Despite >100 years of research, crucial aspects of seizure formation and spread remain unresolved, and 30% of epilepsy patients remain unresponsive to pharmacological treatment. As clinician scientist and independent principal investigator within the newly established Hertie Network of Excellence in Clinical Neuroscience, and with support of a Bonfor Nachwuchsgruppe, Dr. Wenzel’s group uses cellular resolution in vivo two-photon imaging and field electrophysiology to address fundamental questions regarding the formation and progression of seizures in chronic epilepsy mouse models. The work is highly collaborative across murine and human research, and crosses borders between clinical epileptology, translational neurophysiology, systems neuroscience, medicinal chemistry (e.g. photopharmacology), and biomedical engineering (implantable diagnostic/therapeutic tools, e.g. electrode arrays).