Changing lives at home and abroad 

As a young neurology resident, Dr. Jorge Burneo was drawn to epilepsy research by two factors: its potential to improve patients' lives and to take back valuable knowledge to his native Peru, where epilepsy rates are three times higher than in Canada. Although there's currently no cure for the chronic neurological condition, improving patients' quality of life by treating the repeated seizures characterizing the disease was compelling. "Even though it's a challenge to stop the seizures, once you achieve that, it's amazing to see how patients can have a very fruitful life," Burneo said. Today, as co-director of Western's epilepsy program , Burneo has realized his early aspirations, impacting lives in Canada, his homeland and beyond. Understanding epilepsy  Epilepsy affects one in 100 Canadians, and some 50 million people worldwide. It is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting children and young adults most often. Head injuries, complications at birth, or infections from parasites cause certain types of epilepsies.