The University of Iowa Department of Neurology, Stead Family Children’s Hospital Child Neurology Division, and the Iowa Neuroscience Institute are actively involved in epilepsy research. A fellow interested in becoming involved in epilepsy research during their training will find ample opportunities in the basic science, translational, and clinical research realms. Up to two months of epilepsy fellowship can be set aside as protected time to conduct a research project. Below is sample of the types of research being conducted.
The Buchanan Lab focuses on understanding basic mechanisms of epilepsy, particularly the effect of seizures and vigilance state on cardiorespiratory control and how these may lead to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). They employ behavioral, surgical, electrophysiological, molecular, and histological techniques in conjunction with a variety of seizure induction models to address research questions.
The Richerson Lab focuses on determining the mechanisms by which serotonergic neurons sense changes in CO2, and how their downstream effects contribute to control of pH in entities such as sudden unexpected death in epilepsy and sudden infant death syndrome. The lab also focuses on how GABA is released from neurons and glia, and how this release is affected by anticonvulsants.
The Dlouhy Lab focuses on understanding mechanisms of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy using animal models and children and adult with epilepsy to identify the neural networks that influence breathing and to better understand how breathing is inhibited during seizures.
The Glykys Lab is dedicated to understanding the cellular mechanisms of the inhibitory system and how its dysfunction contributes to seizure development. A key area of focus is neuronal edema, along with the dynamics of chloride and calcium within neurons. The lab addresses these scientific questions using advanced techniques such as electrophysiology, two-photon imaging, and immunohistochemistry.
The University of Iowa is also participating in a first-in-human study of stereotaxic placement of inhibitory interneurons (NRTX-1001) in the treatment of drug-resistant unilateral mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.
We are a proud member of the Managing Epilepsy Well Network, a group of 8 academic medical centers whose mission is to advance epilepsy self-management by facilitating and implementing research, conducting research in collaboration with network and community stakeholders, and broadly disseminating the findings.
Alex Bassuk's laboratory is focused on understanding human disease and developing new therapies and cures. Dr. Bassuk's laboratory has ongoing projects pursuing epilepsy drug discovery, traumatic brain injury treatments, eye inflammation (uveitis) genetics and therapy, and the role of inflammation in human disease.
Ania Dabrowski is a physician scientist and pediatric epileptologist with an interest in how genetic changes associated with epilepsy alter brain development and lead to seizures and seizure-related comorbidities, with a focus on understanding synaptic and micro-circuitry alterations.
Michael Ciliberto is a pediatric epileptologist actively engaged in multi-institutional clinical research through the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Consortium. He is also involved in leading treatment trials, including the STOKE trial for Dravet Syndrome and the soticlestat trial for Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome.