Finding new treatments for hard-to-treat epilepsy using fruit flies
Official title: Optimized Anti-Epileptic Screening Using Drosophila Models
Funded at Tulane University of Louisiana · NIH-11040250 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new treatments for people with epilepsy who haven't found relief from current medications, using fruit flies to test a variety of existing drugs in hopes of discovering something that works better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | January 21, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $363,602 |
| NIH project number | 1R61NS134960-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11040250 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with pharmacoresistant epilepsy, particularly those with Duplication 15q syndrome.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with epilepsy who respond well to existing anti-seizure medications may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates new anti-seizure medications for individuals with pharmacoresistant epilepsy, a condition where current treatments are ineffective. By utilizing a genetic model organism, the fruit fly, researchers have developed a method to screen a large library of existing drugs to identify potential new uses for them. The study aims to enhance the screening process using advanced video tracking and electrophysiology techniques, ultimately leading to the discovery of effective treatments for patients who do not respond to standard therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment options for patients suffering from difficult-to-treat epilepsy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has successfully identified new uses for existing drugs in similar models, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reiter, Lawrence T — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Reiter, Lawrence T
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.