Understanding epilepsy genetics in Mali
Official title: Genetics of Epilepsy in Mali (GENEP-Mali)
Funded at Univ of Sciences, Tech & Tech of Bamako · NIH-11136916 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are collecting medical information and DNA from people with epilepsy in Mali while training local clinicians to better find and treat seizures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Sciences, Tech & Tech of Bamako NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bamako, Mali) |
| Project start | August 15, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $464,556 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS118522-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11136916 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living in Mali who have epilepsy, especially those with early-onset, unexplained, or distinctive seizure types and who are willing to provide medical information and a DNA sample, are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without epilepsy or those living outside the recruitment area in Mali are unlikely to benefit directly from this project in the short term.
What this research studies
If you have epilepsy in Mali, this project asks for your medical history, interviews about how epilepsy affects your life, and a small DNA sample to help find genetic causes. Local health workers will get training so they can recognize and treat epilepsy more often and sooner. Samples will be sequenced to look for genes linked to specific seizure types, and promising genes will be studied in a small animal model to learn how they cause problems. Malian students will also receive hands-on training in DNA sequencing at a US partner site to build local capacity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could improve local diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, uncover genetic causes relevant to Malian patients, and expand local skills to reduce the treatment gap.
How similar studies have gone: Similar DNA sequencing projects have identified epilepsy genes in other populations, but genetic research in sub-Saharan African groups is less common and more novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Sciences, Tech & Tech of Bamako
Bamako, Mali Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Landoure, Guida — Univ of Sciences, Tech & Tech of Bamako
- Study coordinator: Landoure, Guida
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.