As part of our Meet the Moment initiative, Protecting Our Progress Awards provide emergency support to researchers facing immediate threats to their work due to federal funding uncertainty and policy-related constraints, helping ensure critical epilepsy research continues uninterrupted.
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the leading cause of death for people with uncontrolled seizures. Evidence shows these fatal events begin with breathing failure.
This research aims to identify the specific brain circuits causing this respiratory collapse to predict and prevent SUDEP. The team is mapping how a brain region called the extended amygdala communicates with the brainstem during a seizure. Further, they are testing if calming this area of the brain can restore breathing.
“This funding sustains this complex, vital research ensuring our laboratory continues uninterrupted toward our goal of developing novel therapies to prevent SUDEP and save lives,” says Dr. Nobis.
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