Expanding Access to Epilepsy Care in Kenya to Reach More People
Official title: Bridging the Treatment Gap by Expanding Access to Care for People with Epilepsy in Kenya (BEACON)
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11539576 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program in Kenya will test a practical, locally tailored plan to help people with epilepsy get treatment sooner, stay on their medications, and keep up with follow-ups.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $258,250 |
| NIH project number | 7R01NS134056-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11539576 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with epilepsy in western Kenya, including adolescents and adults who face access-to-care barriers and may benefit from improved follow-up and adherence.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without epilepsy or those not engaged in the Kenyan care setting may not directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This project aims to close the treatment gap for epilepsy in western Kenya by using a modern, shared medical record system and trained local staff to deliver a task-sharing approach. The plan focuses on improving timely initiation of antiseizure medications, adherence, and retention in care for people with epilepsy across ages. The study will build local capacity, adapt workflows to the community, and measure improvements in care retention and medication adherence over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with epilepsy in western Kenya could experience better seizure control and fewer complications through easier access to care and consistent medication use.
How similar studies have gone: Prior evidence suggests that integrated care systems and task-sharing can improve follow-up and treatment adherence in resource-limited settings, but results are ongoing and context-specific.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Von Gaudecker, Jane — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Von Gaudecker, Jane
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.
-
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.