Organized in 1986, the UAB Epilepsy Center is an effort of the Department of Neurology in conjunction with UAB Hospital to offer clinical, research, and education services to patients with epilepsy. Located in the Civitan International Research Center, we are one of the largest and most active centers in the country and the only one in Alabama. 

As a Level 4 Center, the highest level recognized by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC), we have the capability to diagnose and treat epilepsy using the latest and most current medical and surgical techniques available anywhere in the world. Learn more about what it means to be a NAEC center.

State-of-the-art facilities and equipment are available for diagnostic studies and treatment. Intracranial electrode implantation, cortical stimulation studies, specialized EEG procedures, and a full range of conventional and special tests are available. The only magnetoencephalography (MEG) laboratory in the Southeast, the UAB-HSF MEG Laboratory, is part of the Epilepsy Center. MEG provides a more accurate way of locating the origin of seizures and is also used to locate brain areas responsible for speech, sensation, and vision. This makes surgery safer and more effective.

The center's Women With Epilepsy Clinic addresses specific concerns related to women living with epilepsy. This clinic focuses on family planning, managing seizures during pregnancy, post-partum care, breast feeding, bone health, and post-menopausal seizure related issues.

Education

There are four clinical neurophysiology residents at UAB each year, two with an emphasis on epilepsy/EEG and two with an emphasis on EMG/neuromuscular disease. The two residents in the epilepsy/EEG area usually rotate on a monthly basis between primary responsibility for the inpatient Seizure Monitoring Unit and primary responsibility for epilepsy outpatient clinics and electroencephalography.

Research

Research areas of interest include neuroimaging, epilepsy surgery, and pharmacology with new anticonvulsant drugs. Neuroimaging research is carried out in magnetoencephalography, NMR spectroscopy, volumetrics, relaxometry, and new techniques such as water diffusion and blood flow MRI-based imaging. In addition, a growing research area of interest is outcome of epilepsy surgery.
Anatomy of a Clinical Trial

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The support of visionary philanthropic partners provides the potential for major breakthroughs in treatment, training and research. Your gift enables UAB to make investments in key areas that will help us become a first choice for education and healthcare.

Contact Us

For general questions about the division, contact:
UAB Epilepsy Center
1719 6th Avenue South, CIRC 312
Birmingham, AL 35294
P: 205.934.3866
F: 205.975.6255

For patient appointments, contact:
The Kirklin Clinic
P: 205.801.8986

For urgent physician referrals, contact:
P: 1.800.UAB.MIST (822-6478)

UAB Seizure/Epilepsy Monitoring Unit referral
Print form and fax to 205.975.6360