Recruiting

Infra-red Light

Sponsor:

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Code:

NCT07145489

Conditions

Drug Resistant Epilepsy

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

photobiomodulation

Study Details

Brief summary:

Drug-resistant epilepsy represents roughly 40% of people with epilepsy. It is very challenging to stop seizures in this condition, and the treatment options are limited. This study aims to investigate a new treatment that involves using infra-red light. In animals, this treatment has shown promise as a possible way to reduce seizures, but it has not been tested in humans for this. The investigators are interested to know if it can reduce seizures, and how comfortable it is to be treated with this therapy.

Conditions

Drug Resistant Epilepsy

Study ID

NCT07145489

Start date

Nov 25, 2025

Status verified date

Feb, 2026

Completion date

Sep 25, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Sep 25, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Drug resistant epilepsy
  • Age 18 or older
  • Average seizure rate of at least 2 seizures per month
  • Accurate seizure diary with at least 3 months recorded

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Implanted intracranial neurostimulation device (DBS or RNS)
  • Intracranial shunt
  • Skin photosensitivity
  • Cancer on scalp
  • Taking any medication that can cause photosensitivity

Study Design

Enrollment

13 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: photobiomodulation

participants will use photobiomodulation daily for 6 months

Interventions

photobiomodulation

a hat with infrared lights will be worn for 30 minutes daily for 6 months

Primary outcome measure

  • seizure rate reduction [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
  • tolerability of daily photobiomodulation [ Time Frame: 6 months ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Daniel Goldenholz, MD, PhD

617-632-8930daniel.goldenholz@bidmc.harvard.edu

Daniel Goldenholz, MD PhD

617-632-8930daniel.goldenholz@bidmc.harvard.edu

Locations

BIDMC

Recruiting

Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215

Contacts

Daniel Goldenholz, MD PhD

617-632-8930daniel.goldenholz@bidmc.harvard.edu

Principal Investigator:

Daniel Goldenholz, MD PhD

More Information

Sponsor

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Last update posted

Feb 4, 2026

Last verified

Feb, 2026

Keywords

  • epilepsy
  • photobiomodulation
  • seizure

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center on 2026-02-04.