Creating a human brain model to study and treat Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Official title: Development and Validation of a CNS Organoid Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy for Drug Discovery
Funded at Stem Pharm, INC. · NIH-11008599 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a mini version of the human brain to learn more about Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and find better treatments for people who struggle with seizures that don’t respond well to current medications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stem Pharm, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $499,953 |
| NIH project number | 1R43NS139845-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11008599 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals aged 21 and older who suffer from Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and have not responded well to existing anti-seizure medications.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other forms of epilepsy or those who are not experiencing drug-resistant seizures may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a human brain organoid model to better understand and treat Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE), a condition that affects many individuals and is often resistant to current medications. By using human stem cell-derived neural organoids that include microglia, the study aims to replicate the neuroinflammation associated with TLE more accurately than traditional animal models. This innovative approach allows for the screening of new drug compounds that target neuroinflammation, potentially leading to more effective treatments for patients suffering from chronic seizures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that significantly improve the management of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and reduce the frequency of seizures in affected patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using human organoids for drug discovery is gaining traction, this specific application for Temporal Lobe Epilepsy is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Stem Pharm, INC.
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lebakken, Connie S — Stem Pharm, INC.
- Study coordinator: Lebakken, Connie S
Related research
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Epilepsy Data Ecosystem: A Big-Data Sharing Platform for Better Care
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New MRI tools to better plan pediatric epilepsy surgery
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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.