Dr Chris Greene, FutureNeuro StAR Research Lecturer in the Department of Physiology and Medical Physics at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, has secured €645,777 in funding through the Research Ireland Pathway Programme to advance his research into drug-resistant epilepsy. His project is one of just 15 awarded nationally, as part of a total €9.76 million investment announced by Research Ireland.  

The Research Ireland–IRC Pathway Programme supports outstanding early‑career researchers as they progress towards independent research leadership. 

Epilepsy is a chronic brain condition affecting approximately 60 million people worldwide. While medications can effectively control seizures in many patients, there is no cure, and nearly one-third of people with epilepsy do not respond to available anti-seizure treatments.  

Dr Greene’s Pathway-funded project addresses one of the most persistent challenges in epilepsy care: why anti-seizure medications fail in a significant proportion of patients. Despite major advances in treatment, the biological mechanisms underlying drug resistance remain poorly understood. His research focuses on breakdown and dysfunction of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and altered brain vascular properties — changes that may affect drug delivery to the brain and reduce the effectiveness of existing therapies. 

A Translational, Patient-Focused Approach 

The project takes a translational, patient-focused approach, combining patient-derived cellular models with state-of-the-art brain imaging techniques. By integrating molecular, cellular, and imaging data, the research aims to uncover mechanisms linked to both treatment resistance and blood vessel repair in the epileptic brain. 

In the longer term, this work could support earlier identification of patients at risk of treatment failure and inform the development of more personalised and effective treatment strategies for people living with drug-resistant epilepsy. 

Dr Chris Greene said: 

“Drug-resistant epilepsy affects nearly one-third of people with epilepsy, yet the mechanisms that drive treatment failure remain poorly defined. This funding will allow us to dissect whether blood-brain barrier dysfunction alters anti-seizure medication efficacy using patient-derived models, next-generation sequencing, and neuroimaging.” 

Strengthening FutureNeuro’s Epilepsy Research Ecosystem 

As a StAR Research Lecturer, Dr Greene contributes to FutureNeuro’s expanding epilepsy research portfolio, which spans genomics, molecular neuroscience, digital health, and clinical trials. His work complements centre-wide efforts to improve understanding of disease mechanisms, accelerate therapeutic development, and ultimately improve outcomes for patients. 

By focusing on blood–brain barrier dysfunction and vascular repair processes as potential contributors to treatment resistance, this research has the potential to reshape how treatment failure in epilepsy is understood and addressed in clinical practice.