Innovative approach maps gene activity in the living human brain

Monday 25 November, 2024: A groundbreaking method to profile gene activity in the living human brain has been developed by researchers at FutureNeuro, the Research Ireland Centre for Translational Brain Science and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, in collaboration with international partners.  

This innovative approach, published in JCI Insight, opens new avenues for understanding and treating neurological conditions like epilepsy. 

Studying gene activity in the brain without requiring invasive tissue samples from surgery or post-mortem donation has been a long-standing challenge in neuroscience. By analysing molecular traces — specifically RNA and DNA — collected from electrodes implanted in the brains of patients with epilepsy and linking these with electrical recordings from the brain, the researchers were able to take a ‘snapshot’ of gene activity in the living brain. 

These electrodes, clinically used to pinpoint seizure activity in patients enabling surgical interventions, provide a unique opportunity to link brain activity to the genes being switched on or off in specific regions. The study demonstrates how integrating molecular data with electrical recordings of seizures can enhance our understanding of the brain’s seizure networks, potentially improving the precision of epilepsy surgeries. 

Professor David Henshall, Director of FutureNeuro and Professor of Molecular Physiology and Neuroscience at RCSI said: "This study represents a significant advancement in epilepsy research, providing a method to detect active genes within the living brain of individuals with epilepsy. This technology has the potential to complement traditional brain imaging and EEG tests that measure electrical activity in the brain, offering valuable insights to guide surgical decision-making in the treatment of those with epilepsy." 

Epilepsy affects approximately 40,000 people in Ireland, with one in three people unable to control seizures through medication. For these individuals, surgical intervention is often the best option, but its success hinges on accurately mapping the regions responsible for seizure activity. Beyond epilepsy, the study lays the groundwork for broader applications, including research into Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and schizophrenia, where understanding molecular processes in the living brain is vital. 

The research, led by Professor Henshall and Professor Vijay Tiwari, Professor of Genome Biology at the University of Southern Denmark, also involved a global network of collaborators, including experts from Beaumont Hospital, Blackrock Clinic, Queen’s University Belfast, the University of Southern Denmark, and the Danish Institute for Advanced Study. 

It underscores the value of international collaboration and marks a step forward in understanding how our brains function at the molecular level, offering hope for improved diagnosis and care for those impacted by neurological conditions. 

This study was funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) North-South Research Programme and FutureNeuro. 

ENDS 

For further information:  

Fiona McLoone, Communications Lead, FutureNeuro, RCSI 
fionamcloone@rcsi.ie 

Laura Anderson, Communications Officer, RCSI 
087 199 0399/ lauraanderson@rcsi.ie  

About RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences  

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is ranked fifth in the world for its contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Well-being, in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings 2024.    

Founded in 1784 as the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland with responsibility for training surgeons in Ireland, today RCSI is an innovative, not-for-profit, international university exclusively focused on driving improvements in human health worldwide through education, research and engagement.   

RCSI is among the top 300 universities worldwide in the World University Rankings (2025) and has been awarded Athena Swan Bronze accreditation for positive gender practice in higher education.    

In 2026, RCSI will open a new public engagement space, dedicated to health and well-being, at 118 St Stephen’s Green in Dublin city centre. The space is designed to engage the public in dialogue about living longer, healthier and happier lives through dynamic events and exhibitions. Our aim is to bridge the gap between health sciences research, professional expertise, and public understanding, empowering people to make informed decisions about their health.  

Visit the RCSI MyHealth Expert Directory to find the details of our experts across a range of healthcare issues and concerns. Recognising their responsibility to share their knowledge and discoveries to empower people with information that leads them to better health, these clinicians and researchers are willing to engage with the media in their area of expertise.  

About FutureNeuro  

The FutureNeuro Research Ireland Centre for Translational Brain Science is Ireland's leading interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to transforming the diagnosis, treatment, and care of people living with neurological, psychiatric, and neurodevelopmental conditions. Supported by an initial core exchequer funding of €8M in 2017, FutureNeuro has grown into a €44M research powerhouse, attracting substantial industry partnerships and competitive international funding. In 2023, the Centre entered Phase 2 with a renewed exchequer investment of €18M and a robust, internationally peer-reviewed scientific and business plan aimed at further increasing this investment to over €50M. With brain diseases impacting one in three people over their lifetime and placing a staggering €30 billion annual burden on healthcare and welfare systems, FutureNeuro is at the forefront of developing real-world solutions to these pressing challenges.  

More than 800,000 people in Ireland are living with conditions that affect the brain and central nervous system, such as chronic and rare epilepsies, Motor Neuron Disease (MND), Parkinson's disease (PD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Adding to the complexity, over 30% of these individuals will also contend with psychiatric disorders. FutureNeuro’s mission is to change the journey for those affected by these conditions through a unique, patient-centred, and multidisciplinary research programme that brings together patients, clinicians, industry partners, and world-leading scientific advisors.  

The Centre's research focuses on advancing the diagnosis of brain diseases, implementing genomics for personalised therapies, developing next-generation therapies, and leveraging data science and digital health to enhance healthcare systems and empower clinical decision-making. Building on a strong foundation in diagnostics, therapeutics, and eHealth with an initial focus on epilepsy and MND, FutureNeuro has extended its impact to include a broader range of conditions, including neurodevelopmental disorders, MS, PD, TBI, and the serious co-morbid aspects of these conditions, including mental health. The Centre is exploring new regions of the human genome and integrating emerging areas such as interceptive medicine, digital biomarkers, and biomolecular feedback-controlled gene therapy.  

FutureNeuro’s work is supported by a robust national clinical network and key industry partners, leveraging state-of-the-art research infrastructure and expertise across its eight partner universities—RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences (host institution), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University, University College Dublin, University of Galway, University College Cork, Maynooth University, and South East Technological University. This collaborative approach ensures that their research spans the entire spectrum, from early discovery to translational studies and clinical trials, offering a comprehensive approach to tackling brain-related issues.