Innovator Award
Stephen Moss, PhD / Tufts University
Here we will test the ability of recently identified pharmacological agents that are able to normalize intracellular chloride levels, to terminate pharmacoresistant seizures in rodents. Collectively these studies may lead to the development of novel therapy.
Innovator Award
David Hsu, MD, PhD / University of Wisconsin Madison/Mayo Clinic
Drs. Hsu and Worrell will develop this algorithm for use in epilepsy surgery. If successful, people who undergo epilepsy surgery for refractory epilepsy will have a better chance of becoming seizure-free.
Taking Flight Award
Joy Sebe, PhD / University of California, San Francisco
To increase the speed at which these progenitor cells incorporate into the epileptic brain and to potentially boost their therapeutic efficacy, Dr. Sebe is looking for molecular cues and drugs that promote cell development.
Taking Flight Award
Kuei-Cheng Lim, MD, PhD / University of Pennsylvania
We will use high-density electrodes to read the activity of large neuronal networks in an effort to determine whether the alterations detected might contribute to seizures and/or to cognitive deficits.
Taking Flight Award
Jonathan Viventi, PhD / Polytechnic Institute of New York University
This technology opens an entirely new window into understanding brain function, and new methods for localizing and treating seizure generating brain regions in patients with epilepsy.
Pediatric Epilepsies Awards, Funded by the Rock the Block for Pediatric Epilepsy Research Award
Edward Cooper, MD, PhD / Baylor College of Medicine
We will develop methods for augmenting KCNQ2 activity in individuals bearing such severe disease-causing mutations, using a combination of cell-based approaches and animal models.
Pediatric Epilepsies Awards, Funded by the Vogelstein Pediatric Epilepsy Award
Timothy Simeone, PhD / Creighton University
Our proposed studies will test investigational drugs, determine relevant functional mechanisms and explore possible strategies of reducing the stringency of the KD, thereby bringing us closer to the ultimate goals of No Seizures/No Side Effects.
Prevention of Acquired Epilepsies Awards
Shelley Russek, PhD / Boston University School of Medicine
We expect to identify lead JAK/STAT inhibitors that can be advanced towards clinical testing to prevent or inhibit development of acquired epilepsy following brain injury.
Prevention of Acquired Epilepsies Awards
Raimondo D’Ambrosio, PhD / University of Washington
We will test these drugs in formal blind and randomized studies to determine their antiepileptogenic potential and route them to phase III clinical trials.
