About us

The Department of Neurology and Epileptology was founded as a further development out of the Department of General Neurology with the generous support of the Charitable Hertie Foundation and will start operations on November 1, 2009. The department focuses specifically on the spectrum of paroxysmal neurological disorders , from molecular and cellular as well as clinical research to state of the art diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. As part of the Center of Neurology and together with the other Neurological Departments, it is responsible for the clinical care of all neurological patients at the University Clinic Tübingen.

Main research topics are (i) the genetics and pathophysiology of hereditary epilepsy syndromes and related neurological disorders, (ii) the closely related mechanisms of the excitability of nerve cells, and (iii) the molecular function, pharmacology and localization of ion channels and transporters, which are membrane proteins that regulate neuronal excitability. Furthermore, our research (iv) deals with structural and functional brain imaging to detect epileptogenic lesions and characterize memory processes.

The clinic offers the whole spectrum of modern diagnostic procedures and therapy of the epilepsies and provides care for inpatients and outpatients in specialized units. The epilepsy outpatient clinic offers consulting and treatment in particular for difficult cases and specific questions including pregnancy under antiepileptic treatment and genetic aspects. The study center offers medical trials to explore novel treatment options. The inpatient clinic includes acute care for epileptic seizures and status epilepticus, longterm complex treatment for difficult cases, and a Video-EEG-Monitoring Unit which is operated in cooperation with the Department of Neurosurgery. Within this unit, inpatients are continuously and simultaneously monitored with video and electroencephalography (EEG) for differential diagnostic and presurgical evaluations. Epilepsy surgery is a very effective treatment option for cases that are resistant to antiepileptic medication.

The department also provides care for general neurological patients according to state of the art diagnostic and therapeutic principles. A team of nurses, therapists and physicians trained for neurological disorders is available for the inpatient and outpatient clinics. The department is involved in the medical and neuroscientific education at the University of Tübingen and provides a comprehensive offer of lectures, seminars and courses.