History
In 1981, in California, Dr. David Greenberg established one of the first Epilepsy Genetics Projects in the world. The goal was to identify the genes involved in causing specific epilepsy syndromes, in particular those responsible for susceptibility to epilepsy in children and adolescents. Under his leadership, this research group was the first to identify a gene locus for a type of Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy known as Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME or Janz syndrome), one of the most common forms of non-progressive epilepsy that begins during adolescence. This finding was the first publication (1988) of a gene location for any form of common epilepsy, and was confirmed by subsequent studies. In the research community, it continues to serve as a model through which to approach all common complex diseases with a strong genetic influence.
In 1990, Dr. Greenberg and the Epilepsy Genetics Project moved to New York City to begin collaboration with three area medical institutions and their staff. By 1996, it had expanded beyond New York and was renamed the Family Studies in Epilepsy Program. In 2001, Dr. Greenberg relocated the program to Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health where he became Director the Division of Statistical Genetics in the Department of Biostatistics.
Today, the Family Studies in Epilepsy Program includes many medical facilities throughout the nation, and has more than 100 collaborators. The Program continues to explore the adolescent and childhood onset Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsies that run in families. These epilepsies include, in addition to Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME), Juvenile Absence Epilepsy (JAE), Childhood Absence Epilepsy (CAE), Epilepsy with Grand Mal seizures upon awakening (AGM), and Epilepsy with Generalized Tonic Clonic seizures any time during the day (Random Grand Mal seizures-RGM). We are also studying Benign Rolandic Epilepsy (BRE) , a childhood onset focal Epilepsy that is thought to be genetic.