The Heldman Award
Drs. Brooks-Kayal and Russek will examine the role of an important cell signaling pathway called the JAK/STAT pathway in the development and progression of epilepsy. Their labs recently discovered that this pathway regulates brain inhibition and is activated by seizures, likely in response to an increase during seizures of the growth factor, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Using a combination of studies in the laboratory and in animal models of epilepsy, they will use specific blockers of BDNF and the JAK/STAT pathway to reduce or prevent epilepsy development and/or progression.
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