Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Virginia received a $444,125 Project Grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853), awarded June 1, 2026, with completion by May 31, 2028. The grant funds research investigating the mechanisms and treatments of post-stroke seizures (PSS) and post-stroke epilepsy (PSE), conditions that represent a significant complication following stroke and the most common cause of new-onset seizures in elderly populations. The research will employ a novel murine model to evaluate the efficacy of two pharmacological interventions—argatroban (a direct thrombin inhibitor) and levetiracetam (an anti-epilepsy drug)—for ameliorating early post-stroke seizures and associated ischemic brain injury.

The grant supports two primary research aims to advance understanding of post-stroke seizure pathophysiology and identify preventive treatment strategies. Aim 1 will assess post-stroke treatment effects on early seizure manifestation and brain injury, while Aim 2 will employ advanced genomics methodologies, including astrocyte/microglia-specific TRAP-seq (Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification sequencing) and spatial transcriptomics, to identify potential molecular mediators of late-onset post-stroke seizures. The research will also evaluate whether secondary prevention with levetiracetam treatment can arrest the progression of late seizures into chronic epilepsy. The anticipated outcomes are expected to elucidate underlying mechanisms of post-stroke seizures and provide evidence supporting potential clinical treatment approaches for this understudied neurological complication.