FUNDING FOR RESEARCH INTO EPILEPSY
Unfortunately, many of the above facilities are not yet available due to lack of funding, the relative lack of which also affects opportunities for research, and for attracting young researchers into the field. Epilepsy is, unfortunately, not regarded as important as many other clinical disorders when it comes to allocating funds for research. With the recent development of new anti-epileptic drugs, the pharmaceutical industry has provided generous support and sponsorship, particularly in areas of patient and professional education. Government and university departments and large charitable organizations are other important sources of funding for research and development.
Progress is likely to occur by the gradual accretion of new knowledge. There are journals, such as Epilepsia, Epilepsy Research, and Seizure devoted to publication of the results of the best research in epilepsy. There are also regular international meetings of those interested in epilepsy, so any real advance will be rapidly disseminated throughout the world.
The lot of those with epilepsy would be greatly improved, even if their seizures continued, if others—especially those involved with education and employers—showed greater understanding of their intermittent disability. The most probable benefit for the present generation of those with epilepsy is likely to result from such increased tolerance, rather than from any dramatic advances in treatment. Tolerance depends upon understanding the facts about epilepsy.
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