CA2 hippocampal region and epilepsy in mice
Official title: The Role of Hippocampal area CA2 in Epilepsy
Funded at Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res · NIH-11337543 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant funds research on how a specific hippocampal area called CA2 contributes to drug‑resistant epilepsy in mouse models, with the aim of finding new ways to reduce seizures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Orangeburg, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2018 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $578,735 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS106983-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11337543 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with drug‑resistant temporal lobe epilepsy or researchers seeking translational targets from this CA2 mechanism.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without epilepsy or those not related to the studied models may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Scientists will study two mouse models of epilepsy to understand how CA2 neurons influence seizures, including changes in intrinsic excitability and synaptic connections. They will use advanced techniques to manipulate CA2 activity and observe effects on seizure activity. Findings could point to new targets for therapies that help people whose seizures do not respond to current treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify CA2-based strategies to reduce seizures in drug‑resistant epilepsy.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work showed that silencing CA2 reduced seizures in a mouse model, supporting potential translational value but human application remains to be tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res
Orangeburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scharfman, Helen E — Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res
- Study coordinator: Scharfman, Helen E
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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Closed-loop control of interneuron timing to influence seizures and memory in epilepsy
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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.
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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.
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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.