Epinov trial: Impacts and lessons learned
This session explores the implementation and preliminary outcomes of the EPINOV clinical trial, which integrates virtual brain twin technology to improve epilepsy surgery planning. Talks will cover what it takes to build a trial of this scale and complexity. Preliminary clinical results will be shared, alongside perspectives from both a patient and a neurosurgeon on the role of neurotechnology in care. The session will conclude with a discussion on translating innovation into clinical practice and the infrastructure needed to scale such approaches effectively.
Who You’ll Be Hearing From
This session brings together expert voices from across the EBRAINS community and beyond. Discover the people sharing their insights, research, and perspectives on the topic.
Dr. Huifang Wang is a neuroscientist who works in INS, an institute of Aix-Marseille University and INSERM, France, led by Dr. Viktor Jirsa. Her current research is interested in personalized whole brain modelling (virtual brain twins) from basic science to clinical use. Together with her team, she has contributed to the development of the Virtual Epileptic Patient pipeline for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. Currently, their work expands toward building virtual brain twins not only for epilepsy but also for other brain disorders, including psychiatric conditions, aiming to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.Dr. Wang leads a dedicated sub research group named DEPTH, which focuses on advancing virtual brain twin technology in the context of epilepsy and psychiatric disorders.
I hold a PhD in psychology and neuroscience, with a strong background in statistics and brain network modeling. My research began at the Rotman Research Institute at the University of Toronto, where I developed a deep interest in aging and cognition. Over the years, I’ve led international collaborations that resulted in The Virtual Brain (thevirtualbrain.org), a globally adopted platform for simulating large-scale brain dynamics using personalized data. I’ve joined Simon Fraser University in 2022, where I serve as Director of the Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology. My vision is to bridge neuroscience research with real-world impact by pursuing two key goals: (1) integrating personalized brain modeling into clinical decision-making, and (2) creating a cloud-based platform that makes these tools accessible for research, education, and clinical use. I’m particularly focused on building interdisciplinary and community-engaged approaches to improve brain health across the lifespan.
Viktor Jirsa is Chief Science Officer at the EBRAINS AISBL. He studied Theoretical Physics and Philosophy in Stuttgart, Germany, and is Director of Research at Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and Director of the Inserm Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes (INS) at Aix-Marseille University. Since the late 90s, Viktor Jirsa has made pioneering contributions to the understanding of how network structure constrains the emergence of functional dynamics using methods from nonlinear dynamic system theory and computational neuroscience. His work laid the theoretical basis for connectome-based brain modeling. During the Human Brain Project, he led the efforts in personalized brain modeling in epilepsy, ultimately contributing to the digital twin use in brain medicine. He has significant experience in coordinating national and international research consortia and organisations. Since 2005, he has been the leader of the brain simulation platform The Virtual Brain; during 2019-2024 he was scientific coordinator of the clinical trial EPINOV in epilepsy surgery; and since 2024 he coordinates the large European project Virtual Brain Twin to improve medication outcome in schizophrenia.
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