A device to prevent sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.
Official title: A Device to Prevent Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)
Funded at Soterya, INC. · NIH-11007633 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a smart mattress called Korus that helps keep people with epilepsy safe by automatically turning them if they are in a risky position, which could help prevent Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Soterya, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,244,175 |
| NIH project number | 2R44NS120394-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11007633 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include children and adults diagnosed with epilepsy who are at risk for SUDEP.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without epilepsy or those who do not experience seizures may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a smart mattress designed to prevent Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), which is a significant risk for both children and adults with epilepsy. The mattress, named Korus, will utilize advanced sensors to detect when a patient is in a prone position and autonomously reposition them to a safer recovery position. The technology aims to intervene quickly, within a critical three-minute window, to potentially save lives. The project includes creating a simulation environment to enhance the mattress's functionality and effectiveness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the risk of SUDEP in patients with epilepsy.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using a smart mattress for this purpose is innovative, similar interventions in monitoring and repositioning patients have shown promise in other medical contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
Soterya, INC.
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bansal, Pranav — Soterya, INC.
- Study coordinator: Bansal, Pranav
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Scaling Up Task-Shifted Epilepsy Care for Children in Africa
A study to help children with epilepsy in Africa get diagnosed and receive seizure care through trained community health workers.
-
Closed-loop control of interneuron timing to influence seizures and memory in epilepsy
A study tests a brain-quieting system that uses light to precisely time certain brain cells in epilepsy-prone mice to see if this can lessen seizures and improve memory.
-
Epilepsy Data Ecosystem: A Big-Data Sharing Platform for Better Care
A national effort to collect and share large, multi‑modal brain data from people with medication‑resistant epilepsy to speed discoveries and improve treatment options.
-
Exploring epilepsy genes in zebrafish to understand human brain seizures
A study in zebrafish will model human epilepsy genes to help explain how certain brain mutations contribute to seizures.
-
New MRI tools to better plan pediatric epilepsy surgery
A new MRI-based approach helps doctors decide the best time to surgically remove brain tissue in children with difficult-to-control seizures.
-
Sahel Epilepsy Study: finding patterns in epilepsy in rural Africa and its links to genes
A plan to study epilepsy in rural Nigeria to discover how common it is, what factors affect risk, and how genetics may influence it, with results that could improve care for people with epilepsy.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.