Investigational WNT-pathway modulators to help people with drug-resistant seizures
Official title: Investigational WNT-pathway modulators for the treatment and prevention of drug-resistant seizures
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11395163 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores new WNT-pathway drugs to help adults with seizures that don’t respond to standard medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $190,646 |
| NIH project number | 5R33NS126626-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395163 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be adults with epilepsy who have seizures not controlled by existing medications and who could participate in future translational studies or trials.
✕Less likely to help
People whose seizures respond well to current therapies or who cannot participate in preclinical testing may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at the University of Washington are testing new WNT-pathway–targeting agents in animal models to find potential treatments that could prevent or reduce seizures. The work builds on decades of epilepsy models in mice and rats and aims to identify therapies that work where current drugs fail. If successful, these findings could lead to safer, more effective options for people living with epilepsy. The project is in early-stage development, focusing on preclinical testing and mechanism understanding.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could pave the way for new treatments that help people with drug-resistant epilepsy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous epilepsy research has identified several antiseizure drugs through animal models, showing that this approach can yield meaningful advances.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barker-Haliski, Melissa Leigh — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Barker-Haliski, Melissa Leigh
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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.