Serotonin brain circuit clues to safer sleep after seizures
Official title: Serotonergic circuit mechanisms in postictal recovery and arousal
Funded at University of Iowa · NIH-11617759 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how brain serotonin systems and CO2-triggered arousal affect recovery after seizures in mouse models to reduce SUDEP risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $37,729 |
| NIH project number | 3R01NS129722-04S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11617759 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with refractory focal epilepsy or Dravet syndrome in the future translational context, though this grant uses animal models.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without epilepsy or those not modeled in the study may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project studies how seizures disrupt the brain’s arousal response to CO2 using mouse models of temporal lobe epilepsy and Dravet syndrome. Researchers will test how serotonin-related circuits influence arousal when CO2 levels rise after seizures, helping explain why some people with epilepsy are at higher risk of sudden death. The study uses established epilepsy models and measures CO2-driven awakening to identify potential targets for safer seizure recovery. If successful, findings could guide future therapies to improve post-seizure stabilization and breathing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could inform new strategies to improve arousal and breathing after seizures, potentially reducing SUDEP risk.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows CO2-arousal pathways influence seizure outcomes in animals, supporting a promising but still emerging approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Iowa
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Buchanan, Gordon F — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Buchanan, Gordon F
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.