Rochester neurologist named recipient of epilepsy research award

(ABC 6 News) – A Mayo Clinic neurologist has been named a recipient of the 2022 Clinical Science Research Award during the annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society (AES) in Nashville, TN.

Gregory A. Worrell, M.D., Ph.D., is a professor of Neurology, Physiology and Biomedical Engineering at Mayo Clinic in Rochester where he directs the Bioelectronics Neurophysiology and Engineering lab.

Dr. Worrell’s research is focused on the application of neurophysiology, engineering and devices for epilepsy and is closely aligned with his clinical epilepsy practice. His team is developing next-generation devices designed to integrate brain sensing, electrical stimulation and distributed computing for seizure forecasting and adaptive therapy to prevent seizures and epilepsy related co-morbidities.

Over the past decade Dr. Worrell’s lab has focused on understanding the cellular and local field potential correlates of pathological (e.g. seizure generation) and normal (e.g. memory) processes in an effort to improve the efficacy of brain stimulation devices.

The research has demonstrated the need for electrophysiology recordings at sub-millimeter spatial scales, and has driven progress to improve spatial mapping and temporal tracking of normal and pathological brain activity. In recent collaborations they are exploring the molecular mechanism(s) underlying electrical brain stimulation.

The Research Recognition Awards are the AES highest research awards to encourage and recognize active basic science and clinical investigators whose research contributes importantly to understanding and conquering epilepsy.

Dr. Worrell is active in the AES, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, International League Against Epilepsy and Citizen’s United for Research in Epilepsy.