Natural brain cannabinoids and seizure control in temporal lobe epilepsy
Activity-dependent endocannabinoid control in epilepsy
Researchers are looking at whether the brain's own cannabinoids help control seizures in adults with temporal lobe epilepsy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330374 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would hear that scientists are using new tools to watch fast signals from the brain's own cannabinoid system in the hippocampus during seizures and normal activity. They will study whether these activity-dependent cannabinoid signals and the inhibitory cells that respond to them are changed in chronic temporal lobe epilepsy using behaving animal models. The team will also try closed-loop, non-invasive ways to control the specific neurons with cannabinoid receptors to reduce seizures. Findings are intended to point toward more targeted, potentially safer treatments for people with TLE in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with chronic temporal lobe epilepsy, especially those who still have seizures despite medication, would be the most relevant group for this line of research.
Not a fit: People without temporal lobe epilepsy, children, or those whose seizures are already well controlled are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that reduce seizures by targeting the brain's own cannabinoid signaling with fewer side effects than current drugs.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and some early human work shows cannabinoids can modify seizure activity, but the specific activity-dependent mechanisms and closed-loop approaches proposed here are novel.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Soltesz, Ivan — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Soltesz, Ivan
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.