Predicting seizures after stroke with genetic risk scores

Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) to Predict Post-Stroke Epilepsy (PSE) in the Million Veterans Program (MVP) Cohort

NIH-funded research Portland VA Medical Center · NIH-11053189

This project will create genetic risk scores to identify Veterans most likely to develop seizures after a stroke.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionPortland VA Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Portland, United States)
Project IDNIH-11053189 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project uses genetic and medical records from the Million Veterans Program to build scores that predict who develops seizures after a stroke. Researchers will combine common genetic variants and rare pathogenic gene changes into a single risk model and compare that model to known clinical risk factors. They will estimate how often genetic testing would find useful results and how the scores could be added to tools clinicians use after stroke. The aim is to help guide who should get genetic testing or closer seizure monitoring after a stroke.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who have had a stroke — especially U.S. military Veterans enrolled in the Million Veterans Program — who are willing to share genetic and medical record data.

Not a fit: People without a prior stroke, non-Veterans who cannot join the Million Veterans Program, or those whose seizure risk is driven entirely by non-genetic factors may not benefit from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could help target genetic testing and closer monitoring to stroke survivors at highest risk for seizures, potentially reducing preventable seizures and improving outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Similar polygenic risk-score methods have shown promise for other forms of epilepsy and cardiovascular outcomes, but applying combined common-and-rare-variant models specifically to post-stroke epilepsy is new and not yet well tested.

Where this research is happening

Portland, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.