Genetics | The hereditary basis for epilepsy

Filadelfia research project: Genetics – the hereditary basis for epilepsy

In department of Epilepsy Genetics and Personalized Treatment, pediatricians, neurologists, neurophysiologists, geneticists and basic scientists are working closely together. Our goals are:
 (1) to discover new genes involved in neurodevelopmental disorders, structural brain malformations and epilepsy
 (2) to explore the molecular mechanisms 
 (3) to understand correlations with the clinical symptoms to ensure the most detailed electro-clinical characterization of the genetic epilepsies and to allow for the targeted development of new treatment options. For this purpose, a cohort of clinically well-characterized epilepsy patients is recruited, genetic defects are identified with next generation sequencing techniques, their functional effects are studied, and targeted treatment options are explored.

Selected publications published by members of our team:

Gardella E, Marini C, Trivisano M, Fitzgerald MP, Alber M, Howell KB, Darra F, Siliquini S, Bölsterli BK, Masnada S, Pichiecchio A, Johannesen KM, Jepsen B, Fontana E, Anibaldi G, Russo S, Cogliati F, Montomoli M, Specchio N, Rubboli G, Veggiotti P, Beniczky S, Wolff M, Helbig I, Vigevano F, Scheffer IE, Guerrini R, Møller RS. The phenotype of SCN8A developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. Neurology. 2018 91(12):e1112-e1124.

Masnada S, Hedrich UBS, Gardella E, Schubert J, Kaiwar C, Klee EW, Lanpher BC, Gavrilova RH, Synofzik M, Bast T, Gorman K, King MD, Allen NM, Conroy J, Ben Zeev B, Tzadok M, Korff C, Dubois F, Ramsey K, Narayanan V, Serratosa JM, Giraldez BG, Helbig I, Marsh E, O'Brien M, Bergqvist CA, Binelli A, Porter B, Zaeyen E, Horovitz DD, Wolff M, Marjanovic D, Caglayan HS, Arslan M, Pena SDJ, Sisodiya SM, Balestrini S, Syrbe S, Veggiotti P, Lemke JR, Møller RS, Lerche H, Rubboli G. Clinical spectrum and genotype–phenotype associations of KCNA2-related encephalopathies. Brain. 2017 140(9):2337-2354

Wolff M, Johannesen KM #, Hedrich UB, Masnada S, Rubboli G, Gardella E, Lesca G, Ville D, Milh M, Villard L, Afenjar A, Chantot-Bastaraud S, Mignot C, Lardennois C, Nava C, Schwarz N, Gérard M, Perrin L, Doummar D, Auvin S, Miranda MJ, Hempel M, Brilstra E, Knoers N, Verbeek N, van Kempen M, Braun KP, Mancini G, Biskup S, Hörtnagel K, Döcker M, Bast T, Loddenkemper T, Wong-Kisiel L, Baumeister FM, Fazeli W, Striano P, Dilena R, Fontana E, Zara F, Kurlemann G, Klepper J, Thoene JG, Arndt DH, Deconinck N, Schmitt-Mechelke T, Maier O, Muhle H, Wical B, Finetti C, Brückner R, Pietz J, Golla G, Jillella D, Linnet KM, Charles P, Moog U, Õiglane-Shlik E, Mantovani JF, Park K, Deprez M, Lederer D, Mary S, Scalais E, Selim L, Van Coster R, Lagae L, Nikanorova M, Hjalgrim H, Korenke GC, Trivisano M, Specchio N, Ceulemans B, Dorn T, Helbig KL, Hardies K, Stamberger H, de Jonghe P, Weckhuysen S, Lemke JR, Krägeloh-Mann I, Helbig I, Kluger G, Lerche H, Møller RS. Genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity suggest therapeutic implications in SCN2A-related disorders. Brain. 2017 140(5):1316-1336

# equally contributing first author

Møller RS, Wuttke TV, Helbig I, Marini C, Johannesen KM, Brilstra EH, Vaher U, Borggraefe I, Talvik I, Talvik T, Kluger G, Francois LL, Lesca G, de Bellescize J, Blichfeldt S, Chatron N, Holert N, Jacobs J, Swinkels M, Betzler C, Syrbe S, Nikanorova M, Myers CT, Larsen LH, Vejzovic S, Pendziwiat M, von Spiczak S, Hopkins S, Dubbs H, Mang Y, Mukhin K, Holthausen H, van Gassen KL, Dahl HA, Tommerup N, Mefford HC, Rubboli G, Guerrini R, Lemke JR, Lerche H, Muhle H, Maljevic S. Mutations in GABRB3: From febrile seizures to epileptic encephalopathies. Neurology. 2017. 88(5):483-492

Johannesen K, Marini C, Pfeffer S, Møller RS, Dorn T, Niturad C, Gardella E, Weber Y, Søndergård M, Hjalgrim H, Nikanorova M, Becker F, Larsen LH, Dahl HA, Maier O, Mei D, Biskup S, Klein KM, Reif PS, Rosenow F, Elias AF, Hudson C, Helbig KL, Schubert-Bast S, Scordo MR, Craiu D, Djémié T, Hoffman-Zacharska D, Caglayan H, Helbig I, Serratosa J, Striano P, De Jonghe P, Weckhuysen S, Suls A, Muru K, Talvik I, Talvik T, Muhle H, Borggraefe I, Rost I, Guerrini R, Lerche H, Lemke JR, Rubboli G, Maljevic S. Phenotypic spectrum of GABRA1: From generalized epilepsies to severe epileptic encephalopathies. Neurology. 2016 87(11):1140-51

Gardella E, Becker F, Møller RS, Schubert J, Lemke JR, Larsen LH, Eiberg H, Nothnagel M, Thiele H, Altmüller J, Syrbe S, Merkenschlager A, Bast T, Steinhoff B, Nürnberg P, Mang Y, Bakke Møller L, Gellert P, Heron SE, Dibbens LM, Weckhuysen S, Dahl HA, Biskup S, Tommerup N, Hjalgrim H, Lerche H, Beniczky S, Weber YG. SCN8A causes benign infantile seizures and paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia. Ann Neurol. 2016 79(3):428-36.

Larsen J, Carvill GL, Gardella E, Kluger G, Schmiedel G, Barisic N, Depienne C, Brilstra E, Mang Y, Nielsen JE, Kirkpatrick M, Goudie D, Goldman R, Jähn JA, Jepsen B, Gill D, Döcker M, Biskup S, McMahon JM, Koeleman B, Harris M, Braun K, de Kovel CG, Marini C, Specchio N, Djémié T, Weckhuysen S, Tommerup N, Troncoso M, Troncoso L, Bevot A, Wolff M, Hjalgrim H, Guerrini R, Scheffer IE, Mefford HC, Møller RS; On behalf of the EuroEPINOMICS RES Consortium CRP. The phenotypic spectrum of SCN8A encephalopathy. Neurology. 2015 84(5):480-9