Closed-loop control of interneuron timing to influence seizures and memory in epilepsy
Official title: Closed-loop Control of Interneuron Spike Timing in Epilepsy
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11617814 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $112,791 |
| NIH project number | 3R01NS136590-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11617814 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy or related cognitive impairments who might benefit from therapies targeting interneuron timing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without temporal lobe epilepsy or without cognitive concerns related to seizures may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will use a novel closed-loop optogenetic system in mice with temporal lobe epilepsy to control when specific interneurons fire during behavior. By shifting the theta-phase locking of parvalbumin- or somatostatin-expressing interneurons, they will observe effects on seizure susceptibility and cognitive performance. In healthy mice, they will impose abnormal timing to see if it worsens seizures or memory, while in epileptic mice they will normalize timing to test for seizure reduction and memory rescue. The goal is to understand whether interneuron timing directly drives epileptic symptoms and associated cognitive deficits. Findings could guide future strategies to modulate brain activity to reduce seizures and cognitive impairment in epilepsy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new approaches that reduce seizures and preserve memory in people with temporal lobe epilepsy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies using optogenetic timing have shown that altering interneuron activity can modify seizure-like activity, supporting potential translational relevance.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shuman, Tristan — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Shuman, Tristan
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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.