Controlling brain cell activity to reduce seizures and improve memory in epilepsy
Official title: Closed-loop Control of Interneuron Spike Timing in Epilepsy
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11232536 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how adjusting certain brain cells can help reduce seizures and improve memory in people with epilepsy, using a special technique in rodent models to see if changing how these cells work can make a difference.
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 | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $22,558 |
| NIH project number | 3R01NS136590-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11232536 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy who experience frequent seizures and cognitive impairments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with epilepsy who do not have cognitive deficits or those with other types of epilepsy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how controlling the timing of specific brain cells, called interneurons, can affect seizures and cognitive function in epilepsy. Using a novel closed-loop optogenetic system, the researchers aim to manipulate the activity of these interneurons in rodent models of temporal lobe epilepsy. By adjusting their firing patterns, the study seeks to determine if this can decrease seizure frequency and enhance memory performance. The findings could provide insights into the relationship between brain synchronization and cognitive deficits associated with epilepsy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that reduce seizures and improve cognitive function for patients with epilepsy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using optogenetic techniques to manipulate brain activity, suggesting potential success for this novel approach.
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
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.