The Prevention Research Centers’ Managing Epilepsy Well Network

The Managing Epilepsy Well (MEW) Network was created in 2007 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Prevention Research Centers and Epilepsy Program to promote epilepsy self-management research and to improve the quality of life for people with epilepsy. MEW Network membership comprises four collaborating centers (Emory University, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, University of Michigan, and University of Washington), representatives from CDC, affiliate members, and community stakeholders. This article describes the MEW Network's background, mission statement, research agenda, and structure. Exploratory and intervention studies conducted by individual collaborating centers are described, as are Network collaborative projects, including a multisite depression prevention intervention and the development of a standard measure of epilepsy self-management. Communication strategies and examples of research translation programs are discussed. The conclusion outlines the Network's role in the future development and dissemination of evidence-based epilepsy self-management programs.

Research Highlights
► created in 2007 by the CDC Prevention Research Centers and Epilepsy Program to promote epilepsy self-management research and to improve the quality of life for people with epilepsy
► composed of four collaborating centers—Emory University, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, the University of Michigan and the University of Washington, representatives from CDC, affiliate members, and community stakeholders
► supports the conduct of exploratory and intervention studies by individual collaborating centers
► supports Network collaborative projects, including a multi-site depression prevention intervention and the development of a standard measure of epilepsy self-management
► maintains a role in the future development and dissemination of evidence-based epilepsy self-management programs