Research

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases with approximately 50 million patients worldwide. The disease is defined by unprovoked and repetitive epileptic seizures, can start at any moment in life, and affects all genders and people equally. The socio-medical burden of the disease is immense: it causes socio-economic hardship and is associated with neuropsychological decline and a risk of early death during seizures. Aachen has emerged as an exciting nexus for epilepsy research. Marked by Prof. Dr. Yvonne Weber's appointment in 2019, the landscape was rejuvenated. She ushered in a new era of innovation, bringing esteemed colleagues from the University of Tübingen, notably PD Dr. Stefan Wolking and Dr. Henner Koch, Dr. Karen van Loo from the University of Bonn, and Dr. Guido Widman from the Epilepsy Centre Kempenhaege. Their joint efforts catalyzed local research growth, fostering ties with the RWTH, the Research Centre in Jülich, and expanding their footprint internationally. Since this revitalization, a surge of collaborative projects has blossomed, supported by diverse funding sources, including local grants, BMBF, DFG, and the Chan-Zuckerberg initiative.