Developing Better Medicines for Epilepsy and Nerve Pain
New Inactivators of GABA Aminotransferase for Epilepsy and Neuropathic Pain
This research aims to create new medications that can help manage seizures in epilepsy and reduce nerve pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11115834 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our brains use a chemical called GABA to calm down overactive nerve signals, which is important for preventing seizures and managing pain. When GABA levels are too low, conditions like epilepsy and neuropathic pain can occur. This project is focused on finding new ways to increase GABA by blocking an enzyme that breaks it down. While there's an existing medication that does this, it has serious side effects, so we are working to discover safer and more effective options. We hope these new compounds will offer a better way to control seizures and relieve chronic nerve pain.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who experience recurring seizures due to epilepsy or suffer from chronic nerve pain, including pain caused by chemotherapy, could potentially benefit from future treatments developed from this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are not related to GABA levels or who respond well to existing treatments without significant side effects may not see additional benefit from these specific new medications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new, safer medications for people living with epilepsy and neuropathic pain, offering better control of symptoms with fewer side effects.
How similar studies have performed: An existing medication uses a similar approach to treat epilepsy, demonstrating the potential effectiveness of this strategy, but this research seeks to develop novel compounds with fewer side effects.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Silverman, Richard B — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Silverman, Richard B
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 below.