Mary B Connolly

FRCP, MBBCH

Investigator, BC Children's Hospital
Director, Epilepsy Program, BC Children's Hospital
Co-Director, Epilepsy Surgery Program, BC Children's Hospital
President, Canadian League Against Epilepsy

My research centers on various aspects of pediatric neurology, primarily epilepsy and surgical management of epilepsy.

Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder in children and is characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures due to uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain. Thirty per cent or more of epilepsy cases do not respond to conventional epileptic medications. Other treatments for epilepsy are epilepsy surgery, vagus nerve stimulation, the ketogenic diet and investigational anti-epileptic drugs.

The epilepsy surgery program at BC Children’s Hospital was established in the mid 90s. My research focuses on outcomes following epilepsy surgery of various types and the influence of surgery on seizure control, quality of life, learning and attention. I am also involved in research in video-EEG monitoring, psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, psychiatric comorbidity in epilepsy and adverse reactions to anti-epileptic drugs.

Academic Affiliations

  • Clinical Professor, Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
  • Research Theme: Brain, Behaviour & Development
  • Research Group(s): Clinical Practice, Outcomes and Innovation; Neurodevelopmental and Neurological Disorders; Rare Diseases

Contact Information

Location

4500 Oak St, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6H 3N1

Grants

2014-2022 Impact of Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery on Health-Related Quality of Life

2019 An Open-Label Extension Trial to Assess the Long-Term Safety of ZX008 (Fenfluramine Hydrochloride) Oral Solution as an Adjunctive Therapy for Seizures in Patients with Rare Seizure Disorders Such as Epileptic Encephalopathies Including Dravet Syndrome and Lennox- Gastaut Syndrome

2022-2023 An Open-Label n Study of XEN496 in Pediatric Subjects with KCNQ2 Developmental and Epileptic EncephalopathyExtensio

2022-2023 A Phase 3 Study of Adjunctive XEN496 in Pediatric Subjects with KCNQ2 Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy

2023-2026 A 20-Week Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of EPX-100 (Clemizole Hydrochloride) as Adjunctive Therapy in Patients with Dravet Syndrome

Canadian Epilepsy Database and Registry (CEDAR)

Honours & Awards

2002 Partners in Care Award – BC Children’s Hospital

2005 First Recipient of the Annual Dr. Parminder Singh Award of Distinction for most valuable subspecialty consultant – BC Pediatric Society

2015 Clinical Practice and Advocacy Award from the Canadian League Against Epilepsy

2021 Clinician Practitioner Excellence in Leadership Award from the Pediatrics Chairs of Canada

Award of Distinction from Partners in Care - BC Children’s Hospital, 2006

BC Children’s Hospital Education Award - Education Day for Families, 2005

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