Epilepsy Research UK

Epilepsy Research UK was formed by the merger of the Epilepsy Research Foundation and the Fund for Epilepsy. It is the only national charity exclusively dedicated to research into epilepsy.

Over 450,000 people in the UK have epilepsy. Epilepsy can take many forms from a momentary blank spell to a dramatic major convulsion. Even with control of seizures, the quality of life for people with epilepsy can be unpredictable and restricted. The risk of death for those with epilepsy is almost three times higher than in the general population – about 1000 people die each year as a result of an epileptic seizure – and every week we learn of tragic cases of young people who have died as a result of epilepsy, often suddenly and unexpectedly.

However, new research offers the very real possibility of developing therapies that could prevent these deaths and transform the lives of those affected. Developments in drug therapy and medical scanning, along with major breakthroughs in the study of the human genome, mean that great progress has been made in understanding the causes of epilepsy in recent years. Even greater advances will be made in the coming years and our research will be at the forefront of developments to control, and perhaps even cure, epilepsy.

By making a donation, establishing a memorial fund in the name of a loved one or remembering Epilepsy Research UK in your will, you could make a real difference to the lives of thousands of people. Please, will you help?