Simpler, age-based seizure medicine dosing for kids in ambulances
Official title: Pediatric Dose Optimization for Seizures in EMS (PediDOSE)
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11261636 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses simple age-based midazolam doses given by paramedics to stop seizures in children before they reach the emergency room.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,717,413 |
| NIH project number | 5U01NS114042-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11261636 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0–11 years who are actively seizing and treated by paramedics in one of the participating EMS systems are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Children not treated by participating EMS agencies, adults, or those whose seizures are managed only in outpatient settings are unlikely to be included or to directly benefit.
What this research studies
If my child has a seizure and 911 is called, paramedics will give a standardized age-based dose of midazolam through the nose or as a muscle injection instead of doing weight calculations. The program is being rolled out across 20 EMS systems nationwide to see whether this approach stops seizures faster and more reliably. Study teams will record whether seizures stop before arrival to the ED, breathing problems, and any medication side effects. The aim is to reduce dosing errors, speed treatment, and lower the chance of seizure-related brain injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help paramedics stop seizures faster in children and reduce the risk of breathing problems and brain injury.
How similar studies have gone: Benzodiazepines like midazolam are known to stop seizures, but large, prehospital trials of simplified age-based dosing are limited and this implementation approach is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shah, Manish Ishwar — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Shah, Manish Ishwar
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Pediatric EMS seizures: simpler age-based midazolam dosing
A nationwide trial at EMS agencies tests whether using fixed, age-based dosing of midazolam for seizures in children improves treatment speed and safety.
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Gene editing therapies to prevent epileptic seizures
A new gene-editing approach aims to reduce seizures in people with epilepsy by directly modifying a brain gene tied to the condition.
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Detecting Absence Seizures in Kids at Home with a Mobile Recorder
A new mobile app helps doctors remotely diagnose and monitor childhood absence epilepsy using guided hyperventilation and video analysis to speed up treatment.
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Seizures and long-term outcomes after childhood stroke
This project looks at whether early seizures and inflammation after a childhood stroke are linked to later epilepsy and recovery in kids up to 19 years old.
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Using the brain’s natural connector to detect and prevent seizures
A study at Case Western Reserve University is exploring whether gently stimulating a natural brain pathway called the corpus callosum can help identify where seizures start and stop them from spreading in people with hard-to-control epilepsy.
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Disentangling How Inhibitory Brain Cells Shape Seizures in People
This NIH grant tests how specific brain cells that normally calm the brain influence seizures in adults, using advanced optical methods in living subjects.
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.