pital St. Gallen
  • Kinder­neu­ro­lo­gische Abtei­lung, Ostsch­weizer Kinders­pital, St.Gallen
  • Klinik Bethesda, Tschugg
  • Schwei­ze­rische Epilepsie-Klinik Klinik Lengg, Zürich
  • Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Zürich
  • Kliniken für Neuro­logie und Neuro­chi­rurgie, Univer­sitätss­pital Zürich

SERENE is open to further insti­tu­tions (research insti­tu­tions, other hospi­tals) as well as indivi­dual basic/translational scien­tists, neuro­psy­cho­lo­gists, nurses, social workers, physical, occupa­tional and speech thera­pists, etc. 

Contact SERENE

Advice concer­ning funding from foundations

Hints from Swiss­Foun­da­tions (D/F)

Fundraiso.ch

Special service to SERENE members : feedback on founda­tion applications

Last updated : March 2023