Children with epilepsy will be helped by the UK’s first research centre aimed at early diagnosis and treatment which opened on Tuesday, 19th February.

The Muir Maxwell Epilepsy Centre, based at the University of Edinburgh, has officially launched by HRH The Princess Royal in her role as the University’s Chancellor.

The £1million Centre – generously supported by the Muir Maxwell Trust – works to improve the lives of children with epilepsy and their families.

Scientists will focus on developing medical and educational treatments for children with epilepsy, and seek to better understanding the psychosocial impact of the condition.

The team will also investigate the influence that a mother’s health and lifestyle can have on the likelihood of her children developing epilepsy.

Epilepsy affects more than 70,000 children in the UK and it is hoped that the Centre will ensure that more sufferers are diagnosed at a younger age.

Early detection of epilepsy allows greater use of preventative measures to control seizures.

The Muir Maxwell Trust was started by Ann and Jonny Maxwell in 2003 after their son Muir was diagnosed with a severe form of epilepsy in infancy.

Speaking at the opening, centre director and consultant paediatric neurologist, Dr Richard Chin said  “At the Centre, we aspire to revolutionize research and clinical care in epilepsy on an unprecedented scale in the UK and beyond.  We aim to encourage, foster and welcome interdisciplinary collaboration since only then can we truly address the many aspects of epilepsy.”

Ann Maxwell, founder of the Muir Maxwell Trust, added: “The challenge of caring for a child with severe epilepsy may begin with diagnosis but it doesn’t end there.  He or she may have the condition but the whole family lives with it.  All too often, it is a lonely and difficult existence because of a lack of understanding of what it means to have a child with severe epilepsy.”

The Muir Maxwell Epilepsy Centre will work closely with the University of Edinburgh’s Patrick Wild Centre and the Centre for Neuroregeneration, where world-leading experts are already tackling other neurological conditions including autism, neurodevelopment disorders, multiple sclerosis and motor neuron disease.

Support from the Muir Maxwell Trust forms part of £20million donated to the University over the past five years in support of neurodevelopment and Neuroregeneration research.

The Muir Maxwell Trust was established in 2003 to provide practical support to families struggling to cope with their child’s difficult epilepsy. Since then, it has raised over £7million and is now the most significant children’s charity raising funds for paediatric epilepsy in the UK.

In 2005, it funded a new DNA Service, which tests children for complex epilepsy syndromes and provides results within 40 days. Based at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow, it is currently the only non-commercial service of its kind in the world.  Previously, tests were sent to Australia and results could take up to two years.