Lars Pinborg
Clinical Professor at Department of Clinical Medicine, UCPH and Consultant Neurologist, Head of the Danish Epilepsy Surgery Program, Epilepsy Clinic, Department of Neurology and Senior Researcher, Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet
“Bridging clinical neurology and neurobiology: Multimodal approaches to epilepsy and its comorbidities”
Abstract: The aim of my research is to advance our understanding of the biological processes by which a previously healthy brain develops a persistent predisposition to generate epileptic seizures, as well as other manifestations of dysfunctional brain activity associated with epilepsy - such as psychiatric symptoms and cognitive impairment. The ultimate goal is to support the development of more personalized approaches to treatment and prevention, ideally implemented at an early stage of the disease course. This stands in contrast to current clinical practice, which often relies on trial-and-error strategies and a wait-and-see approach.
My research is based on a diverse array of data sources, including animal models, resected brain tissue from epilepsy and tumor surgeries, prospective studies aimed at deep phenotyping of patients with first seizures or newly diagnosed epilepsy, and retrospective analyses of the vast amounts of data continuously accumulated in electronic health records.
With my background in clinical neurology, I am particularly focused on the clinical and paraclinical manifestations of epilepsy - specifically, changes in brain morphology and network organization as assessed through advanced EEG and MRI techniques. At the same time, I have the privilege of collaborating closely with researchers - primarily at the University of Copenhagen and Rigshospitalet - who bring expertise in advanced molecular biology, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence. This interdisciplinary environment allows for a uniquely integrated approach to understanding the complex mechanisms underlying epilepsy.