Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded the University of California, Davis a project grant of $548,368 under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (CFDA 93.853) program, effective February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2031. This award supports research investigating slow-wave sleep enhancement as a therapeutic intervention for epilepsy and associated neuropsychiatric comorbidities. The research applies a murine model of medial temporal lobe epilepsy combined with chronic chemogenetic methods and advanced data analysis techniques to determine whether sleep improvement can enhance seizure control and mitigate cognitive and psychiatric complications that typically accompany epilepsy.

The project delivers translational neuroscience research outputs designed to address significant clinical gaps in epilepsy treatment. Current therapeutic approaches rely primarily on anti-seizure medications with substantial failure rates and side effects, while surgical interventions remain underutilized despite modest efficacy. By investigating the reciprocal relationship between sleep disruption and seizure exacerbation, the research aims to establish a novel treatment pathway applicable across diverse epilepsy etiologies and capable of addressing both seizure control and comorbid conditions—outcomes that traditional pharmacotherapy and surgery have not adequately achieved.