Using ketamine to improve treatment for severe seizures
Official title: Ketamine Add-On for Established Status Epilepticus Treatment Trial (KESETT)
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-10983488 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether adding ketamine to the usual treatment of levetiracetam can help people with severe seizures called status epilepticus when their current treatments aren't working.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $9,296,510 |
| NIH project number | 1UG3NS131532-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10983488 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals of all ages who are experiencing established status epilepticus and have not responded to benzodiazepine treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing status epilepticus or those who have not failed benzodiazepine therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of adding ketamine to the standard treatment of levetiracetam for patients experiencing status epilepticus, a severe and potentially life-threatening seizure condition. The trial will involve a randomized, double-blind approach, where participants will receive either the combination of ketamine and levetiracetam or levetiracetam alone after initial treatments have failed. By examining the outcomes, the research aims to determine if ketamine can enhance seizure control and reduce the risk of complications associated with prolonged seizures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more effective treatment option for patients suffering from status epilepticus, potentially reducing the risk of brain damage and improving recovery outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results with ketamine in treating status epilepticus, indicating that this approach has potential based on existing clinical evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kapur, Jaideep — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Kapur, Jaideep
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Ketamine Add-On for Established Status Epilepticus Treatment
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ARISEN Network: Patient-centered outcomes in autoimmune brain inflammation and status epilepticus
A nationwide registry study from Emory will collect patient- and caregiver-reported outcomes to understand how neuroinflammatory brain diseases affect people and what helps them most.
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ARISEN: A regional network to understand autoimmune brain diseases in kids
A national, multi-center effort follows children with autoimmune brain diseases to better understand how their condition progresses and how it affects thinking and everyday life.
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.