1. Phase 3 Planning and Application
As many of you are aware, much of this year has been dedicated to rethinking EpLink’s structure for 2018 and beyond. For the Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) and its programs, 2018 marks the end of a 5-year funding period known as Phase 2. This means that both OBI, and EpLink along with it, will be up for renewal in Phase 3 (2018 – 2024).
On December 1, EpLink submitted an application to OBI detailing the successes and challenges of research, industry and non-profit integration, and knowledge translation in Phases 1 and 2. This information will be critical for OBI, as they put together their funding proposal to the Ontario government in 2017.
In discussions about EpLink’s Phase 3 plans, it was clear that our vision will be to improve treatments and quality of life for people with drug-resistant epilepsy. We aim to improve our overall program by:
- Consolidating and integrating better within EpLink – creating fewer, more cohesive projects that focus on issues relevant to people with epilepsy.
- Standardizing and broadening EpLink’s collection of data from patients coming through our program. This data, which will be stored in OBI’s database Brain-CODE, will be crucial for data sharing and enhancing collaboration within our program and beyond.
- Expanding EpLink’s knowledge translation mandate, with initiatives aimed at promoting the Clinical Epilepsy Guidelines created by the Epilepsy Implementation Taskforce as well as increasing EpLink’s visibility and reach.
With feedback from our community and industry partners, the hope is that EpLink’s renewed structure and research plan will accurately represent the patient voice and be relevant to the needs of people living with epilepsy.
2. EpLink Study on Epilepsy and Depression Now Recruiting
EpLink is currently recruiting for an upcoming study looking at whether an educational program will improve emotional well-being in adults with epilepsy (18 years or older). Participants will take part in one-hour weekly telephone sessions over a total of 8 weeks, and will be asked to complete a set of questionnaires before and after the study.
Participating in this study may help to improve emotional well-being. In addition, it may help researchers better understand coping responses in people with epilepsy, leading to better programs in the future.
If you or someone you know may be interested in enrolling in this study or would like more information, please contact Kathryn at 416-978-0779 or khum.eplink@gmail.com. Participants will be reimbursed for their participation.