The mechanism by which traumatic brain injury leads to epilepsy is mostly unknown and, at present, no preventive treatment exists. Dr. Kaufer, along with co-investigator Dr. Alon Friedman of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Beer-Sheva in Israel, discovered a novel mechanism that occurs following the injury-induced breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, leading to the development of epilepsy. This process is dependent on specific uptake of the serum protein albumin into the “supporting” cells of the brain, known as astrocytes. This two-year project aims to develop therapies that will prevent the generation of epilepsy following brain trauma.
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