How hormone receptors and drug pumps affect seizure medicine delivery in focal cortical dysplasia
Molecular Mechanism of Glucocorticoid Receptor, Cytochrome P450, and P-Glycoprotein Axis on Drug Regulation at the Blood-Brain Barrier in Epilepsy with Focal Cortical Dysplasia
This research tests whether blocking a stress-hormone receptor can help antiseizure medicines get into the brain better for people with focal cortical dysplasia-related epilepsy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11241114 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will look at how the glucocorticoid receptor (a stress-hormone receptor) controls drug-metabolizing enzymes and the P-glycoprotein pump at the blood-brain barrier in focal cortical dysplasia. They will study human epilepsy tissue and cells from surgery alongside laboratory animal models to map molecular interactions like GR–heat shock protein that speed up GR activity. The team will test whether blocking GR or related pathways restores barrier tight junctions, increases antiseizure drug levels in the brain, and reduces seizures in model systems. The work builds on prior rat data and aims to translate those findings toward treatments that could help patients whose seizures are resistant to current medicines.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with focal cortical dysplasia who have epilepsy that is poorly controlled by antiseizure medications are the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People without focal cortical dysplasia or whose seizures are already well controlled by current medications are unlikely to see direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make existing antiseizure drugs work better for people with focal cortical dysplasia by improving drug entry into the brain.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and laboratory studies showed that GR inhibition reduced seizures and increased brain drug levels, but translating those findings to humans remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ghosh, Chaitali — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Ghosh, Chaitali
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.