The Oxford Martin School has recently launched the Centre for Global Epilepsy as part of their epilepsy programme. The centre is based at Wolfson College and will be the first centre in the world with the sole focus of global epilepsy research and care.
Epilepsy is a chronic condition that affects people of all ages and involves recurrent seizures. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 50 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy, meaning that it is one of the most common neurological diseases globally. The WHO also estimates that almost 80% of those with epilepsy live in low- or middle-income countries, and that three quarters of those living with epilepsy in low-income countries do not get the necessary treatment.
The disease was highlighted as a global health imperative at the centre’s launch event, with particular emphasis being placed on tackling epilepsy in resource-limited areas.
The launch, opened by Wolfson College President Sir Tim Hitchens, welcomed researchers and partners from academic institutions and epilepsy clinics from Africa, South America, the United States of America, and Europe. It plans on using expertise from “high-income settings” to encourage improvements in research, diagnosis, treatment, and care for those in “resource-limited environments”.
Professor of Global Epilepsy and head of the Centre for Global Epilepsy, Professor Arjune Sen discussed plans for this ‘multidisciplinary global epilepsy hub’ upon formally launching the centre, including the development of tools and techniques to allow for improved diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes for those suffering from epilepsy, and the construction of global networks of researchers and clinicians.
Uniquely, the centre also hopes to engage closely with researchers from across a variety of humanities and history disciplines, with particular focus on those that specialise in oral histories. This relates to a core aim of working with those whose lives are affected by epilepsy and these people’s communities, in an effort to reduce stigma and encourage understanding and acceptance.
Professor Sen told Cherwell: “It is a great privilege to be able to set up the Centre for Global Epilepsy! Although epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide, it remains a marginalised condition within healthcare systems and in terms of funding. The centre aims to change that. Through a multidisciplinary and holistic approach, we wish to create an equitable space whereby research ideas can be developed between resource limited and resource privileged settings. Together, I think we can make a meaningful, sustainable difference for people whose lives are affected by epilepsy.”
