Jonathon Parker, M.D., Ph.D., a neurosurgeon and neuroscientist at Mayo Clinic Arizona, is developing the Cortalis Neuro software to help clinicians fine-tune brain stimulation settings to better treat epilepsy and reduce seizures.
The director of the Device Based Neuroelectronics Lab said this new biomarker-driven neuromodulation programming could improve treatment for the 25,000 epilepsy patients in Arizona and 1 million across the United States.
Cortalis uses simple scalp sensors to read brain signals and send harmless electrical “pings” through the deep brain stimulation system. These pings map how the brain reacts in real time—identifying which settings are most likely to stop seizures. And it can be done in one visit.
The Mayo Clinic Arizona project led by Parker received one of seven $100,000 Translational Seed Grants this year from the Flinn Foundation. Since 2013, the Foundation has committed more than $10 million in seed grants to 90 research teams that are advancing translational research and the goals of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap.
Details about the next seed grants application cycle will be released soon.