CBD and brain signals: how cannabidiol may rebalance nerve signals in kids with epilepsy
Official title: Effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on synaptic excitatory and inhibitory balance
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11513736 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small, child-focused research project will explore how CBD could help balance brain signals and reduce seizures in young children with difficult-to-treat epilepsy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 22, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $414,732 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS152136-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11513736 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children with Dravet syndrome or drug-resistant epilepsy and caregivers seeking new therapeutic options in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Children without epilepsy or with conditions unlikely to involve synaptic imbalance may not benefit from this specific mechanistic study.
What this research studies
This project will study how cannabidiol (CBD) affects the balance between excitatory and inhibitory signals in the developing brain, using a mouse model that mirrors aspects of Dravet syndrome to uncover mechanisms. By examining synapses in the prefrontal cortex, researchers aim to see whether CBD strengthens inhibitory signals and trims excessive excitatory connections. The findings could explain why CBD helps some children with seizures and guide future therapies for epilepsy. The work is designed to be a mechanistic, early-stage investigation that could inform later human studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could illuminate how CBD helps restore normal brain signaling and support future treatments for pediatric epilepsy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests CBD can reduce seizures and may influence brain signaling, but the exact cellular mechanisms in developing brains are not fully understood.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oh, Won Chan — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Oh, Won Chan
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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.