Cortical interneuron transplantation to help people with epilepsy
Official title: Cortical interneuron transplantation to treat intractable epilepsy.
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11471757 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher plans to test transplanting special human brain cells to reduce seizures in people with epilepsy that doesn’t respond to medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | February 1, 2026 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $644,612 |
| NIH project number | 3UH3NS129630-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11471757 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with epilepsy characterized by seizures that do not respond to standard anti-seizure medications and who are appropriate surgical or research-recruitment candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients may not benefit due to disease heterogeneity or contraindications to brain cell transplantation.
What this research studies
This project aims to transplant human pluripotent stem cell–derived interneurons into the brains of individuals with intractable epilepsy to increase inhibitory signaling and potentially lessen seizures. The approach builds on prior animal studies showing integration of transplanted cells and seizure reduction, with emphasis on identifying safe, effective cell populations. If successful, this work could offer a new, biology-based treatment option for patients who currently have few alternatives beyond surgery or devices.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a new cell-based therapy that lowers seizure frequency and improves quality of life for people with drug-resistant epilepsy.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in mice showed that transplanted human interneurons can integrate and reduce seizures, supporting further exploration in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chung, Sangmi — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Chung, Sangmi
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.
-
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.
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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.