Testing new treatments to help manage epilepsy
Official title: SCREENING OF INVESTIGATIONAL THERAPEUTICS TO TREAT, MODIFY OR PREVENT EPILEPSY FOR THE NINDS EPILEPSY THERAPY SCREENING PROGRAM (ETSP)
Funded at University of Utah · NIH-11250879 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at new treatments and devices to help people with epilepsy, especially those who have trouble with their current medications, to see if they can better control their seizures and improve their daily lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | March 23, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $5,402,180 |
| NIH project number | 75N95022C00007-P00004-9999-1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11250879 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy or those at risk of developing epilepsy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with well-controlled epilepsy or those who do not have epilepsy may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on evaluating new therapeutic agents and biomedical devices aimed at treating epilepsy and related disorders. It involves preclinical pharmacological evaluations of various investigational compounds, including small molecules and biologics, to determine their effectiveness in managing drug-resistant epilepsy and preventing the onset of seizures. The study will also explore models for disease prevention and modification, ensuring a comprehensive approach to epilepsy treatment. Patients may benefit from advancements in therapies that could lead to better seizure control and improved quality of life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for epilepsy, potentially reducing the frequency and severity of seizures for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in developing new therapies for epilepsy, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements in treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wilcox, Karen — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Wilcox, Karen
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.