Impact of changing GABA signaling on brain function in glioma-related seizures
Official title: The Impact of Local and Reversible Change to GABAergic Inhibitory Signaling on Tumor-Induced Cortical Dysfunction in Glioma
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11380971 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to see if adjusting GABA signaling can reduce seizures and improve brain function in glioma patients, using findings from mouse studies to guide potential treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $610,554 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS140658-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380971 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with diffusely infiltrating glioma who experience tumor-related seizures and could potentially benefit from new anticonvulsant strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without glioma or without seizure symptoms related to glioma may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project builds on prior mouse studies showing that loss of inhibitory GABA signaling contributes to seizure activity in glioma. It will test how acute inhibition of a key enzyme related to GABA metabolism and its interaction with GABAergic drugs might lessen seizures and improve brain responses to normal stimuli. Researchers plan to translate these ideas using models that mimic how glioma affects neurons, with careful monitoring of seizure activity and neurological function. The work could identify a new combination therapy approach to reduce morbidity in patients with glioma-related seizures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies to control seizures and protect brain function in people with glioma.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data in mouse models suggest that targeting GABA signaling and mTOR pathways can reduce seizures and restore neuronal responses, supporting the rationale.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gill, Brian John Andrew — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Gill, Brian John Andrew
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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.