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Monday 27 January, 2025: A new international study has unveiled critical insights in understanding post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE), a condition that can develop following traumatic brain injury. Led by researchers at FutureNeuro, the Research Ireland Centre for Translational Brain Science and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and published in Theranostics, the study highlights the important role played by a receptor in the brain called P2X7. It suggests how we could both reduce epilepsy risk and predict which patients are most at risk of developing PTE by targeting this receptor.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), caused by physical trauma to the head, is one of the leading causes of long-term disability and death worldwide. PTE is a common outcome, characterised by recurring seizures that profoundly impact quality of life. At the moment, up to 30% of PTE patients do not respond to existing medications, and no treatments are currently available to predict or prevent the development of epilepsy following traumatic brain injury.

The collaborative research, led by FutureNeuro and RCSI, involving institutions including Trinity College Dublin, CIC biomaGUNE, Soochow University, and the Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, identifies the P2X7 receptor as a key driver of abnormal brain activity after brain injury. In preclinical models, blocking this receptor shortly after injury significantly reduced brain hyperexcitability, minimised brain damage, and improved behaviour, underscoring its promise as a therapeutic target for preventing epilepsy.

By looking at the activity of the P2X7 receptor using a PET scan, the authors also suggest a potential new diagnostic tool. The uptake by the brain of a specialised P2X7 receptor tracer shortly after injury was found to correlate with seizure risk weeks later. This tool could help clinicians identify at-risk patients early, enabling timely and tailored interventions.

Dr Tobias Engel, FutureNeuro Investigator and Senior Lecturer in the RCSI Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, commented: “Traumatic brain injury is a major cause of epilepsy in adults, with many patients unable to benefit from existing anti-seizure treatments. Our research has identified the P2X7 receptor as a promising new target, offering the potential to prevent epilepsy before it develops, sparing patients from seizures and the burdens of ongoing medication.” 

“While additional research is required to confirm our findings and explore their application in clinical settings, we’ve made a significant step forward in addressing the unmet need for early intervention in post-traumatic epilepsy” added Dr David Loane, Associate Professor in Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin. “This was made possible through extensive multidisciplinary collaboration, demonstrating the power of shared expertise in advancing epilepsy research.”

Dr Jordi Llop, Principal Investigator at CIC biomaGUNE said: “By identifying a potential therapeutic target and a corresponding predictive diagnostic tool, this research opens new avenues for personalised care, improved outcomes and a better quality of life for patients with traumatic brain injury at risk of epilepsy.”

The study involved extensive multidisciplinary collaboration, including key industry partners, Janssen and Affectis Pharmaceuticals. Funded by Research Ireland, the project leveraged diverse expertise to tackle the complex challenges of traumatic brain injury and epilepsy. 

ENDS 

For further information: 

Laura Anderson, Communications Officer, RCSI 

087 199 0399/ lauraanderson@rcsi.ie

Fiona McLoone, Communications Lead, FutureNeuro, RCSI 

fionamcloone@rcsi.ie 

About RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is ranked fifth 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 2024.

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.    

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Journal

Theranostics

DOI

10.7150/thno.97254 

Article Title

P2X7R antagonism suppresses long-lasting brain hyperexcitability following traumatic brain injury in mice

Article Publication Date

27-Jan-2025