Targeting brain circuits to treat epilepsy and mental health disorders
Official title: Development and validation of AAV vectors to manipulate specific neuronal subtypes and circuits involved in epilepsy and psychiatric disorders across mammalian species.
Funded at Broad Institute, INC. · NIH-10783786 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring new ways to control certain brain cells to better understand and treat conditions like epilepsy and mental health issues, using special tools that could eventually help people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Broad Institute, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | August 22, 2019 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $2,252,723 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3MH120096-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10783786 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would include individuals suffering from epilepsy or psychiatric disorders who may benefit from novel therapeutic approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to epilepsy or psychiatric disorders may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing advanced tools to manipulate specific types of neurons in the brain, which could help in understanding and treating conditions like epilepsy and psychiatric disorders. By using engineered viruses, the researchers aim to gain genetic access to these neurons in both animal models and potentially in humans. The project combines expertise in brain cell development and gene regulation to identify elements that allow for precise control of brain circuits. This innovative approach could lead to new therapies that directly target the underlying causes of these disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to groundbreaking treatments for epilepsy and various mental health disorders by enabling targeted modulation of brain circuits.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using similar gene-targeting approaches, indicating potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
Broad Institute, INC.
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fishell, Gordon J — Broad Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Fishell, Gordon J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Scaling Up Task-Shifted Epilepsy Care for Children in Africa
A study to help children with epilepsy in Africa get diagnosed and receive seizure care through trained community health workers.
-
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.
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.