Amygdala-Driven Control of Thalamus: New Avenues for Seizure and Mood Symptoms
Official title: Amygdala-Activated Inhibition of Thalamic Pathways: Influences on Cortical Activity and Seizures
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11392349 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-scientist team at UCSF is studying how the amygdala can influence thalamic signals to reduce seizures and improve mood and attention problems in epilepsy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $239,211 |
| NIH project number | 5K08NS138717-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392349 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with epilepsy who experience seizures and comorbid mood or attention problems.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without epilepsy or those not experiencing neuropsychiatric comorbidities may not benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
This grant focuses on how the amygdala communicates with the nucleus reticularis of the thalamus (nRT) to shape brain activity related to seizures and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Using advanced optogenetic tools, researchers will selectively activate or inhibit this pathway in order to observe changes in thalamocortical and prefrontal networks during typical tasks and seizure-like states. The goal is to identify new targets for therapies that could lessen seizures and co-occurring issues such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD in people with epilepsy. If successful, the work could guide development of more precise treatments with fewer side effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If this approach succeeds, patients with epilepsy could see better seizure control and fewer neuropsychiatric symptoms.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in neural circuits have shown that amygdala-thalamic pathways can influence brain networks; this proposal extends those findings to epilepsy and related symptoms.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Timbie, Clare — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Timbie, Clare
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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.