Kennedy Laboratory

Focal cortical dysplasias (FCD) are a group of brain malformations and the most common cause of drug-resistant epilepsy in children. The drivers of most of these malformations are unclear. To address this common and disabling condition, Dr. Kennedy’s lab, in conjunction with Dr. Ingo Helbig’s lab and the Center for Data-Driven Discovery in Biomedicine, uses a unique method of processing and biobanking prospectively collected focal cortical dysplasias and tumors from CHOP's high volume epilepsy surgery center. They employ whole genome sequencing and RNA sequencing to elucidate the genetic underpinnings of drug-resistant epilepsy.

Dr. Kennedy’s clinical research includes outcomes research in a wide variety of epilepsy and functional neurosurgical topics, electrophysiological studies of epilepsy, healthcare utilization in epilepsy, as well as brain tumor studies.