Scaling Up Task-Shifted Epilepsy Care for Children in Africa
Official title: Scaling Up Task-Shifted Epilepsy Care (SHIFT)
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11625567 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to help children with epilepsy in Africa get diagnosed and receive seizure care through trained community health workers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | September 16, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $287,899 |
| NIH project number | 3R01NS145242-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11625567 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0-11 in Africa who have or are at risk for epilepsy and live in areas with limited access to physicians.
✕Less likely to help
Children in settings with ample access to specialist care may benefit less from CHW-led management.
What this research studies
This project will train community health workers to screen for epilepsy and provide basic epilepsy care to children aged 0-11 in Africa, aiming to close the treatment gap. It builds on prior trials showing CHWs can deliver effective epilepsy care and related nutrition support in low-resource settings. The study will use established case report forms and community-based approaches to identify, manage, and follow young patients with epilepsy where physician access is limited.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more children with epilepsy could be diagnosed earlier and receive effective treatment closer to home, improving seizure control and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Prior trials showed non-inferior outcomes when CHWs managed epilepsy compared to physicians in similar settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Trevathan, Edwin — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Trevathan, Edwin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Closed-loop control of interneuron timing to influence seizures and memory in epilepsy
A study tests a brain-quieting system that uses light to precisely time certain brain cells in epilepsy-prone mice to see if this can lessen seizures and improve memory.
-
Epilepsy Data Ecosystem: A Big-Data Sharing Platform for Better Care
A national effort to collect and share large, multi‑modal brain data from people with medication‑resistant epilepsy to speed discoveries and improve treatment options.
-
Exploring epilepsy genes in zebrafish to understand human brain seizures
A study in zebrafish will model human epilepsy genes to help explain how certain brain mutations contribute to seizures.
-
New MRI tools to better plan pediatric epilepsy surgery
A new MRI-based approach helps doctors decide the best time to surgically remove brain tissue in children with difficult-to-control seizures.
-
Sahel Epilepsy Study: finding patterns in epilepsy in rural Africa and its links to genes
A plan to study epilepsy in rural Nigeria to discover how common it is, what factors affect risk, and how genetics may influence it, with results that could improve care for people with epilepsy.
-
Role of ATP1A3 mutations in sudden death related to epilepsy
Aims to understand how ATP1A3 gene changes may lead to sudden death in kids with epilepsy and is exploring new ways to prevent it.
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.