Understanding how brain circuits control seizures in epilepsy
Official title: Neural circuit mechanisms controlling seizures
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-11164717 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain brain cells behave during seizures in people with temporal lobe epilepsy, with the hope of finding new ways to help those who struggle to control their seizures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 15, 2021 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $224,101 |
| NIH project number | 5R00NS121399-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11164717 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy who experience uncontrolled seizures despite current treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with epilepsy types other than temporal lobe epilepsy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms behind temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), the most common form of epilepsy in adults, which often leads to uncontrolled seizures and cognitive decline. By utilizing advanced techniques that combine light and calcium imaging, the study aims to identify specific brain cells that are active during seizures. The researchers will use two different animal models of TLE to explore how these cells contribute to seizure activity and whether targeting them can help control seizures. This approach could lead to the development of more effective therapies for patients who do not respond to current treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that better control seizures in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using optogenetic techniques to control seizure activity, suggesting that this approach may lead to significant advancements in epilepsy treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nguyen, Quynh Anh — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Nguyen, Quynh Anh
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.