Tanya Ramdal Techlo’s Research

Tanya Ramdal Techlo’s research stems primarily from an interest in helping others, including patients and their relatives, understand why epilepsy has arisen and whether there are better treatment options or ways to alleviate symptoms. Additionally, she is generally interested in genetics and finds it fascinating how variations in DNA can contribute to our appearance, personality, and health, and how these variations can be inherited within families or arise spontaneously.

At Filadelfia, we encounter many epilepsy patients and their relatives who seek a genetic explanation for why epilepsy has developed. Finding a genetic explanation can result in better treatment options for the patient.

With the current genetic methods in use, we cannot find a genetic explanation for up to 70% of all epilepsy cases that are presumed to be genetically determined.

Tanya Ramdal Techlo’s research utilizes computer-based techniques, also known as bioinformatic methods, to find a genetic explanation for epilepsy cases that are unresolved with standard genetic methods. Among the many bioinformatic methods available, an example is copy-number variant (CNV) analysis. A CNV analysis involves comparing the DNA of the patient and the patient’s parents to identify copy-number variations (CNVs) in the DNA that are present in the patient but not in the parents. If such a CNV appears in a gene related to epilepsy, it can provide an explanation for why the patient has developed epilepsy.

Research Areas

• Epilepsy and Genetics
• Bioinformatic Methods