Targeting hedgehog signaling to model HH and epilepsy in mice
Official title: Targeting hedgehog signaling to model hypothalamic hamartoma and epilepsy in mice
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11454980 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are developing mouse models of hypothalamic hamartoma to better understand seizures and puberty issues in affected children, using viral and gene-editing tools.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $225,439 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS147341-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11454980 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children with hypothalamic hamartoma or related epilepsy features, whose condition could inform translational insights from animal models.
✕Less likely to help
This basic animal-model project does not directly enroll patients; benefits would come from later translation to human therapies.
What this research studies
This project aims to create and validate new mouse models of hypothalamic hamartoma by disrupting the Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway in targeted hypothalamic cells. The team will use AAV-based viral vectors and CRISPR gene editing to mimic the human condition’s sporadic mutations. By studying these models with electrophysiology and gene expression analyses, they hope to uncover mechanisms of epilepsy and related symptoms and to test potential therapies. The work brings together experts in epilepsy models, puberty control circuits, and molecular genetics to translate findings toward future clinical advances.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lead to better understanding of HH-related seizures and puberty issues, guiding the development of targeted therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous models of HH are lacking; this project proposes a novel, human-relevant approach using mosaic Shh disruption in mice, which is exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Christian-Hinman, Catherine a — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Christian-Hinman, Catherine a
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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.