Using the brain’s natural connector to detect and prevent seizures
Official title: Low-frequency stimulation of fiber tracts to control seizures
Funded at Case Western Reserve University · NIH-11449578 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2019 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $589,618 |
| NIH project number | 2R01NS114120-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449578 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with medically refractory epilepsy who are being evaluated for seizure monitoring and have been considered for surgical options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with well-controlled seizures or contraindications to brain imaging or stimulation may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at a natural brain pathway, the corpus callosum, to see if it can reveal which side of the brain begins seizures and monitor brain excitability in real time. Researchers will test gentle stimulation of this pathway to see if it can prevent seizures from spreading. If successful, the approach could offer a safer, less invasive way to monitor and treat epilepsy that doesn’t respond to medications or require curative surgery. The study combines brain sensing with targeted stimulation in people living with difficult-to-treat epilepsy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to a safer, less invasive method to detect seizure onset and prevent seizure spread.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research in brain stimulation has shown promise, but applying it to seizure detection and real-time control is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Durand, Dominique M — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Durand, Dominique M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Defining the brain regions that trigger seizures in epilepsy
Researchers are studying which parts of the brain cause seizures in people with epilepsy to guide safer, more effective epilepsy surgery.
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.